US Congress passes bill giving highest honor to Pinoy WWII vets

The US House of Representatives on Wednesday (US time) unanimously passed the bill that seeks to award Filipino World War II veterans the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor the US Congress gives to civilians.
"Today, the United States Congress took an historic step forward in honoring the more than 200,000 Filipino and Filipino-American soldiers that served our country during World War II," said Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who introduced the bill to the chamber.
"With unanimous support from the United State Congress, our bill now heads to the President’s desk," she added.
"I urge the President to sign this bill into law before the year’s end, and honor our veterans with this long-overdue recognition," Gabbard said.
The bill, which passed the Senate in July, acknowledges the more than 200,000 Filipino and Filipino-American soldiers who responded to President Franklin Roosevelt's call-to-duty and fought under the American flag against the Imperial Forces of Japan during World War II.
In a statement, the group KAYA: Filipino Americans for Progress said it is grateful for leaders in Congress and in advocacy groups for pushing for recognition of our veterans, both for the living and for those who have passed. —KBK, GMA News

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