	Background

The Philippine Islands became a U.S. possession in 1898, when they were ceded from Spain following the Spanish-American War (1898-1902). This report, which will be updated as legislative events warrant, provides an overview of major Filipino veterans legislation enacted by Congress since 1946. The report begins by defining the specific groups of Filipino nationals who served under the command of the United States, outlines the Rescission Acts of 1946, the changes to benefits for Filipino veterans since 1946, and recent legislative proposals. It should be noted that veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces have the same entitlement to monetary benefits in the Philippines that they would have in the United States, with the exception of home loans and related programs, which are not available in the Philippines. Table 1 provides a summary of benefits currently available to Filipino veterans and survivors by category of service (Regular Philippine Scouts, Commonwealth Army of the Philippines, Recognized Guerilla Forces, and New Philippine Scouts). 760 and S. 57 would have eliminated the distinction between the Regular or "Old" Philippine Scouts and the other three groups of veterans—Commonwealth Army of the Philippines, Recognized Guerrilla Forces, and New Philippine Scouts—making them all fully eligible for VA benefits similar to those received by U.S. veterans. H.R. Legislation in the 111th Congress

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA, P.L. 111-5 ) authorizes a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund to Filipino veterans who served in the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines, Recognized Guerrilla Forces, and New Philippine Scouts.
The United States has had a continuous relationship with the Philippine Islands since 1898, when they were acquired by the United States as a result of the Spanish-American War. Filipinos have served in, and with, the U.S. Armed Forces since the Spanish-American War, and especially during World War II. The Islands remained a possession of the United States until 1946.
Since 1946, Congress has passed several laws affecting various categories of Filipino veterans. Many of these laws have been liberalizing laws that have provided Filipino World War II veterans with medical and monetary benefits similar to benefits available to U.S. veterans.
However, not all veterans' benefits are available to veterans of the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines, Recognized Guerrilla Forces, and New Philippine Scouts. In the 110th Congress, two measures, H.R. 760 and S. 57, have been introduced that would eliminate the distinction between the Regular, or "Old," Philippine Scouts and the other three groups of veterans—the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines, Recognized Guerrilla Forces, and New Philippine Scouts—making them all fully eligible for veterans' benefits similar to those received by U.S. veterans.
This report defines the four specific groups (Regular Philippine Scouts, Commonwealth Army of the Philippines, Recognized Guerilla Forces, and New Philippine Scouts) of Filipino nationals who served under the command of the United States, outlines the Rescission Acts of 1946, benefit changes since 1946, current benefits for Filipino veterans by group, and recent legislative proposals and legislation, including the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA, P.L. 111-5). It will be updated as legislative events warrant.