WASHINGTON — After voting 94-0 to break a Republican stalling tactic, the Senate yesterday began at least two days of debate on a veterans benefits bill that includes a provision giving full veterans status to Filipinos who fought for the United States against the Japanese during World War II.

Aside from Republican objections to the Filipino benefits, lawmakers of both parties praised the overall bill, which expands an array of benefits covering life insurance, housing assistance, education and burial costs.

"This comprehensive bill ... would improve benefits for veterans both young and old," said Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawai'i, chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.

But some Republicans objected to a provision that would authorize $221 million for special low-income pensions of $300 a month to about 13,000 Filipino veterans living in the Philippines.

Supporters estimate that about 20,000 Filipino veterans — about 2,000 in Hawai'i — are still alive. About 470,000 Filipinos fought for the U.S. during the war.

Current law provides pensions to low-income veterans over 65 living in the United States. Single veterans receive almost $12,000 a year and their survivors can receive death benefits.

The Bush administration also said yesterday that it has concerns with the bill because it would increase benefits for Filipino veterans who live in the Philippines to a much higher level than the benefits for U.S. veterans.

Because the average annual family income is $2,864, the proposed benefit in the Philippines would give Filipino veterans a much greater benefit than the average U.S. veteran pensioner, who receives about 30 percent of the average U.S. income, the administration said.

Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., the top Republican on the Veterans Affairs Committee, said the proposed pension benefit for Filipino veterans who have no injuries connected with their World War II service is the wrong priority when the nation is fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Instead, Burr said, the money should be used to beef up benefits for U.S. veterans.

Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawai'i, said that in 1941, Congress passed a law promising that if the Filipinos fought for the United States, they would receive the same benefits as Americans.

But Congress repealed that law after the war in 1946, Inouye said.

"If we make a solemn promise, we should be willing to keep it," Inouye said. "In this case, they were willing to stand in harm's way for us. The least we can do is recognize this and salute them as fellow Americans."