Mark Takai

Mr. TAKAI

Mr. TAKAI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in righting a wrong that has existed since the end of World War II. Around 250,000 Filipino soldiers fought alongside U.S. forces in World War II. In 1946, President Truman stated that it is a ``moral obligation of the United States to look after the welfare of the Philippine Army veterans.'' Forty-four years later, President Bush signed the Immigration Act of 1990, which offered citizenship to around 26,000 Filipino World War II veterans, but it did not include their immediate families. Today, the number of surviving veterans is dwindling. Fewer than 4,000 are still alive. Many of these veterans live in Hawaii. It is our duty to see this obligation through and to take care of those who have fought for our country. We must lift limitations on immigrant visas and restrictions for their children. I ask you to join me in making good on our Nation's commitment to these servicemembers.