The bill is named for a hero who died protecting the retreat of his platoon during the  Korean War and who is the namesake and uncle of rock singer Lenny Kravitz.  The legislation was authored by Sen. Robert Wexler, a Florida Democrat, and has bipartisan support.

The legislation follows on the heels of similar evaluations-and upgrades in medals-for members of the African American and Asian communities on the basis of a finding that there was a pattern of discrimination against them.  Of 136 Congressional Medals of Honor awarded during the Korean War, not a single one was given to a Jew.

Davis sits on the House Armed Services Committee, while Filner is one of the most senior members on the House Veteran Affairs Committee.

At their meeting with Vogelson, held Aug. 27 in Filner's district office, Filner said he plans to continue his efforts to win the same benefits package for Filipino veterans who were drafted into the American military for World War II as are enjoyed by veterans who came from the U.S. mainland.  After the Philippines became an independent country, the United States denied the benefits to Filipino soldiers, even though they had fought side by side with the Americans under U.S. command.

Davis said she, meanwhile, is promoting legislation that will help current members of the military by increasing their housing allowances in 2002, instead of making them wait for several more years for an increase.  The congresswoman said many Marines and sailors now have to commute to San Diego duty stations from as far away as Temecula in order to obtain housing they can afford.      - Donald H. Harrison