Eric Lachica
Executive Director
American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, Inc.
841 South Glebe Road, Arlington VA 22204
Phone: 202 246-1998
Advocate, Organizer and News Media Manager:
* Developed coalition strategy and directed a national campaign that led to passage of four bills in Congress
with an estimated $38 Million in annual benefits.
* Organized leaders of low-income seniors and allied groups
for political actions.
* Trained hundreds of leaders for successful action days on Capitol Hill.
*
Promoted coalition's goal with extensive national news media coverage.
Recent Accomplishments:
*
Led the campaign that passed the House-Senate resolution, H.C.R. 191 "recognizing and honoring" Filipino veterans and arranged
President Clinton's proclamation - 1996.
* Mobilized for the House Veterans' Affairs Committee hearings for Benefits
for Filipino Veterans in 1998. Coalition obtained 208 co-sponsors for the bill, H.R. 836.
* Managed the
successful campaign for the "Special Benefits for WWII Veterans," Public Law 106-169 Title VIII for Filipino American veterans
to return to their families in the Philippines with Supplemental Security Income. Budget:
$12 Million per year.
*
Managed the successful campaign for the "Filipino Veterans Benefit Improvement Act," now P.L. 106-377, Sec. 501 and burial
benefits in P.L. 106-419, Sec. 332 in 2000. Budget: $6 Million per year.
* Advocated successfully for the restoration
of the $500,000 US Government medical annual Grant-in-Aid to the Philippine Government Veterans Medical Center in 2002.
*
Directed successfully the campaign to pass the "Health Care for Filipino Veterans" bill, now P.L. 108-170 that was signed
into law by President Bush on December 6, 2003. VA budget: $16 Million annually for 8,000 US-based Filipino veterans.
*
Lobbied successfully for the "Full Compensation" benefit in Public Law 108-183 that provided VA compensation for war-related
illnesses of Filipino New Scouts and widows. Budget: $2.9 Million yearly.
Professional Experience:
* Information officer of Philippine President Corazon Aquino, Los Angeles Consulate 1986-87.
*
Voter Registration Manager, Center for Participation in Democracy, L.A. 1988.
* Community Outreach Specialist,
U.S. Census Bureau, Los Angeles, 1989-1990.
* Senior Media Specialist, United Way of Los Angeles, 1991-92.
*
Law Office Manager, Los Angeles, 1992-93.
* Regional Manager, Anti-Hunger Coalition of Maryland, Gaithersburg
MD, 1994-96.
* Organizer and Executive Director of the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans Inc., a DC-based
national advocacy group with more than 4,000 members, 1996-present.
Education:
* University of Southern California, Los Angeles, B.A. Political Science graduate 1974.
* California
State University at Los Angeles, M.A. Studies International Relations 1986.
Recognition and Awards:
* "Spirit of Justice" Award from Hollywood artists e.g. Lou Diamond Phillips, 1999.
* The White
House State Dinner guest of President George W. Bush, May 19, 2003. (see
http://www.cspan.org/executive/phillipinesdinner.asp* Special Award, Philippine American Foundation in Washington DC, 2003.
(see
www.philamlink.com)
* International Leadership Foundation Award from Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, 2004. (see
www.ileader.org)
