Introduction of the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act of 2019

Floor Speech

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Mr. CASE. Madam Speaker, today, with my colleague, Mr. Young of Alaska, I rise to introduce the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act. I also welcome the companion version of this bill introduced today in the U.S. Senate by Senator Hirono of Hawai'i and Senator Murkowski of Alaska. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would exempt immigrant visa applications of children of Filipino World War II veterans from existing caps and allow them to gain green cards on processing and approval of their applications, which are still carefully vetted in line with existing immigration standards. This bill will not only assist these veterans in their senior years but also provide a fitting recognition of their critical service in the War. In 1941, more than 250,000 Filipino soldiers responded to President Roosevelt's call-to-arms in the Philippines and elsewhere and fought for the U.S. during World War II. Many of these brave individuals returned from the War only to be denied many of the benefits promised for their service, and they have spent decades fighting recognition of their service. Many such veterans became proud U.S. citizens, though today there are only a few thousand Filipino veterans still alive and living in the U.S. In October 2017, Congress finally awarded the Filipino veterans of World War II the Congressional Gold Medal to honor their service to our country, but we must do more as we promised. These Filipino American veterans long sought to gain entry and citizenship for their children, yet our immigrant visa backlog has forced family members to wait up to decades and thus effectively prevented these aging veterans from reuniting with their families. In 2016, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services created the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program, a temporary administrative fix that allows these veterans to request parole for their children or siblings. Under this policy, they can live in the U.S. pending processing of their permanent resident applications, which may still take years if not decades. However, as these veterans near the end of their lives, they deserve the certainty of a non-revocable permanent solution. This bill would grant them that. In this Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and in further recognition of the selfless service and contributions of Filipino veterans of World War II to our country, I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting and passing this bill.

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