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 ashington, D.C. - The U.S. Senate
today unanimously accepted an amendment offered by
 Senator Daniel K.
Akaka (D-HI) to grant the children of Filipino World War II veterans
special immigrant status for purposes of family reunification.
The generation of WW II Filipino Veterans is predominantly in their 80s.
Prospective family-sponsored immigrants from the Philippines have the
most substantial waiting times in the world before a visa is scheduled
to become available to them. Due to the high demand in the Philippines
for immigrant visas to the U.S., the State Department is currently
issuing visas for first preference family-sponsored immigrant visas
whose priority date is September 1981. The average wait for Filipinos to
obtain a visa is 20 years.
Senator Akaka said, "I have listened to the stories of countless
Filipino World War II veterans who have been separated from their
families and who are patiently waiting in line. Every veteran has a
unique story to tell, but those Filipino World War II veterans who have
not yet been reunited with their family members share a universal bond
of heartache.
"Let us prove those wrong who say that we are waiting until enough
veterans die before we right this injustice.
 These veterans have been
waiting for sixty years to have their benefits reinstated.
Unfortunately, our efforts to provide them with the benefits they were
promised, the benefits they fought for, have been unsuccessful because
opponents have cited the payment of such benefits as too costly."
Following Senator Akaka's speech, Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) stated,
"The Senator from Hawaii deserves great credit for bringing this to our
attention in the Senate. This will help provide some very important
family reunification. It's entirely warranted and justified. Thank you
again for your continued advocacy on this issue. We'll do everything we
can to make sure this is carried to the conference as well."
Senate Amendment 4029 is cosponsored by Senators Dan Inouye, Maria
Cantwell (D-WA), and Patty Murray (D-WA).
The amendment is now a part of S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration
Reform Act, and will be a part of the package that Senate Conferees take
to the House in attempting to enact a comprehensive immigration reform
bill. After Senate and House Conferees decide on what should be
contained in the conference report, both bodies will vote, and send the
bill to the President.
Representative Ed Case has introduced a similar bill, H.R. 901, in the
House of Representatives.
Senator Akaka said he is pleased with the support he has received from
his colleagues and various organizations, including the Japanese
American Citizens's League, Asian American Justice Center, and American
Coalition for Filipino Veterans.
"It is time that the United States fulfill its responsibility to these
veterans. The least we could do is help to unite these aging veterans
with their families," Senator Akaka added.
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