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Lawmakers compromise on Filipino vet pensions

In a compromise that could end a contentious debate over whether the U.S. still owes a debt to Filipinos who served alongside American troops in World War II, the House Veterans Affairs Committee approved a plan Wednesday for a one-time payment to surviving veterans instead of an annual pension.

But if veterans were to take the payments spelled out in HR 6897 — $15,000 for U.S. citizens and $9,000 for noncitizens — they would waive the right to ever receive another pension for their World War II service if the federal government were to someday pass a more generous bill.

About 18,000 Filipinos would qualify for payments under the bill, according to estimates prepared by the Congressional Budget Office.

Disagreement over the pensions and how to pay for them has been the chief cause of deadlock on veterans’ benefits legislation. The Senate passed a benefits bill, S 1315, that included the Filipino pensions, but there was no final vote on the House’s bill, HR 760, because of complaints about a plan to grant special pensions to Filipino Scouts and other veterans who worked with the U.S. in World War II — $3,600 a year for single veterans and $4,500 for married veterans.

Some lawmakers and veterans’ groups said the $221 million annual cost would be better spent on immediate needs for U.S. veterans and their families, especially Iraq and Afghanistan combat veterans.

Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairman and one of the staunchest advocates for providing pensions for Filipino veterans, is the chief sponsor of the compromise bill. Rep. Steve Buyer of Indiana, the committee’s ranking Republican, opposed the initial pension bill and is the sponsor of the amendment calling for veterans who accept the one-time payment to waive the right to receive future benefits for the same period of service.

Filner said he is not happy about the one-time payment, which would be provided only if money is available. A lump-sum payment is “a more practical” way to pay the benefit, he said, but added: “It is clearly not the most just or equitable, and for that I am disappointed.”

Buyer still is not completely on board, expressing concern that providing payments to Filipinos could lead French, Italian and other nationalities who helped in World War II to also seek benefits from the U.S.

Committee aides, who asked not to be identified, said House leaders have indicated support for the compromise, allowing the House to vote on an issue that has delayed work on other veterans’ legislation.

Whether the one-time payment becomes law will depend on what happens in the Senate, where Sen. Daniel Akaka, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairman, has placed a high priority on providing pensions to Filipinos who helped the U.S. military.

Aides to Akaka said the senator has not endorsed the new House proposal.