Bill Overview
Title: Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2022
Description: This bill expands eligibility for certain Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits to the surviving spouse and children of individuals who served in the organized military forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts. In determining eligibility under this bill, the VA must take into account any alternative documentation regarding such service, other than the recognized guerilla rosters stored at the National Personnel Records Center.
Sponsors: Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14]
Target Audience
Population: Surviving spouses and children of Filipino veterans who served in World War II
Estimated Size: 1000
- The bill focuses on Filipino veterans who served in the organized military forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts, which were associated with the United States military during World War II.
- There are a limited number of these veterans still alive, but there are many more surviving spouses and children who may not be receiving benefits due to lack of documented service recognition.
- The legislation expands eligibility for VA benefits to these family members, hence impacting a broader group than just the veterans themselves.
- The target population is mainly concentrated in the Philippines but may also include some individuals residing in the United States and other countries.
- The need for alternative documentation suggests this bill addresses those who may have previously been denied benefits due to stringent documentation requirements.
Reasoning
- The Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2022 seeks to rectify historical injustices by expanding benefits to family members of Filipino veterans from World War II, specifically impacting those who struggled with benefit eligibility due to documentation issues.
- The core focus is on surviving spouses and children, a group that is significant due to immigration patterns, especially post-WWII where many Filipinos resettled in the U.S. for education, work, or family reasons.
- 200,000,000 USD in year 1 suggests a moderated rollout focusing initially on those with the strongest claims or in greatest need; thus, individuals with demonstrable historical ties or currently unmet needs may be prioritized first.
- A budget of nearly 2.5 billion USD over 10 years reflects a sustainable, long-term commitment to support affected families, indicating that as documentation processes become streamlined, more individuals will receive these benefits.
- Population estimates must consider aged, historical connections (as many WWII veterans are now deceased), but significant spousal and offspring eligibility due to Philippine demographic features of large family sizes and cultural emphasis on kinship and family ties.
- Given a global estimate of 50,000 people, policy rollout will concentrate on maximizing immediate benefits to those identified within the most accessible records, typically FOIA requests, existing petitions, and known backlog cases.
Simulated Interviews
Retired (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 78 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have struggled for years trying to get any recognition for my father's service, and this bill seems like it might finally respect my family's contributions.
- I hope the new documentation rules allow us to prove our eligibility without all the previous stress.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Engineer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 64 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While this policy doesn't directly apply to me, it would be a relief for my wife to finally see her father's service acknowledged.
- I expect a modest improvement in our family's financial wellbeing if the benefits come through.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Healthcare Worker (Houston, TX)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I directly assist elders in the community who might be eligible, so I'm hopeful this policy simplifies the benefits process.
- Having the government recognize alternative documents is huge because many families don't have formal records.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Veteran advocate (Manila, Philippines)
Age: 85 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This seemed like it would never happen in my lifetime but is crucial for my siblings still residing in the U.S.
- I would be delighted to see justice served for my family and community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Nurse (Chicago, IL)
Age: 58 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having been denied benefits before, this act could help me support my family better.
- I've faced many struggles due to lack of official recognition of my late husband's service.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Software Developer (New York, NY)
Age: 32 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's encouraging to see historical wrongs being addressed, even if it doesn’t impact me as much personally.
- I think it'll motivate my family to dig for the correct documents and seek justice.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Community Leader (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 75 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Recognition through this policy would help validate the stories my father shared about his service.
- The change to consider alternative documentation means a lot, as official records were often lost.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retired (New York, NY)
Age: 91 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've lived most of my life waiting for such recognition, and I'm thrilled for future generations.
- This policy would help my grandchildren see my service was always worthy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Teacher (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 9.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act opens a chapter of hope for many neglected communities in dire need of this validation.
- I'm cautiously optimistic about how effectively these changes will roll out over time.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retired Nurse (Honolulu, HI)
Age: 61 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy arrives as a blessing after facing so many roadblocks in getting my father's service recognized.
- It's hard to trust until I see it, but cautiously optimistic best describes my feelings.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $200000000 (Low: $150000000, High: $250000000)
Year 2: $210000000 (Low: $157500000, High: $262500000)
Year 3: $220500000 (Low: $165375000, High: $275625000)
Year 5: $243550000 (Low: $182662500, High: $304437500)
Year 10: $298355500 (Low: $223766625, High: $372944375)
Year 100: $325000000 (Low: $244000000, High: $406000000)
Key Considerations
- The primary consideration is ensuring accurate and fair verification of alternative documents for service recognition.
- The VA must be prepared for an influx of applications and required documentation processing, which may delay benefit delivery and increase administrative costs.
- The policy addresses long-standing inequities faced by families of Filipino veterans, creating a moral imperative to act despite fiscal costs.