14 July 2015 – After meeting with Philippine Consul General Mario De Leon, Jr. and Filipino community members of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick (R-8th PA) agreed to co-sponsor H.B 2737 (Senate version 1555) filed last June 11, recognizing the valor and sacrifice made by Philippine Veterans of WWII by awarding them the Congressional Gold Medal.
Apart from veterans’ concerns, Consul General De Leon also talked about the Philippine arbitration case on competing maritime claims in the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea pending in The Hague. The oral arguments are ongoing, but China has refused to participate in the proceedings. He discussed China’s major reclamation activities, which have resulted in economic damage to the Philippines estimated at US$6Billion. The natural balance of marine ecosystem in and around the West Philippines Sea and Pacific Ocean has been adversely affected as a result, he added.
Representative Fitzpatrick conveyed that foreign trade talks are taking place and that the U.S. is talking with various economies on the Trans-Pacific Partnership. In his committee, Rep. Fitzpatrick said that he has always supported trade-related agreements except in the case of certain countries whose regimes have serious human rights violations. However, the U.S. should continue to engage all economies on trade matters despite their domestic affairs, he added.
Finally, Representative Fitzpatrick agreed to join the bipartisan US-Philippine Friendship Caucus upon the invitation of Consul General De Leon. He was pleased to hear about the Caucus and promised to sign up with Republican Representative Darrel Issa.
During the meeting, community members raised the plight of Amerasians in the Philippines before Representative Fitzpatrick and requested support for a draft bill to be filed in Congress recognizing the rights of Amerasians who were conceived by Filipino mothers and American fathers who were mostly US servicemen. A local Filipino community member also invited Representative Fitzpatrick to engage the community in small business matters citing the recent White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAPPI)- organized boot camp in Philadelphia supported by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce, which can be tapped as a business model for other minorities.
Representatives from the International Network of Filipinos Overseas, Filipino Executive Council of Greater Philadelphia Southern New Jersey, National Federation of Filipino-American Associations Philadelphia, Philippine Nurses Association Pennsylvania, and Pearl S. Buck International were present during the meeting.
The Consulate General will continue to engage U.S. Representatives on various issues relating to US-Philippine relations in cooperation with Filipino community members who can help promote Philippine cultural, political and economic interests before local government officials. END