Filipino War Veterans Legislation

June 25, 2007

A message from Filipinos for Affirmative Action:

URGENT: Call Senate Veterans Affairs Committee

To Support FilVets Equity June 25-26
URGENT- the Senate VA Committee will be doing a mark-up of the Filipino Veterans bill on Wednesday, June 27. There is action in the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee to oppose the Filipino Veterans Equity Act. There will be a Republican amendment to reduce funding for Filipino veterans and we need your help lobbying to end it. Your calls are needed NOW to kill these efforts.
Talking Points:

· The 1946 Rescission Act took away U.S. Veterans status promised to them and the Filipino Veterans Equity Act will not only restore this status, but will give them the honor and recognition of their service that they deserve.

· Nationals from more than 60 other countries receive U.S. veterans status- Filipinos were singled out for discriminatory treatment.

· All of our veterans deserve to be treated the same- we are committed to full and equal benefits in line with what U.S. veterans currently receive.

· Pass the Equity Act NOW!
The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee list is included below. If you live in any of the states represented by the Senators, your call is even more important. It does not matter whether you live in the state or not- each call to every Senator counts!
We encourage you to tell the Senate that the time is NOW to restore honor and dignity to the brave Filipino Veterans and fulfill the promise the U.S. government made to them when they were drafted into the United States Armed Forces of the Far East.
You can make a difference by calling the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee today!
SENATE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Leadership

Chair: Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI)
Ranking Member: Senator Larry Craig (R-ID)
Committee Members

Republicans

Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA)

Senator Richard Burr (R-NC)

Senator John Ensign (R-NV)
Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA)

Senator Kay Hutchison (R-TX)

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Democrats:

Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)

Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

Senator Barack Obama (D-IL)

Senator Jim Webb (D-VA)

Senator Jon Tester (D-MT)
Independent: Senator Bernard Sanders (I-VT)