WASHINGTON D.C. - Members of the Philippine-US Friendship Caucus have expressed their collective commitment to work hard for the eventual passage of the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill.

They made this commitment during a reception co-sponsored by the Philippine Embassy and the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) on July 26 at the Rayburn House Office Building of Capitol Hill in honor of the members of the Philippine Friendship Caucus (PFC) in the House of Representatives.

The occasion also gave the veterans and members of the Filipino American community the opportunity to thank the congressmen for their steadfast advocacy and support for the struggle of Filipino World War II veterans to get due recognition and justice for their sacrifices and services under the US flag during the war. The date was especially significant as it marked the 66th anniversary of the issuance by U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt of military order calling all organized military forces of the government of the Philippines into the service of the Armed Forces of the United States.

Joining NaFFAA in support of the Philippine Embassy were the National Alliance for Filipino Veterans Equity, the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, and the Filipino American Republicans of Virginia. On behalf of the Caucus, PFC Co-chairs Bob Filner and Darrell Issa thanked Ambassador Willy C. Gaa, Ms Alma Kern, National Chair of NaFFAA, and attending Filipino World War II veterans and representatives of the Filipino American community for having been honored on such occasion, and expressed their collective commitment to ork hard for the eventual passage of the veterans’ equity bill which has so long been awaited by Filipino veterans. Gaa, for his part, said “It is time for the Filipino American community to let their collective voices be heard on this issue. Our friends in the House and Senate have done a remarkable job in pushing for equity and justice for our valiant veterans. Let us further help them along in this righteous struggle by calling on your respective legislators to support the bill when it gets deliberated on the floor of Houses of Congress."

He added, “Our brave veterans have waited for so long, the opportunity now presents itself, let us take advantage of it and bring this issue and long struggle to a happy end for all concerned."