{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.heller.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=A91FE04A-1A96-465C-874A-B4AA394D19F1", "Senate Passes Heller-Hirono Legislation Awarding Congressional Gold Medal to WWII Filipino Veterans", "2016-07-15", "2016", "2016-07", "Republican", "House", "NV", "Dean Heller", "H001041", "www.heller.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 Recently, U.S. Senators Dean Heller (R-NV) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) announced the U.S. Senate passed their bipartisan legislation, the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015 (S.1555), which awards the Congressional Gold Medal to Filipino Veterans of World War II.\r\n\u201cOur nation\u2019s Filipino veterans made tremendous sacrifices during World War II and played a big part in our victory. As such, they should be recognized for their service and awarded the Congressional Gold Medal,\u201d said Senator Dean Heller. \u201cNevada is home to \u2018The Mighty Five\u2019 Filipino veterans \u2013 a group of heroes I have had the pleasure of getting to know over the years. While some are no longer with us, I am proud this legislation will finally ensure they receive proper recognition for their valiant acts of military service.\u201d\r\n\u201cToday, the Senate provided recognition to Filipino World War II veterans for their brave and courageous service to the United States,\u201d said Senator Mazie Hirono. \u201cThese veterans were instrumental to an Allied victory, but their fight didn\u2019t end with the war. For decades, they have had to fight for the benefits they have earned, and to be reunited with their families in the United States. I thank my Senate colleagues for joining me in recognizing these veterans\u2019 service and sacrifice with the Congressional Gold Medal, one of our nation\u2019s highest civilian honors.\u201d\r\nBackground: \r\nThis effort is part of a movement to obtain national recognition for Filipino and Filipino-American World War II soldiers across the United States and Philippines for their instrumental wartime service to the United States and strategic role in the Allied victory over the Empire of Japan.\r\nThe legislation acknowledges over 260,000 Filipino and Filipino-American soldiers who responded to President Roosevelt\u2019s call-to-duty and fought under the American flag against the Imperial Forces of Japan during World War II.\r\n###", 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=A91FE04A-1A96-465C-874A-B4AA394D19F1"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.7659198492765427, "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"}