I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 535 
To award a Congressional gold medal, collectively, to the Filipino Veterans 
of World War II, in recognition of their dedicated service during World 
War II. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 26, 2015 
Mr. VARGAS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on House 
Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speak-
er, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the ju-
risdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To award a Congressional gold medal, collectively, to the 
Filipino Veterans of World War II, in recognition of 
their dedicated service during World War II. 
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 ‘‘Filipino Veterans of 
World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
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(1) President Franklin Delano Roosevelt issued 
an order commissioning around 250,000 troops from 
the Philippines into active service for the United 
States during World War II. 
(2) The United States War Department imme-
diately formed the United States Armed Forces in 
the Far East (USAFFE). The unit was made up of 
the United States-Philippine Military Forces of the 
Commonwealth Army, Guerrilla Units, New Phil-
ippine Scout. 
(3) The Filipino Infantry Regiment, was mostly 
composed of first-generation immigrants living along 
the Pacific Coast, who volunteered after the Japa-
nese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, later many 
second-generation Filipino-American soldiers joined 
the Regiment from Hawaii. 
(4) The Philippine Scout units and the New 
Philippine Scouts were directly recruited by the 
United States Army for the war effort. 
(5) Under extremely severe occupation policies 
imposed by the Japanese, it was the anti-Japanese 
resistance movement that drew more and more Fili-
pinos to its side and through 1943 many of these 
anti-Japanese guerrillas recovered or newly estab-
lished liaisons with the United States Army Com-
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mand of the Southwest Pacific Area and placed 
themselves under the command of General Douglas 
MacArthur. 
(6) These Filipino soldiers responded to Presi-
dent Roosevelt’s call-to-arms and later fought under 
the American flag during World War II. 
(7) After the Japanese invasion in December 
1941, Filipino and American troops literally shared 
the same fate at Bataan, Corregidor, and the 
‘‘Death March’’. 
(8) Many made the ultimate sacrifice as both 
soldiers in the United States Armed Forces in the 
Far East and as guerilla fighters during the Impe-
rial Japanese occupation of the Philippines. 
(9) These troops had served under the expecta-
tion that they would be treated as United States 
military servicemembers. 
(10) The Rescission Act of 1946 later passed, 
which stated that Filipino forces would not be 
deemed to have been active military. 
(11) Congress recognizes the courage and brav-
ery of the Filipino and Filipino-American servicemen 
and servicewomen who have fought alongside and in 
the United States Armed Forces. 
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(12) The United States remains forever in-
debted to the bravery, valor, and dedication to coun-
try these men displayed. 
(13) Their commitment and sacrifice dem-
onstrates a highly uncommon and commendable 
sense of patriotism and honor. 
(14) The Filipino Veterans of World War II in-
clude those who served honorably— 
(A) in an active-duty status under the 
command of the United States Armed Forces in 
the Far East; or 
(B) within the Philippine Army, the Phil-
ippine Scouts, or recognized guerrilla units, at 
any time during the period beginning Sep-
tember 1, 1939, and ending December 31, 
1946. 
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. 
(a) AWARD
AUTHORIZED.—The Speaker of the 
House of Representatives and the President pro tempore 
of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the 
award, on behalf of the Congress, of a single gold medal 
of appropriate design to the Filipino Veterans of World 
War II, collectively in recognition of their dedicated service 
during World War II. 
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(b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For the purposes of the 
award referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the 
Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Sec-
retary’’) shall strike the gold medal with suitable emblems, 
devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Sec-
retary. 
(c) SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Following the award of the 
gold medal in honor of the Filipino Veterans of 
World War II under subsection (a), the gold medal 
shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution, where 
it will be displayed as appropriate and made avail-
able for research. 
(2) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 
Congress that the Smithsonian Institution should 
make the gold medal received under paragraph (1) 
available for display elsewhere, particularly at other 
appropriate locations associated with the Filipino 
Veterans of World War II. 
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS. 
Under such regulations as the Secretary may pre-
scribe, the Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in 
bronze of the gold medal struck under section 3, at a price 
sufficient to cover the costs of the medals, including labor, 
materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses. 
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SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS. 
(a) NATIONAL MEDALS.—Medals struck pursuant to 
this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 
of title 31, United States Code. 
(b) NUMISMATIC ITEMS.—For purposes of section 
5134 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck 
under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items. 
Æ 
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