REFERENCE: Vol. 131 No. 1

TITLE: REDRESS FOR JAPANESE AMERICANS

SPEAKER: HON. ROBERT T. MATSUI OF CALIFORNIA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

TEXT: Text that appears in UPPER CASE identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.

MR. MATSUI. MR. SPEAKER, IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE THAT I JOIN OUR ESTEEMED MAJORITY LEADER, JIM WRIGHT AND A NUMBER OF OUR DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUES IN INTRODUCING THE CIVIL LIBERTIES ACT OF 1985. THIS LEGISLATION ADDRESSES AN ISSUE OF FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE TO OUR SYSTEM OF CONSTITUTIONAL LIBERTY.

DURING THE 98TH CONGRESS, WE INTRODUCED THIS LEGISLATION AS H.R. 4110. THE BILL WAS DESIGNED TO SPECIFICALLY IMPLEMENT THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMISSION ON WARTIME RELOCATION AND INTERNMENT OF CIVILIANS. OUR NEW BILL, H.R. 442, IS IDENTICAL IN SUBSTANCE TO THE BILL INTRODUCED IN THE 98TH CONGRESS.

I AM PARTICULARLY PLEASED BY THE NUMBER THAT HAS BEEN CHOSEN FOR THE BILL, H.R. 442. THIS NUMBER HONORS THE FAMOUS 442D REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM OF WORLD WAR II. THIS UNIT WAS COMPOSED ENTIRELY OF AMERICANS OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY, MANY OF WHOM HAD VOLUNTEERED FROM THIS NATION'S DETENTION CAMPS. FORCED TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES ON THE WEST COAST WITH THEIR FAMILIES, THESE DEDICATED AMERICANS VOLUNTEERED FOR COMBAT DUTY TO PROTECT AND SERVE THE UNITED STATES. WHILE THEY SHED THEIR BLOOD IN THE SERVICE OF THIS NATION, THEIR FAMILIES -- PARENTS, BROTHERS, SISTERS, WIVES, AND CHILDREN -- REMAINED BEHIND BARBED WIRE AND UNDER ARMED MILITARY GUARD AS PRISONERS OF THE COUNTRY FOR WHICH THESE MEN WERE WILLING TO GIVE THEIR LIVES IN COMBAT.

THE 442D FOUGHT IN SOME OF THE FIERCEST AND BLOODIEST CAMPAIGNS OF THE EUROPEAN THEATER. IT WAS THE MOST HIGHLY DECORATED UNIT OF ITS SIZE IN THE MILITARY HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. DURING FIVE MAJOR CAMPAIGNS, THIS UNIT EARNED OVER 18,000 DECORATIONS AND HAD OVER 9,000 PURPLE HEARTS. IT IS FITTING THAT THIS HISTORIC LEGISLATION SHOULD BE DESIGNATED IN HONOR OF THESE FINE MEN.

THE CIVIL RIGHTS ABRIDGEMENT WHICH THIS LEGISLATION ADDRESSES BEGAN FOR AMERICANS OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY ON FEBRUARY 19, 1942, WHEN PRESIDENT FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT SIGNED THE INFAMOUS EXECUTIVE ORDER 9066. THIS ORDER AUTHORIZED MILITARY COMMANDERS TO EXCLUDE CITIZENS AND ALIENS FROM CERTAIN AREAS, SUPPOSEDLY TO PROTECT AGAINST ACTS OF SABOTAGE AND ESPIONAGE. THE ORDER WAS PROMULGATED REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT NO DOCUMENTED CASES OF DISLOYALTY BY JAPANESE AMERICANS EXISTED AND NONE HAS SUBSEQUENTLY ARISEN.

EXECUTIVE ORDER 9066 WAS THE FIRST STEP IN AN ODYSSEY OF DEPRIVATION, DETENTION, AND DENIAL OF CIVIL RIGHTS. SOON AFTER THE ORDER, ALL AMERICAN CITIZENS OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY AND RESIDENT ALIENS WERE PROHIBITED FROM LIVING, WORKING, OR TRAVELING ON THE WEST COAST. JAPANESE AMERICANS LIVING IN THE AREA WERE REMOVED TO TEMPORARY ASSEMBLY CENTERS AND THEN ON TO RELOCATION CAMPS WHERE CONDITIONS RANGED FROM PASSABLE TO DEPLORABLE. THE CONCEPT OF HABEAS CORPUS WAS SIMPLY FORGOTTEN.

WHAT WAS THE EXPERIENCE OF THOSE CAMPS? FOR MY PARENTS THERE WAS THE DISCOURAGING LOSS OF BUSINESS, HOME, AND OTHER POSSESSIONS. THERE ARE VISIONS OF BARBED WIRE FENCES AND SENTRY DOGS, OF LOSS OF PRIVACY AND LACK OF ADEQUATE SANITATION; AND MEMORIES OF THE HEART-WRENCHING DIVISIONS THAT OCCURRED AS FAMILIES WERE SEPARATED BY PHYSICAL DISTANCE AND THE EMOTIONAL DISTRESS OF THE CAMPS. AND THERE WAS THE STIGMA OF IMPLIED GUILT AS THIS NATION DETERMINED THAT WE WERE A THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY, THAT BECAUSE OF OUR RACE, NO MATTER HOW MANY GENERATIONS PASSED, AMERICANS OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY COULD NEVER REALLY BE TRUSTWORTHY AMERICANS.

BUT WHAT IS MOST STRIKING ABOUT ALL OF THESE INTERNMENT CAMP STORIES IS THE FAITH AND HOPE THAT REMAINED. FAITH IN THE LAW OF THE LAND; PRIDE IN THIS COUNTRY; AND MOST OF ALL, A SINCERE DESIRE TO PROVE LOYALTY TO THIS GREAT NATION AND BE ALLOWED TO SERVE ITS IDEALS AND PRINCIPLES. ALL THIS, DESPITE THE FACT THAT BASIC CONSTITUTIONAL AND CIVIL RIGHTS WERE BEING DENIED.

IT IS THE SPIRIT OF THIS FAITH THAT BRINGS ME BEFORE YOU TODAY. FOR I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT OUR ACTIONS HERE ARE ESSENTIAL FOR GIVING CREDIBILITY TO OUR CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM AND REINFORCING OUR TRADITION OF JUSTICE. MORE THAN HALF OF THE ORIGINAL INTERNEES HAVE ALREADY DIED, BUT IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO RETURN THE RIGHTFUL HONOR TO THOSE WHO REMAIN AMONG US. IT IS CERTAINLY NOT TOO LATE TO PROVIDE COMPENSATION FOR THESE LIVING INDIVIDUALS. AND IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO SEND A MESSAGE TO FUTURE GENERATIONS THAT SUCH A TRAGIC DENIAL OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS CANNOT AND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

SUMMARY OF H.R. 442

CONGRESS ACKNOWLEDGES THE FUNDAMENTAL INJUSTICE OF THE INTERNMENT, APOLOGIZES FOR IT, AND SEEKS TO PREVENT THE RECURRENCE OF ANY SIMILAR EVENT.

AS REGARDS AMERICANS OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY

ON BEHALF OF THE NATION, THE CONGRESS APOLOGIZES TO THOSE AMERICANS OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY WHO WERE INTERNED.

THE PRESIDENT IS REQUESTED TO OFFER PARDONS TO THOSE CONVICTED OF VIOLATING LAWS DURING THE INTERNMENT PERIOD, WHOSE VIOLATION WAS BASED ON A REFUSAL TO ACCEPT RACIALLY DISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT.

WHEN REVIEWING REQUESTS FOR REVIEW OF ADMINISTRATIVE RULINGS RELATING TO THE INTERNMENT, EXECUTIVE AGENCIES ARE ASKED TO REVIEW SUCH CASES WITH LIBERALITY, GIVING FULL CONSIDERATION TO THE FINDINGS OF THE COMMISSION AND CONGRESS.

A TRUST FUND OF $1.5 BILLION IS AUTHORIZED FOR EDUCATIONAL AND HUMANITARIAN PURPOSES, AND A BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS CREATED TO MANAGE THE FUND. OUT OF THE TRUST FUND, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL PAY $20,000 IN COMPENSATION TO EACH SURVIVING INTERNEE.

AS REGARDS AMERICANS OF ALEUT ANCESTRY

A TRUST FUND OF $5 MILLION IS AUTHORIZED FOR COMMUNITY, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS BENEFITING THE ALEUTS, AND A BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS CREATED TO MANAGE THE FUND.

EACH OF THE SURVIVORS OF THE ALEUT INTERNMENT SHALL RECEIVE $12,000 IN COMPENSATION.

CHURCHES AND COMMUNITY CENTERS DESTROYED IN WORLD WAR II SHALL BE REBUILT.

HAZARDOUS DEBRIS REMAINING FROM WORLD WAR II SHALL BE CLEARED AWAY FROM THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS.

THE ISLAND OF ATTY SHALL BE RETURNED TO THE NATIVE CORPORATION, PROVIDED THAT THE COAST GUARD WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE ITS USE OF THE ISLAND.