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Support strengthens, but equity vote unlikely this week for Fil Vets

By: Emil, May 21, 2008
Tags: general |

The Filipino veterans of WWII are close to having the  support they need to make history and win their fight for expanded benefits.

But it doesn’t look like a vote will be taken before the House goes on its Memorial Day recess.

As of Wednesday afternoon, a list compiled by supporters of the Filipino veterans named at least 60 Republicans committed to vote for S.1315– the bill that would give the Filipino nationals who fought during WWII the veterans benefits that have been denied for more than six decades.

The list of GOP supporters is significant because House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made it a requirement that the bill be veto proof with at least 60 GOP members behind it.

If the preliminary tally holds, the hope was for a vote to come up before the Memorial Day break.

But as the recess nears,  it looks more likely that a vote will take place in June.

Comments

  1. By Friday, lobbyists were saying that passage looks likely toward the beginning of June, as there appears to be well over 60 Republicans willing to join the Democrats to assure a veto-proof vote.
    Too bad they couldn’t get it together by the recess.
    A vote by Memorial Day would have made the holiday special, a fitting tribute to the Filipino veterans who have been discriminated for too long.

    –Emil on May 24, 2008

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