WASHINGTON — Filipinos who fought in the U.S. Army against the Japanese in World War II would be authorized a one-time, lump sum payment in recognition of their service under a bill the House approved today.

The bill, which passed on a 392-23 vote, would authorize $198 million to make payments of $9,000 to Filipino veterans who are not U.S. citizens and $15,000 to those who have gained their citizenship.

"By doing this, we will provide a small, yet meaningful, measure of recognition and thanks to these brave men who deserve far, far more," U.S. Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., sponsor of the bill and chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, said during debate yesterday.

Accepting the payments would prevent the estimated 18,000 veterans from filing any further claims with the United States for their service.

The bill now goes to the Senate where it faces an uncertain future as Congress tries to wrap up work before heading home for the fall election campaigns.

The action came on the same day about 50 Filipino-American veterans of World War II and their supporters gathered at the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu to rally behind efforts to give them the same benefits as other U.S. war veterans.

"We will never surrender, never surrender!" shouted Art Caleda, president of the World War II Filipino-American Veterans organization.

That prompted others in the audience to shout back "No surrender!"

The veterans said they fought side-by-side with U.S. soldiers against the Axis Japanese, and saw some of their comrades die as well.

Caleda said the $15,000 lump sum payment being proposed is not good enough and that Filipino-American veterans want the same monthly benefits as others who fought in World War II.

Filner, the California Congressman, said his bill was a "second choice" since Republicans blocked his first choice, which was a provision in a Senate bill to give full veterans status to the Filipino veterans, most of whom are now in their 80s and 90s, including special pensions.

Although the Filipinos came under U.S. Army command in 1941, Congress took away their entitlement to full veterans' benefits in 1946, Filner said.

"It is time that this Congress and our nation recognize their contributions to the successful outcome of World War II, recognize the injustice visited on them and act to correct this injustice," Filner said.

But U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., argued the money is better spent to improve benefits for other veterans.

"Obviously, there are many, many higher priorities that we as a nation at war should be meeting," he said.

U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawai'i, said he looked at the lump sum bill as a stopgap measure because the Senate provisions were blocked.

"I supported the Filner measure to make sure that the 20,000 surviving Filipino World War II veterans are assured of at least some of the benefits they were promised 67 years ago," Abercrombie said. "I'll continue doing everything I can to see that the U.S. government lives up to its obligations to a gallant groups of soldiers who answered the call."

Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo, D-Guam, said the bill would help restore justice to the Filipino veterans.

"These are heroes who served shoulder to shoulder with our nation's armed forces," she said. "Their bravery and loyalty to America was questioned by none."

U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawai'i, said the bill was not perfect or a final answer to fulfilling the nation's obligation to the Filipino veterans.

"However, we need to keep all options open at this point," she said.

Advertiser staff writer Gordon Y.K. Pang contributed to this report.