Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) today welcomed news from U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis about the return of the famed Bells of Balanginga; a set of bells from the town church of Balanginga in the Philippines that were captured more than 100 years ago by U.S. Troops during the Philippine-America War. Rep. Bacon was instrumental in ensuring the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act included a provision to allow for the return the bells.

“Bellevue Mayor Rita Sanders and the Filipino community in the district came to me with their desires to have the Bells returned as they represented a painful chapter in US-Philippine relations,” said Rep. Bacon. “It was the right thing to do.”

The return of the bells has been a friction point in relations with the Philippines for decades even though the Filipinos have been one of the United States strongest allies since World War II.  

Earlier this year Rep. Bacon wrote a letter to Secretary Mattis inquiring about the status of the Bells stating, “I am convinced there is a path forward that appropriately honors the service and sacrifice of veterans associated with these objects and removes an obstacle in building trust with a key ally to advance the national security of the United States.”

The process to return the bells started with language advanced by Rep. Bacon in the 2018 NDAA allowing the administration to return them if certain conditions were met, including meeting with veteran’s service organizations to allay their concerns.

“As a member of the 2018 NDAA Conference Committee I made the dignified return of the bells a priority,” said Rep. Bacon. “There was an effort to renew the prohibition on returning them, but I wanted to ensure a legal pathway to heal old wounds and strengthen our strategic relationship with a key ally.”

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