Six decades have passed since more than 200,000 Filipino soldiers fought for the United States in World War II, but the 20,000 who live in the United States today — most of whom are U.S. citizens — are fighting to be recognized as veterans. The Pilipino American Student Union (PASU) is trying to help by campaigning for the passage of two new Congressional bills, collectively known as the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007.

According to Diana Austria ‘08, co-chair of PASU’s Issues Committee, many of the surviving Filipino soldiers who have immigrated to the United States are living just above the subsistence line in the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas.

“[They are] barely making by on Social Security income and living in places like SROs (Single Room Occupancy),” Austria said in an email to The Daily. “Many are in their 70s or 80s — and dying. To this day they still are not recognized as full U.S. veterans and do not receive the veterans’ benefits they rightfully deserve and valiantly fought for.”

Filipino soldiers were called to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces in the Far East after President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an executive order in 1941. After the Philippines gained independence from the U.S. in 1946, Congress passed the Rescission Act, stating that the soldiers “shall not be deemed to be or have been military or naval forces of the United States.” As a result, Filipino veterans did not receive full veteran benefits following the war.

Since 1946, laws have been passed to grant the veterans select benefits, but the Rescission Act still holds for the over 20,000 former Filipino soldiers who remain in this country.

In January of this year, the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007 was introduced through two sister bills, H.R. 760 and S. 57, by Rep. Bob Filner (D-Calif.) and Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii). The act aims “to amend Title 38, United States Code, to deem certain service in the organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts to have been active service for purposes of benefits under programs administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.”

“Basically, these bills will recognize Filipino World War II veterans as having been active servicemen in the war and entitle them to the full range of veterans’ benefits,” Austria said.

Various forms of the two bills have been introduced during nearly every Congressional session since the early 1990s, Austria added, but have fallen short of the number of co-sponsors needed to advance each year.

“The biggest argument against the bills is probably the financial cost of providing the veterans’ benefits,” Austria said. “[That argument] is quite weak, given that only 20,000 of the original 250,000 remain, many of [whom] are dying every year, and so the cost would be minimal compared to other government costs.”

For more than five years, PASU has been involved in the campaign for equal treatment for Filipino veterans. The student group works to raise awareness about the issue, both by tabling in White Plaza the Friday before Veterans Day and by giving educational presentations. PASU also works with local organizations, such as the San Francisco Veterans Equity Center and Student Actions for Veterans Equity, to educate the public about the two bills.

The group is currently heading a letter-writing campaign to encourage Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), who represents the state’s District 14, which includes Stanford, to co-sponsor the bills, a move Eshoo has made in the past but has yet to do this year.

“We are encouraging all members of the community to support the campaign by contacting our local and home representatives to co-sponsor the bills,” Austria said.

For many members of PASU and the Stanford community, the issue of veteran inequity hits close to home.

“Many PASU members, past and present, have had grandfathers who served during World War II and are faced with the reality of the issue,” Austria said.

Richard Sajor ‘11 expressed concern for his grandmother, who receives minimal benefits for her deceased husband’s service during the war. Sajor said that the benefits she receives are “not equal to those of veterans who fought in other wars,” nor are they “enough to support all of her living expenses.”