I
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2013
To establish a commission to review the provisions of law stating that service
performed by Filipino World War II veterans is not considered to be
service in the Armed Forces of the United States for purposes of most
veterans’ benefits under the laws of the United States, and for other
purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 6, 1993
Mr. BLACKWELL (for himself, Mr. ANDREWS of New Jersey, Mr. BORSKI, Mr.
CUNNINGHAM, Mr. FILNER, Mr. FOGLIETTA, Mr. FROST, Mr. GILMAN,
Mr. LANCASTER, Mr. MATSUI, Mr. MILLER of California, Mr. MINETA,
Ms. PELOSI, Mr. SCOTT, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. TUCKER, Mr. UNDERWOOD,
and Mr. WYNN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
A BILL
To establish a commission to review the provisions of law
stating that service performed by Filipino World War
II veterans is not considered to be service in the Armed
Forces of the United States for purposes of most veter-
ans’ benefits under the laws of the United States, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Commission on Fili-
pino Veterans Entitlement Act’’.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.
There is hereby established the Commission on Fili-
pino War Veterans Entitlement (hereinafter in this Act
referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’).
SEC. 3. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—It shall be the duty of the Com-
mission to—
(1) review the facts and circumstances sur-
rounding the enactment of those provisions of the
First Supplemental Surplus Appropriation Rescis-
sion Act, 1946 (Public Law 301 of the 79th Con-
gress, now codified as section 107 of title 38, United
States Code), that required the denial of most veter-
ans’ benefits and privileges to Filipino veterans of
World War II;
(2) review existing Department of Veterans Af-
fairs benefits and medical privileges that are avail-
able to those veterans;
(3) determine what type and kind of fair, equi-
table, and justifiable veterans’ benefits are due to
those veterans; and
(4) recommend appropriate changes in law.
(b) HEARINGS.—The Commission shall hold public
hearings in the cities of Manila, Cebu, and Davao in the
Philippines; Los Angeles and San Francisco, California;
Chicago, Illinois; Houston, Texas; New York, New York;
Washington, DC; Honolulu, Hawaii, and in any other loca-
tion that the Commission determines to be appropriate.
(c) REPORT.—The Commission shall submit to Con-
gress a written report of its findings and recommendations
not later than October 1, 1994.
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) COMPOSITION.—The Commission shall be com-
posed of seven members, who shall be appointed as follows:
(1) Three members shall be appointed by the
President.
(2) Two members shall be appointed by the
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(3) Two members shall be appointed by the
President pro tempore of the Senate.
(b) TERMS, VACANCIES.—The term of office for
members shall be for the life of the Commission. A va-
cancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers and
shall be filled in the same manner in which the original
appointment was made.
(c) FIRST MEETING.—The first meeting of the Com-
mission shall be called by the President within 60 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(d) QUORUM.—Four members of the Commission
shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold
hearings.
(e) CHAIRMAN, VICE CHAIRMAN.—The Commission
shall elect a chairman and vice chairman from among its
members. The term of office of each shall be for the life
of the Commission.
(f) COMPENSATION.—Each member of the Commis-
sion who is not otherwise employed by the United States
Government shall receive compensation at a rate equal to
the daily rate prescribed for GS–18 under the General
Schedule contained in section 5332 of title 5, United
States Code, for each day, including travel time, the mem-
ber is engaged in the actual performance of the member’s
duties as a member of the Commission. A member of the
Commission who is an officer or employee of the United
States Government shall serve without additional com-
pensation. All members of the Commission shall be reim-
bursed for travel, subsistence, and other actual and nec-
essary expenses incurred by them in the performance of
their duties.
SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) HEARINGS; SUBPOENAS.—The Commission or,
on the authorization of the Commission, any subcommittee
or member thereof, may, for the purpose of carrying out
the provisions of this Act, hold such hearings and sit and
act at such times and places, and request the attendance
and testimony of such witnesses and the production of
such books, records, correspondence, memorandum, pa-
pers, and documents as the Commission or such sub-
committee or member may deem advisable. The Commis-
sion may request the Attorney General to invoke the aid
of an appropriate United States District Court to require,
by subpoena or otherwise, such attendance, testimony, or
production.
(b) INFORMATION FROM EXECUTIVE AGENCIES.—
The Commission may require directly from the head of
any department, agency, independent instrumentality, or
other authority of the executive branch of the Government,
available information which the Commission considers use-
ful in the discharge of its duties. All departments, agen-
cies, and independent instrumentalities, or other authori-
ties of the executive branch of the Government shall co-
operate with the Commission and furnish all information
requested by the Commission to the extent permitted by
law.
ulations and to the extent or in such amounts as are
provided in appropriation Acts; and
(5) enter into contracts with Federal or State
agencies, private firms, institutions, and agencies for
the conduct of research or surveys, the preparation
of reports and other activities necessary to the dis-
charge of the duties of the Commission, to the ex-
tent or in such amounts as are provided in appro-
priation Acts.
SEC. 7. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate on February 1,
1995.
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is hereby authorized to be appropriated
$2,000,000 to carry out the provisions of this Act.
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