[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 482 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 482
Recognizing the significance of the 67th anniversary of the signing of
Executive Order 9066 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and supporting
the goals of the Japanese American, German American, and Italian
American communities in recognizing a National Day of Remembrance to
increase public awareness of the events surrounding the restriction,
exclusion, and incarceration of individuals and families during World
War II.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 11, 2014
Mr. Honda (for himself, Ms. Matsui, Ms. Chu, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Grayson,
Mr. Lowenthal, Mr. Kilmer, Mr. Takano, Ms. Speier, Mr. Bera of
California, Mr. Swalwell of California, Mr. Faleomavaega, Ms. Meng, and
Mr. Sablan) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the significance of the 67th anniversary of the signing of
Executive Order 9066 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and supporting
the goals of the Japanese American, German American, and Italian
American communities in recognizing a National Day of Remembrance to
increase public awareness of the events surrounding the restriction,
exclusion, and incarceration of individuals and families during World
War II.
Whereas President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 on
February 19, 1942, which authorized the exclusion of 120,000 Japanese
Americans and legal resident aliens from the west coast of the United
States and the incarceration of United States citizens and legal
permanent residents of Japanese ancestry in incarceration camps during
World War II;
Whereas the freedom of Italian Americans and German Americans was also
restricted during World War II by measures that branded them enemy
aliens and included required identification cards, travel restrictions,
seizure of personal property, and incarceration;
Whereas President Gerald Ford formally rescinded Executive Order 9066 on
February 19, 1976, in his speech, ``An American Promise'';
Whereas Congress adopted legislation which was signed by President Jimmy Carter
on July 31, 1980, establishing the Commission on Wartime Relocation and
Internment of Civilians to investigate the claim that the incarceration
of Japanese Americans and legal resident aliens during World War II was
justified by military necessity;
Whereas the Commission held 20 days of hearings and heard from over 750
witnesses on this matter and published its findings in a report entitled
``Personal Justice Denied'';
Whereas the conclusion of the commission was that the promulgation of Executive
Order 9066 was not justified by military necessity, and that the
decision to issue the order was shaped by ``race prejudice, war
hysteria, and a failure of political leadership'';
Whereas Congress enacted the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, in which it apologized
on behalf of the Nation for ``fundamental violations of the basic civil
liberties and constitutional rights of these individuals of Japanese
ancestry'';
Whereas President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 into law
on August 10, 1988, proclaiming that day to be a ``great day for
America'';
Whereas the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 established the Civil Liberties Public
Education Fund, the purpose of which is ``to sponsor research and public
educational activities and to publish and distribute the hearings,
findings, and recommendations of the Commission on Wartime Relocation
and Internment of Civilians so that the events surrounding the
exclusion, forced removal, and incarceration of civilians and permanent
resident aliens of Japanese ancestry will be remembered, and so that the
causes and circumstances of this and similar events may be illuminated
and understood'';
Whereas Congress adopted the Wartime Violation of Italian Americans Civil
Liberties Act, which was signed by President Bill Clinton on November 7,
2000, and which resulted in a report containing detailed information on
the types of violations that occurred, as well as lists of individuals
of Italian ancestry that were arrested, detained, and incarceration;
Whereas the Japanese American community recognizes a National Day of Remembrance
on February 19th of each year to educate the public about the lessons
learned from the incarceration to ensure that it never happens again;
Whereas H.R. 1492 (Public Law 109-441) was passed by Congress and signed into
law in 2006, to allow the Government to identify and acquire sites used
to confine Japanese Americans during World War II, in order to preserve
and maintain these historic locations for posterity and inspire new
generations of Americans to work for justice while demonstrating the
Nation's commitment to equal and fair treatment for all; and
Whereas the Day of Remembrance provides an opportunity for all people to reflect
on the importance of political leadership and vigilance and on the
values of justice and civil rights during times of uncertainty and
emergency: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the historical significance of February 19,
1942, the date Executive Order 9066 was signed by President
Roosevelt, restricting the freedom of Japanese Americans,
German Americans, and Italian Americans, and legal resident
aliens through required identification cards, travel
restrictions, seizure of personal property, and incarceration;
and
(2) supports the goals of the Japanese American, German
American, and Italian American communities in recognizing a
National Day of Remembrance to increase public awareness of
these events.
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