AKAKA AMENDMENT: FILIPINO VETERANS FAMILY REUNIFICATION ACT

[Farzana Nayani]

Here is the latest – it is fabulous news!!

Farzana Nayani
Program Coordinator
Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc. (LEAP)
(213) 485-1422 ext. 4101
(213) 485-0050 (fax)
fna...@leap.org

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---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Abellera, Ellen (CAPAA) <EAbe...@capaa.wa.gov>
Date: May 24, 2007 12:13 PM
Subject: AKAKA AMENDMENT: FILIPINO VETERANS FAMILY REUNIFICATION ACT

GOOD NEWS! The Senate approved Senator Daniel Akaka's amendment at
12:30 PM today! The amendment is to exempt children of certain
Filipino World War 11 veterans from the numerical limitations on
immigrant visas. The vote was 86 yeas to 9 nays!

Please let us take time to thank Senator Akaka, Senator Patty Murray,
Senator Maria Cantwell, Senator Inouye, Senator Kennedy and the
senators who co-sponsored the amendment. This is a historic victory
for our Filipino World War11 veterans!

Thank you also to the legislative staff of Senators Akaka, Murray,
Cantwell and Kennedy who I have bugged from CAPAA for all this time
for their zeal and passion for staying on top of this- Russell, Livia,
Josh and Janice, and to Mark Rupp of Governor Gregoire's office in
Washington DC. This is a work of love and collaboration.

Thank you to our Congressional delegation, Cong. Jim McDermott & Cong.
Jay Inslee for co-sponsoring the same bill on the house side with
Congresswoman

Mazie Hirono. The time will come when we will do the same on the House
side. Thanks  to Jennifer Beppu, Damian,& Patrick.

Thank you to John Lee and Alfie Alvarado from the Veterans
Administration,  Governor Gregoire's office and first Gentleman

Mike Gregoire, and Senator Margarita Prentice, for their unending support !

Thank you to our Filipino veterans, Sluggo and Thelma of the
International Drop in Center, and Eric Lachica from ACFV, and our
community based and faith based organizations who wrote and sent
emails of support, as well as our friends from Oregon, California,
Boston, and Texas who generated letters of support!

I am awed and humbled by your support!

Ellen

Ellen Abellera
Executive Director
Governor's Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs
State of Washington
office: 360-725-5666




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