U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka of Hawaii has reintroduced a bill that would allow the children of Filipinos who fought with the U.S. during World War II to join their U.S. citizen parents in the United States.

Akaka said Thursday U.S. Sens. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii and Robert Menendez of New Jersey are co-sponsoring the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act of 2011.

The children would be exempt from quotas that have delayed their receipt of U.S. immigrant visas. Some children face waits of 20 years or more because so many Filipinos hope to emigrate and the limits are set by nationality.

In 1990, Congress provided the vets with a waiver from certain naturalization requirements. Many became U.S. citizens and residents, but allowances weren't made for their children.