Samuel B. Moody Bataan Death March Compensation Act

Madam Speaker, I am truly disappointed that the United States Congress today would even consider giving benefits to Filipino veterans and ignore American veterans who were victims of the Bataan Death March in the Philippines.

In crafting H.R. 6897, which gives all Filipino veterans benefits, did you know that the Veterans' Affairs Committee dumped a provision to the bill that would have authorized $4 a day for the American survivors of the Bataan Death March?

Did you know that of the 4,500 veterans that survived the march, there are only 1,700 American veterans or spouses alive today? Why would Congress ignore these American veterans and their spouses?

Passing any legislation that would give foreigners veterans benefits from the American taxpayer without providing just compensation to our citizen veterans is unfair. These are Americans who in the Bataan Death March were tortured, imprisoned, and starved; and, to date, have been denied benefits Congress would grant to Filipinos. Does the United States Congress have no conscence? Furthermore, it is incredible that the Japanese Diet is considering giving benefits to the Japanese captors who are responsible for torturing and maiming our own men. Now the U.S. Congress is adding another insult to those who suffered in the Bataan Death March. The provision that was not included in H.R. 6897, the Filipino Benefits bill, is included in H.R. 1570, The Samuel B. Moody Bataan Death March Compensation Act, which I have introduced year after year. A copy of a previous ``Dear Colleague'' letter that I sent to Members of Congress and the Veterans' Affairs Committee contained the following information.

Bataan Death March Survivors Deserve Just Compensation

Dear Colleague: In 1942, American and Allied troops fought

bravely against the Japanese army during the Second World War

on the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines. Due to the low

supplies and no hope of reinforcements, these men fought

valiantly until they were forced to surrender to the enemy.

Our troops were corralled in the Mariveles, just south of

Bataan, and were forced to endure the journey of their

lives--the Bataan Death March.

Treatment by their Japanese captors was inhumane and often

fatal as those who could not continue marching were summarily

beaten or executed on the spot. Many marchers attempted to

escape into the jungles and some succeeded; however, most

were forced to continue on their journey. Once they reached

the railroad sidings, the troops were crammed into railroad

cars like cattle. After reaching Camp O'Donnell in the

jungles of Arlac Province, our soldiers were held as

prisoners of war (POWs) for over 3\1/2\ years.

Over the years, Congress has adopted provisions concerning

the pay, allowances and benefits of members of the uniformed

services in ``missing status'' and ``POWs''. As a general

proposition, the provisions are intended to leave members of

the uniformed services who are in ``missing status'' and

``POWs'', including their dependents, in the same position

they would have been if the members were not missing.

Unfortunately, veterans of the Bataan Death March were never

given their due allowances or benefits. It is only fitting

that those soldiers who bravely fought and sacrificed for our

freedom be appropriately compensated for their service to our

country.

In an effort to give these brave men their just benefits, I

have introduced H.R. 1570. This legislation would provide

compensation to those individuals who were forced to partake

and held imprisoned following the ruthless procession. I ask

you to join me in this effort by cosponsoring this

legislation and ensuring that those who gave so much in

service to our Nation receive just compensation for their

sacrifice and valor. Today a grave injustice was committed

when American POW Bataan Death March Survivors were ignored

and left behind.

While this statement is in opposition to the action

approved by the U.S. House today, I in no way want to imply

that the military service sacrifice by Filipino nationals to

the United States should not be recognized, appreciated or

properly compensated.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of these Homeland Security bipartisan measures. I would like to commend Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member King for their efforts to bring these bills to the floor today. I would also like to congratulate the authors of these bills Congresswoman Harman and Congressmen Carney, Langevin, King, Bilirakis, Reichert, and Perlmutter.

Individually, the bills presented today improve operations within the Department of Homeland Security, including issues related to privacy, information sharing and enhanced security. Collectively, they improve on the provisions of H.R. 1, the Implementing 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act.

Protecting the privacy of our citizens is an important but very difficult issue to balance in our Nation's war against terrorism. Under H.R. 1570, the presence of a full-time Component Privacy Officer would ensure that privacy considerations remain at the forefront and are integrated into the decisionmaking process at all of the DHS Components.

Through our oversight work, it is clear that DHS's information systems have been penetrated and remain vulnerable to cyber attacks. H.R. 5983, the Homeland Security Network Defense and Accountability Act of 2008, represents a critical step toward improving the cybersecurity network at DHS by ensuring a robust defense of its information systems, and holding individuals at all levels accountable for mitigating vulnerabilities.

While protecting DHS information systems is critical to our Nation's security, we also need to be mindful of the importance and need for information sharing. H.R. 6193, H.R. 4806 and H.R. 3815 address the need for information sharing in a secure manner. H.R. 6193--Improving Public Access to Documents Act of 2008--dovetails with H.R. 4086's effort to remove obstacles to more and better information sharing in the unclassified category.

Our offshore territories are the first point of entry to the U.S. for many foreigners and our shores are extremely vulnerable to illegal and possibly terrorist activities. I am pleased that H.R. 5531 will put in motion a plan to deploy next-generation radiological detection technology at our ports of entry to more effectively and more efficiently scan persons and cargo as they enter the United States. I fully support the ``Biometric Identification At Sea Pilot Project'' which has allowed the Coast Guard to collect biometrics from individuals interdicted in the Caribbean to run them against terrorist and criminal databases. H.R. 5531 and H.R. 2490 address the vulnerabilities of our Caribbean shores.

Madam Speaker, the implementation of these bills would not be possible without our State, local and tribal entities. Fusion Centers provide much needed support to these entities in the implementation of Homeland Security programs. H.R. 6098 requires DHS to allow State and local governments to use Homeland Security grant funding to hire and keep analysts in fusion centers--for however long State and local officials see fit.

I urge my colleagues to support these bills and their passage.