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Washington D.C. – Ranking Member of House Committee on Veterans Affairs Steve Buyer expressed deep disagreement today over a Senate proposal that would provide American Taxpayer funds to non-citizen, non-resident Filipino veterans as part of the stimulus bill the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  This is yet another example of Congressional Democrats’ preference for political pork over stimulating the U.S. economy.  The Senate provision would provide pension payments for World War II Filipino Veterans of who mostly live outside of the United States and are not citizens.

“The purpose of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is to stimulate the American economy and create jobs, but this provision does neither.  However, I am not surprised that the liberals have included it in the stimulus,” said Buyer.  “Our nation is at a financial crossroads and we face many significant economic challenges, such as taking care of American veterans. Sending American’s hard earned taxpayer dollars overseas does not create jobs in America.”

“I do not question the valor and courage of the Philippine Army, which fought alongside U.S. forces to defeat Japan in World War II and I am not opposed to discussing ways to compensate these veterans.  However, to do so and say it under the guise of stimulating the American economy is a complete falsehood and is the lowest form of partisan politics.”

Earlier this week, the House Rules Committee rejected on a party-line vote four Buyer amendments to the House version of the stimulus bill. These amendments would have provided funds to provide job skill training for veterans, increase in subsistence allowance for disabled veterans undergoing vocational rehabilitation training, and grants for homeless providers to give job training services for homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children. Another amendment would have provided $1 billion in funding to allow VA to make small business loans to veterans that would have increased entrepreneurship and created jobs. These amendments were not made in order by the liberal majority in the House Rules Committee.

“Veterans are an important part of our economy and my amendments would have greatly benefited American veterans and the fact that Congressional leaders blocked these amendments while providing funding to non-resident, non-citizen Filipinos is a bitter pill to swallow.”