Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, this is a special one for me, personally. I rise today in support of S. 1555, the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015, introduced by Senator Hirono.

This bill, which was passed in the Senate on July 13, has companion legislation here in the House, H.R. 2737, introduced by our colleague, Representative Gabbard, which has 312 House cosponsors.

The reason why it is a special one to me is I have spent significant time in the Philippines and have many close Filipino friends, and know the dedication of the Philippines collectively, and those families who paid an ultimate sacrifice during World War II. I have actually visited our World War II cemetery in Manila, and have seen the headstones and gravestones of many Filipinos who were there fighting alongside of us as well. That is why it is a special opportunity for me, as chair of the subcommittee that has jurisdiction over this, to be involved.

So this bill authorizes the striking and awarding of a single Congressional Gold Medal of appropriate design to the Filipino Veterans of World War II in recognition of their heroic and dedicated service. Following the award, the medal will be given to the Smithsonian Institute, where it will be available for display as appropriate, or available for display elsewhere, particularly at other locations associated with the Filipino Veterans of World War II.

The Treasury Secretary is authorized to make and offer for sale bronze replicas of the medal at a price that will help defray the design and production costs of the actual medal.

Mr. Speaker, Japanese Imperial forces attacked the Philippines the day after bombing the U.S. base at Pearl Harbor almost exactly 75 years ago on December 7, 1941. At that point, the Philippines still were a United States colony, though the process that led to its independence in 1946 actually began in 1934.

Fortunately, the Philippines formed its own armed forces. Four months before the Pearl Harbor attack, President Roosevelt brought the 136,000 members of the force into a full state of readiness to defend the U.S. and its territories and colonies.

I will leave it to the House sponsor of the companion bill to describe the heroism of those soldiers and the sacrifices that they made in defense of the United States and their homeland; but suffice it to say that it was a difficult and costly defense that they waged.

I will note that our embassy sits right on the bay in Manila today and overlooks Corregidor and so many other places there in the Philippines that were witness to those battles, including my own uncle who, at the time, served in the Navy and helped deliver goods and services throughout the Pacific and into the Philippines as well.

Mr. Speaker, Congress has authorized Congressional Gold Medals in recognition of the heroic efforts of Japanese Americans, Native Americans, and Puerto Rican soldiers, among others, in defense of this country during World War II and in other conflicts. This recognition of Filipino veterans of World War II is long overdue, and I urge immediate passage of the bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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