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Washington: Building on the
momentum from successful hearings before the US House Veterans
Affairs Committee on February 15, the National Alliance for Filipino
Veterans Equity has launched a campaign nationwide for passage of
the Filipino Veterans Equity Act.
NAFVE brings
together organizations and individuals at local, state and national
levels in a coordinated national campaign to secure justice for the
Filipino veterans of World War II. Working with grass-roots
advocates around the country and professional staff and consultants
with years of experience in Washington, D.C., NAFVE constitutes an
unprecedented effort in both size and scope from a unified
Filipino-American community to right the historical wrong.
“We heard it
loud and clear in the House Veterans Affairs hearing and in meeting
with members of Congress in Washington, D.C.—the time is right to
pass the Filipino Veterans Equity Act,” said Jon Melegrito, NAFVE
co-chairman. “There is unmistakable momentum on our side to
finally secure justice for our Filipino World War II Veterans.”
“The stars
are in alignment—the Filipino-American community around the
country is unified as it has never been before and the political
climate in Washington, D.C., is ripe for passage of full equity for
our veterans,” said Lilian Galedo, NAFVE co-chairman. “NAFVE
will work with all of our allies around the country to raise the
community’s collective voice to call for passage of this bill.”
In the coming
weeks and months, the group will partner with member-organizations
around the country to hold events and meetings with members of
Congress and other stakeholders to raise awareness about the
Filipino Veterans Equity Act and to make sure that Filipino World
War II Veterans receive the honor and dignity for which they so
bravely fought.
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