H.R. 37 Summary

• Urges Congress and the President to support legislation expediting family reunification for Filipino World War II veterans.

• Notes that approximately 100,000 Filipino Commonwealth Army soldiers fought alongside U.S. and Allied forces during World War II, yet were denied equal veterans benefits by the 1946 Rescission Act.

• Recognizes that 1990 legislation granted Filipino veterans immigration and naturalization waivers allowing many to become U.S. citizens, but failed to extend these benefits to their children remaining in the Philippines.

• Emphasizes that surviving veterans are now in their seventies and eighties and remain ineligible for full federal veterans benefits and services due to the Rescission Act.

• Requires certified copies be sent to the President, Congress leadership, the Republic of the Philippines, veterans affairs officials, and Hawaii's state legislature committees on human services and tourism.