Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

Not wanting to raise the standard of living of war veterans living in the Philippines, Nevada Senator John Ensign is not inclined to support a move to increase the federal benefits of these former soldiers.

"If they got the same amount of money as veterans here, we would basically allow them to live at a much higher level of standard of living than any veterans that we provide for in the United States," Ensign said.

The senator spoke during a monthly luncheon of the Asian Chamber of Commerce at the Palace Station Hotel, Las Vegas, last Friday, May 29.

Rozita Lee, vice chair of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations, had asked Sen. Ensign what he would do with regard to the campaign for full equity for Filipino World War II veterans living in the Philippines.

In a separate interview, Lee said the Filipino community is disappointed over disparate compensations for veterans based on where they currently reside.

"Why should there be different compensations made to veterans because of where they live?" she told the Asian Journal.

"They fought in the same war side by side with American soldiers, caught the same bullets the enemy fired, fought and died for America. They were promised by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt that they would be accorded the same benefits as American soldiers," she added.

It will be recalled that during deliberations in Congress early this year, Sen. Ensign voted against giving these war veterans the same amount as those living in the United States .

As a result, the US government authorized one-time lump sum payments of $15,000 each to Filipino World War II veterans who are US citizens as well as those residing in the United States . Veterans who fought in the same war, but are currently living in the Philippines were given a smaller amount of only $9,000.