ManilaMailDC.Net - Vets thank Arroyo for getting Bush's pledge

WASHINGTON D.C. – The American Coalition of Filipino Veterans (ACFV) has sent an email to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo thanking her for “your fruitful Sept. 8 conversation with President Bush in Sydney, Australia.

Pat Ganio, ACFV president, said “On behalf of 4,000 members of our U.S.-based advocacy organization, we extend our deepest appreciation of your fruitful’ talk with Mr. Bush. “We are glad and grateful that you obtained a commitment from President Bush to support and sign into law the Filipino Veterans Equity pension bills," he said.
ACFV continued:

“As you know, our equity bills were recently approved in the key VA congressional committees.

We expect the passage of Senate bill S. 1315 of Senators Daniel Akaka and Daniel Inouye in the full U.S. Senate and H.R. 760 of Representatives Bob Filner and Darrell ISSA in the House.
“The bills will provide a dignified pension of $300 to $500 monthly for eligible Filipino WWII veterans in the Philippines - depending on the reconciled Senate-House Conference committee version.
“Moreover, according to the August 28, 2007 U.S. Congressional Budget Office report, the bills will provide medical care to Filipino veterans in the Philippines from the U.S. VA Department. The CBO estimates that it would cost about $1,700 yearly per eligible veteran in the Philippines.

“At this juncture, we would like to thank the leaders of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) and their lobbying NAFVE alliance.

“We also would like to extend our gratitude to Philippine Ambassador Willy Gaa, Gen. Delfin Lorenzana of the Embassy’s Veterans Affairs Office and their staff for making the passage of our Equity bill a high priority in the United States.

We thank DND Undersecretary for Veterans Affairs Ernesto Carolina who recently visited Washington DC to lobby U.S. Government and Congressional officials with us.

“We are in the homestretch in our race for full and final recognition as well as equitable benefits for our living heroes and their families. With your continued leadership and the intensified campaign of Filipino American community leaders and our allies, we will win in October!" Maraming salamat for your leadership.