{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.heller.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=3C00AB54-83C0-4602-9837-14C0E4FE3AFB", "VIDEO: Heller Honors WWII Filipino Veterans, Including Nevadas Sergeant Baldonado, at the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony", "2017-10-25", "2017", "2017-10", "Republican", "House", "NV", "Dean Heller", "H001041", "www.heller.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) today honored Filipino and Filipino-American World War II veterans for their service to our country in a speech at the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony held in their honor at the U.S. Capitol. Heller specifically recognized and thanked Sergeant Regalado Baldonado of Las Vegas, who was just 15 years old when he joined the Fil-American Army in 1942. Sergeant Baldonado traveled more than 2,500 miles to attend the ceremony and is one of more than 138,000 Filipino-Americans living in Nevada and just one of four recognized Filipino-American veterans who reside in Nevada.\r\n\r\nAhead of today's Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony, Senator Heller was honored to visit with Nevada\u2019s Sergeant Baldonado and his sister, Charmaine.\r\nAs a senior member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee, Heller has fought to ensure that World War II Filipino and Filipino-American veterans receive the recognition they have earned and deserve for their instrumental wartime service to the United States and strategic role in the Allied victory over the Empire of Japan. Heller worked with U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) to pass into law the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act, which recognizes the dedication and heroism of these individuals.\u00a0\r\n\u201cToday is a very special day for the Filipino and Filipino-American veteran community, and I\u2019m incredibly humbled to be here as Nevada\u2019s own Sergeant Regalado Baldonado and the entire Filipino veteran community receive the Congressional Gold Medal for answering America\u2019s call to service. Our country has a responsibility to recognize those who put their lives on the line, and this Congressional Gold Medal is a symbol of our gratitude,\u201d said Heller. \u201cI am proud to see these brave individuals finally rewarded for their military service. This medal ensures that their place in history is not forgotten. Nevada is also home to \u2018The Mighty Five\u2019 Filipino-American veterans who have yet to be recognized by the U.S. government for their service, and I will continue fighting to ensure they are able to prove their service and are afforded the respect and recognition they deserve.\u201d\r\nYou may view Heller\u2019s remarks during the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony by clicking HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.heller.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=3C00AB54-83C0-4602-9837-14C0E4FE3AFB"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 3.4917686134576797, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}