US lawmakers set to vote on bill giving highest honor to Pinoy WWII vets

The US House of Representatives is set to vote on a bill that seeks to award Filipino World War II veterans the Congressional Gold Medal on November 30, two American lawmakers said Tuesday.

"This week, Congress will take the next step to recognize the brave and courageous service of Filipino World War II veterans like Domingo Los Banos from Kaua?i," Senator Mazie Hirono said in a statement.

The bill unanimously passed the Senate in July.

The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest honor the US Congress gives to civilians.

"The unanimous support this bill earned in the Senate and the overwhelming backing it has in the House honors the sacrifice so many of these veterans made for our country," Hirono, a Democrat, said.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, for his part, urged his colleagues  "to join me in voting to pass this timely legislation, and to honor our veterans with this long-overdue recognition."

"These loyal and courageous soldiers suffered, fought, and gave up their lives alongside their American counterparts throughout the war, and have waited decades for their service to be recognized," she added.

"They cannot afford to wait any longer.”

Hirono and Gabbard introduced the Filipino Veterans of WWII Congressional Gold Medal Act in 2015, and have worked together toward the bill's final passage.

The legislation 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.  —KBK, GMA News