Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi directs the federal government’s second largest department, responsible for a nationwide system of health care services, benefits programs, and national cemeteries for America’s veterans and dependents. With a budget of more than $59 billion, VA employs approximately 224,000 people at hundreds of VA medical centers, clinics, benefits offices, and national cemeteries throughout the country.
Mr. Principi was nominated by President George W. Bush on December 29, 2000, and was confirmed by the Senate on January 23, 2001.
A combat-decorated Vietnam veteran, Mr. Principi is a 1967 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., and first saw active duty aboard the destroyer USS Joseph P. Kennedy. He later commanded a River Patrol Unit in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta.
Prior to his nomination as Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Mr. Principi was president of QTC Medical Services, Inc. During the past decade, he was senior vice president at Lockheed Martin IMS, and a partner in the San Diego law firm of Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps.
Mr. Principi earned his law degree from Seton Hall University in 1975 and was assigned to the Navy’s Judge Advocate General Corps in San Diego, Calif. In 1980, he was transferred to Washington as a legislative counsel for the Department of the Navy.
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Sixty years ago, Filipino veterans fought beside American troops to restore liberty and democracy to their homeland. Filipinos volunteered as spies, served as guerrillas in the jungles and fought in American units in the war against Japan. Many suffered through the Bataan Death March. The bravery and self-sacrifice of these Filipino veterans contributed to the Allied victory in World War II.
I am second to none in my admiration of the sacrifices made by Filipinos during World War II. These brave soldiers were called on to defend the Philippine people against superior forces, and, in the face of what should have been a devastating loss, they performed magnificently.
The United States does not forget those who stood by her in times of crisis. We have over the years steadily expanded the health care services and disability compensation available to these aging Filipino veterans.
I am proud that, at the request of President Bush, Congress authorized the Department of Veterans Affairs recently to expand the medical services, disability compensation and burial benefits for veterans of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and the New Philippine Scouts.
As many as 9,000 Filipino veterans who are citizens or legal residents may be eligible for some of these benefits. The expansion affects veterans of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and the New Philippine Scouts (Philippine citizens who served with the U.S. armed forces between Oct. 6 1945, and June 30, 1947).
The service-connected requirement for treatment in medical facilities has been removed as a condition of health care. Previously, both the Commonwealth Army and the New Philippine Scouts were eligible for treatment of service-connected disabilities in VA medical facilities. The Veterans Health Care, Capital Asset, and Business Improvement Act of 2003 eliminates that requirement as a condition of health care.
In addition to removing the compensation requirement, the law now treats both groups equally, expanding eligibility for certain health care benefits to New Philippine Scouts. Under earlier regulations, Commonwealth Army veterans but not New Philippine Scouts were eligible for treatment of non-service-connected disabilities in the same manner as U.S. World War II veterans if they received certain VA compensation and were legal residents of the United States.
The health benefit changes are effective immediately. I urge affected Filipino veterans not currently using the VA health care system to apply for enrollment in the medical plan by completing Form 10-EZ online at www.va.gov/1010ez.htm or by requesting a mailed form by calling VA at 1-877-222-8387. Filipino veterans must include proof of legal residency with their applications. Examples of acceptable proof are available online at www.va.gov/elig or from 1-877-222-8387.
There is good news about disability compensation. Some Filipino World War II veterans and their survivors will receive additional financial benefits under the Veterans Benefit Act of 2003. The act doubles the VA disability compensation currently paid to the New Philippine Scouts who live in the United States and are either a citizen or permanent resident. Previously, these veterans were paid at half the disability rates normally paid to U.S. veterans.
Eligible survivors of both the New Philippine Scouts and veterans of the Commonwealth Army or organized guerrilla units may be eligible for improved benefits. The survivors must be currently paid at the half rate and meet U.S. citizenship or permanent resident criteria.
These benefit changes are effective immediately, and no action is required by the affected Filipino veterans or dependents who are currently on the rolls at the lower rates. VA will automatically adjust their payments.
Burial benefits have also improved. New Philippine Scouts who lawfully reside in the United States are now eligible for burial in a national cemetery. They are also eligible for the monetary and headstone or marker burial benefits available to U.S. veterans if they meet the residency requirements.
The United States is indebted to Filipino veterans, whose heroism and self-sacrifice helped the allies emerge victorious from World War II. They have earned these expanded benefits.
-- Anthony J. Principi
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
(Washington, DC)
