REFERENCE: Vol. 137 No. 98

TITLE: MANZANAR NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

SPEAKER: Mr. LAGOMARSINO; Mr. LEVINE of California; Mr. MILLER of California; Mr. MINETA; MRS. MINK; MR. THOMAS OF CALIFORNIA; Mr. VENTO; Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

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

[*H4889] Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 543) to establish the Manzanar National Historic Site in the State of California, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read as follows:

H.R. 543

BE IT ENACTED BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED,

TITLE I -- MANZANAR NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT.

(a) In General. -- In order to provide for the protection and interpretation of historical and cultural resources associated with the relocation of Japanese-Americans during World War II, there is hereby established the Manzanar National Historic Site (hereinafter in this title referred to as the "site").

(b) Area Included. -- The site shall consist of the lands within the area generally depicted as Alternative 3 on map 3, as contained in the Study of Alternatives for Manzanar War Relocation Center, map number 80,002 and dated February 1989. The map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the offices of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. The Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter in this title referred to as the "Secretary") may from time to time make minor revisions in the boundary of the site.

SEC. 102. ADMINISTRATION.

(a) In General. -- The Secretary shall administer the site in accordance with this title and with the provisions of law generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including the Act entitled "An Act to establish a National Park Service, and for other purposes", approved August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535; 16 U.S.C. 1-4) and the Act of August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666; 16 U.S.C. 461-467).

(b) Donations. -- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may accept and expend donations of funds, property, or services from individuals, foundations, corporations, or public entities for the purpose of providing services and facilities which he deems consistent with the purposes of this title.

(c) Cooperative Agreements With State. -- In administering the site, the Secretary is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with public and private entities for management and interpretive programs within the site and with the State of California, or any political subdivision thereof, for the rendering, on a reimbursable basis, of rescue, firefighting, and law enforcement services and cooperative assistance by nearby law enforcement and fire preventive agencies.

(d) Water. -- The water rights of the city of Los Angeles shall not be affected by the conveyance of lands under section 103, except that the Secretary shall not acquire such lands until such time as the Secretary has entered into an agreement with the city of Los Angeles which includes provisions to provide water sufficient to fulfill the purposes of the site and to protect the cultural, visual, and natural resources of the site as these resources might be affected by the exercise of such rights.

(e) Transport of Livestock. -- Any person who holds a permit from the Department of Water and Power of the city of Los Angeles, California, to graze livestock on city lands located contiguous with the site may move livestock across the Federal lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management located contiguous with the site for the purpose of transporting such livestock from one such parcel to the other.

SEC. 103. ACQUISITION OF LAND.

(a) In General. -- In order to carry out the purposes of this Act, the Secretary may acquire all lands referenced in section 101(b) through donation by or exchange with the city of Los Angeles.

(b) Authority. -- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in event of exchange under this section, the Secretary shall utilize the Secretary's authority under section 206 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1716) to exchange public lands within Inyo County, California, identified as suitable for disposal by the Bureau of Land Management. Priority for such exchange shall be givento lands identified for disposal in the Bishop Resources Area Resource Management Plan and lands immediately adjacent to the site.

(c) Facility. -- The Secretary may contribute up to $1,100,000 in cash or services for the relocation and construction of a maintenance facility to replace the facility located on the land to be acquired under this section.

SEC. 104. ADVISORY COMMISSION.

(a) Establishment. -- There is hereby established an 11-member advisory commission to be known as the Manzanar National Historic Site Advisory Commission (hereinafter in this title referred to as the "Advisory Commission"). The Advisory Commission shall be composed of former internees of the Manzanar relocation camp, local residents, representatives of Native American groups, and the general public appointed by the Secretary to serve for terms of 2 years. Any member of the Advisory Commission appointed for a definite term may serve after the expiration of his term until his successor is appointed. The Advisory Commission shall designate one of its members as Chairman.

(b) Management and Development Issues. -- The Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Park Service, shall from time to time, but at least semiannually, meet and consult with the Advisory Commission on matters relating to the development, management, and interpretation of the site, including the preparation of the general management plan.

(c) Meetings. -- The Advisory Commission shall meet on a regular basis. Notice of meetings and agenda shall be published in local newspapers which have a distribution which generally covers the area affected by the site. Advisory Commission meetings shall be held at locations and in such a manner as to ensure adequate public involvement.

(d) Expenses. -- Members of the Advisory Commission shall serve without compensation as such, but the Secretary may pay expenses reasonably incurred in carrying out their responsibilities under this title on vouchers signed by the Chairman.

(e) Charter. -- The provisions of section 14(b) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Act of October 6, 1972; 86 Stat. 776), are hereby waived with respect to the Advisory Commission.

(f) Termination. -- The Advisory Commission shall terminate 10 years after the date of enactment of this title unless the Secretary determines that it is necessary to continue consulting with the Advisory Commission in carrying out the purposes of this Act.

SEC. 105. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as necessary to carry out this title.

TITLE II -- JAPANESE AMERICAN NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK THEME STUDY

SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

This title may be cited as the "Japanese American National Historic Landmark Theme Study Act".

SEC. 202. THEME STUDY.

(a) Study. -- The Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter in this title referred to as the "Secretary") is authorized and directed to prepare and transmit to the Congress no later than two years after the date of enactment of this title a National Historic Landmark Theme Study on Japanese American history (hereinafter in this title referred to as the "Theme Study"). The purpose of the Theme Study shall be to identify the key sites in Japanese American History that illustrate the period in American history when personal justice was denied Japanese Americans. The Theme Study shall identify, evaluate and nominate as national historic landmarks those sites, buildings, and structures, that best illustrate or commemorate the period in American history from 1941-1946 when Japanese Americans were ordered to be detained, relocated or excluded pursuant to Executive Order Number 9066, and other actions. The study shall include (but not be limited to) the following sites:

(1) Internment or concentration and temporary detention camps where Japanese Americans were relocated, detained and excluded pursuant to Executive Order Number 9066, issued on February 19, 1942. The internment camps include: Tule Lake, California; Rohwer, Arkansas; Gila River, Arizona; Poston, Arizona; Granada, Colorado; Jerome, Arkansas; Heart Mountain, Wyoming; [*H4890] Minidoka, Idaho; and, Topaz, Utah. The temporary detention camps include Pomona, California; Santa Anita, California; Fresno, California; Pinedale, California; Tanforan in San Bruno, California; Sacramento, California; Marysville, California; Mayer, Arizona; Salinas, California; Turlock, California; Merced, California; Stockton, California; Tulare, California; Puyallup, Washington; and, Portland, Oregon.

(2) Angel Island, California, the port of entry for many Japanese Issei.

(3) Camp Shelby, Mississippi, the training ground for the 442nd Infantry Regimental Combat Team.

(4) Camp Savage and Fort Snelling, Minnesota, locations for the Military Intelligence Service Language School where Japanese Americans received Japanese language instruction, enabling the Japanese Americans to translate Japanese war plans into English.

(5) Camp McCoy, Wisconsin where the 100th Infantry Batallion was trained.

(6) Terminal Island, California the first location where Japanese Americans were forced to evacuate.

(7) Bainbridge Island, Washington where Japanese Americans were evacuated pursuant to Exclusion Order Number 1.

(8) Immigration and Naturalization Service internment camps at Crystal City, Kennedy and Seagoville, Texas, Missoula, Montana, and Bismarck, North Dakota.

(b) Identification and List. -- On the basis of the Theme Study, the Secretary shall identify possible new National Historic Landmarks appropriate to this theme and prepare a list in order of importance or merit of the most appropriate sites for National Historic Landmark designation.

SEC. 203. CONSULTATION.

In carrying out the study, the Secretary shall consult with Japanese American citizens groups, and scholars of Japanese American history, and historic preservationists. The Secretary shall receive permission from Indian tribes to obtain access to Indian lands.

SEC. 204. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.

The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with one or more Japanese American citizens organizations knowledgeable of Japanese American history, especially the relocation and internment period during World War II, to prepare the Theme Study and ensure that the Theme Study meets current scholarly standards.

SEC. 205. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There is hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this title.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Vento] will be recognized for 20 minutes and the gentleman from California [Mr. Lagomarsino] will be recognized for 20 minutes.

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Vento].

GENERAL LEAVE

Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks in the Record on this measure.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Minnesota?

There was no objection.

Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 543 was introduced by Representative Mel Levine of California. As reported by the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, the bill would designate the Manzanar War Relocation Center located in eastern California as a national historic site, and provide for a landmark theme study of Japanese-American history during the period of 1941-46.

The wartime relocation of persons of Japanese descent is an extraordinary and tragic event in American history. Over 120,000 people were forcibly removed to relocation camps located mostly in desolate areas of the West. Forced to take with them only what they could carry, these citizens had to endure not only the loss of property and liberty but the stigma of suspected disloyalty. Congress recently recognized the injustice of this policy by passing the Civil Liberties Act which apologized and provided restitution to Japanese-Americans interned during World War II.

H.R. 543 would designate the 500-acre Manzanar War Relocation Center as a national historic site. Manzanar was the first of the 10 relocation centers and it held 10,000 people from the spring of 1942 to the end of 1945. Manzanar is already a national historic landmark and was recommended by the National Park Service for designation as a national historic site in 1989. I would like to commend Mr. Levine for his leadership and hard work on this important piece of legislation which will remind present and future generations of this sad chapter in American history when our Government unjustly treated an entire group of U.S. citizens simply because of their ancestry.

The Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands held a hearing on H.R. 543 in late May of this year. Testimony in support of the bill was presented by the National Park Service, Japanese-American citizen groups, Inyo County, CA, the city of Los Angeles, CA and other public witnesses. An amendment in the nature of a substitute was adopted in the Interior Committee which addresses several issues raised at the hearing. This amendment was developed in close consultation with the author of the bill, the chairman of the full committee, the administration, Representative Bill Thomas in whose district the Manzanar camp is located and the various parties which will be affected by this legislation.

As reported by the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, H.R. 543 provides that land for the historic site could be acquired by donation or exchange only. The Manzanar site is owned entirely by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Although normal policy is to authorize land acquisition from governmental bodies by donation only, the department has stated that it is prohibited by its charter from donating land to another governmental entity. It is unclear if this is in fact the case, since the city's position is based on a 50-year-old departmental legal opinion and has never been tested. Given this shakey legal position and considering the city's large land holdings on the Owens Valley, their ability to retain water rights to the Manzanar site and the considerable public benefit which would result from the establishment of the historic site, the committee has included report language in the committee report accompanying H.R. 543 directing the Department of Water and Power and the National Park Service to fully explore the possibility of donating the land to the National Park Service before considering the possibility of a land exchange. The bill provides for the retention of water rights on the site by the city of Los Angeles and provides for a cooperative agreement between the city and the National Park Service for the supply of an adequate amount of water for park operations.

Additionally the bill includes a provision worked out with Representative Bill Thomas to authorize the replacement of the Inyo County maintenance facility which is currently housed in the building that was used during the World War II internment as a camp auditorium. This is the only major building which remains intact from the World War II Japanese-American internment period and would be used by the National Park Service as a visitor facility at the site.

Finally, H.R. 543, as reported contains the text of H.R. 2351, legislation introduced by Interior Committee Chairman George Miller to authorize the National Park Service to conduct a landmark theme study on Japanese-American history during the period 1941-46. This study will determine the significance and integrity of a number of sites related not only to the internment camps but the lesser known history of the participation and contributions of Japanese-American citizens in the war effort as combatants or as intelligence gatherers. I believe this landmark theme study complements the establishment of the Manzanar historic site by providing for the consideration of sites related to the contributions of many Japanese-Americans during the war and commend Chairman Miller for introducing this bill.

Mr. Speaker, 3 years ago this body passed legislation which acknowledged the injustice of the internment policy and apologized on behalf of the people of the United States. Our willingness to make restitution when we departed from our founding principles of freedom and civil liberties is a sign of our humility and greatness as a nation. Today we have a unique opportunity to build on that record by establishing a national historic site which will serve as a permanent reminder of a time when our country denied its own citizens rights guaranteed in the Constitution [*H4891] and Bill of Rights. I urge all of my colleagues to vote for this proposal today.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this outstanding measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LAGOMARSINO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

(Mr. LAGOMARSINO asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LAGOMARSINO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of title I of H.R. 543 which provides for the establishment of Manzanar National Historic Site in Inyo County, CA. This act would recognize and commemorate an important aspect of American history, the internment of over 110,000 Japanese-Americans during World War II without charges or a trial. It is appropriate that this important story be broadly interpreted to the American people, so that we can be sure to learn from our past actions.

Mr. Vento has adequately described the historic significance of the events which took place at Manzanar and explained the details of the bill language we are considering today. I would like to briefly point out the significance of several features of this measure, which represent some new thinking in the creation of park areas.

With this bill comes a recognition that we cannot expect that as a matter of course, new park areas will be created on the backs of State and local government agencies. If the Congress wants to create a new park area or expand an existing one, it will have to consider the full cost of its actions. In the case of Manzanar, we are creating a park from lands owned exclusively by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and facilities owned by Inyo County.

Under existing law, and in accord with past practices, Congress would have insisted on donation of the lands and limited acquisition costs to the fair market value of the facilities acquired, since after all creation of the park was for the benefit of the American people. Indeed, based on press reports, there was substantial pressure brought upon the agencies to donate their interests so that the cost of Federal park establishment to the American taxpayer could be minimized. While I would certainly not object to a donation of property interests on behalf of other Government agencies, such donations are something that Congress should reward with distinction, not insist upon as standard operating procedure. These non-Federal agencies are often in no better financial condition than the Federal Government.

In this particular case, we have added language to the bill which authorizes the department of water and power to be compensated for their land interests through exchange. We have placed language into the bill, which will allow for replacement of the county maintenance facility at a cost of up to $1.1 million, which may be as much as four or five times the actual fair market value of the facility the Federal Government is acquiring.

I applaud the chairman for recognizing the true costs of establishing such a park.

I would also like to recognize the efforts of Mr. Bill Thomas of California who has done an excellent job of representing the interests of his constituents during the development of this measure.

I also note that this bill includes as title II, a Japanese-American landmark study. While the study process outlined in this measure is far preferable to that passed by the House earlier this session, I note that the administration is opposed to this title. Their opposition is based on the very narrow focus of this study and the fact that much of the work called for has already been accomplished. I hope that the concerns of the administration can be addressed in the Senate.

Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California [Mr. Levine].

(Mr. LEVINE of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LEVINE of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking the chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Vento], as well as his staff, for their great help in working with the various parties who are interested in this legislation and in expediting the movement of this legislation, and I also want to thank the gentleman from California [Mr, Miller], who chairs the full committee, for moving this bill so swiftly through the full committee and for including his important provisions which now comprises title 2 of this legislation. In addition, I would like to thank and commend my colleagues, the gentleman from California [Mr. Thomas] in whose district this site resides, as well as my close friend, the gentleman from California [Mr. Mineta], and the gentleman from California [Mr. Matsui] for their support and assistance in the development of this legislation. Finally, I would like to thank Mayor Tom Bradley of the city of Los Angeles for his support and his leadership in terms of bringing the city of Los Angeles to a position to support this legislation, as well as Sue Embry and Rose Ochi of the Manzanar Committee for their outstanding work in building the coalition of support that made this bill a reality.

Mr. Speaker, as the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Vento] has already indicated, the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the great blots on American history, one of the great tragedies, one of the great injustices to any people and, particularly, to citizens of this country, citizens who were loyal and patriotic Americans, but who nevertheless were forcibly interned because of false and unfair suspicions with regard to their loyalty during World War II. Mr. Speaker, 120,000 persons of Japanese ancestry were held against their will from 1942 to 1945, 10,000 at the Manzanar camp alone.

The 100th Congress engaged in an historic and overdue debate with regard to this stain on our history and passed historic and, obviously, very significant legislation both to apologize to the internees and to compensate them. I think the debate in that Congress eloquently and appropriately put to rest some of the outrageous suggestions and assumptions that attended this tragic situation during World War II. In the context of that debate, the Government, through the Congress, formally apologized to the former internees for the grave injustices which they suffered.

Now, Mr. Speaker, we are faced with the task of preserving a record of the experiences of the Japanese-American internees so that this type of wholesale violation of civil rights is never again repeated.

It has been almost 50 years since the internment camp was closed.

Regrettably, vandals and souvenir hunters have taken their toll on the physical remains of the camp. Now, two buildings, some foundations, and some gardens are the only signs of the terrible tragedy that occurred at Manzanar during World War II. We need to protect the site from further deterioration.

As time passes, it will become increasingly difficult to find people who were old enough to remember being interned, much less those who were old enough to understand the significance of the internment as they experienced it.

If we act quickly, we can preserve both the memories and the camp itself, to establish a lasting record of the internment of Japanese-Americans, and of the conditions they endured.

Mr. Speaker, this historic site will be the foundation for the preservation of a historic record of the Japanese-American community's experiences during this tragic period in American history. Hopefully, it will help to ensure that no one else will be forced to endure inhumane policies internees faced at Manzanar and nine other sites around the country.

I want to mention briefly, Mr. Speaker, that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has expressed concern about the impact that this legislation might have on Los Angeles' water rights. As the chairman indicated, that concern has been fully addressed. This will not impact Los Angeles' water rights. This will not compromise Los Angeles' water in any [*H4892] regard, nor cost Los Angeles one drop of water.

It is my hope, Mr. Speaker, that Manzanar will serve as a reminder of the grievous errors, and inhumane policies we pursued during World War II.

We must never allow such actions to occur again.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LAGOMARSINO. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Alaska [Mr. Young], the ranking member of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affaris.

(Mr. YOUNG of Alaska asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. First, Mr. Speaker, let me congratulate the gentlemen from California, Mr. Matsui and Mr. Mineta for their work on this legislation in addition to the gentleman from California [Mr. Levine].

We have to remember one thing, that in 1941 Hitler had the Jews, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt had the Japanese. It was a dark time in our history. It was dark in many ways, and many people recited this on the floor in the last Congress, but we actually passed legislation to apologize, and to rehabilitate and to compensate the American-Japanese, and I want to compliment the people that sponsored this bill to again bring it to light that we must not forget this happened in our democracy. This happened in other parts of the world, in the same era of time, and these types of memorials must be set aside.

However, Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not also remind those that recognize the American-Japanese that we also had the same thing happen in Alaska with the Aleuts of the Pribilof Islands where they were removed from their homes forcibly, put into concentration camps and into work camps around Alaska and the lower 48 at a great loss of life and property, not because they were American-Japanese, but because they had last names that were Russian names.

I do not think this Nation ever, ever again should ever have the opportunity again, just becasue one has a last name that happens to coincide with our enemy or a racial identity that coincides with the enemy, if they are Americans, to be set aside in concentration camps and interned.

This is good legislation. It should be voted on. I compliment the sponsors, and let us not ever have this again in American history.

Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California [Mr. Mineta], a sponsor of the measure.

(Mr. MINETA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MINETA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 543, which will designate the former Manzanar internment camp as a national historic site and will study other locales important to the experience of Americans of Japanese ancestry during the Second World War.

H.R. 543 will educate all Americans about the injustices endured by Americans of Japanese ancestry during the Second World War while commemorating their incomparable achievement toward winning that war for freedom and democracy.

More than accomplishing those goals, though, this bill will help ensure that no other Americans again suffer the injustices of internment.

Mr. Speaker, when the Congress passed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, the U.S. Government apologized for denying basic constitutional rights to its own citizens.

But to avoid another such contravention of our rights, we must continue to remind ourselves of the lessons of the internment. We must remember the circumstances that enabled the Government to suspend its own bill of rights because of war hysteria and prejudice.

That is why the Civil Liberties Act called for a fund to promote continuing education about the internment.

Awareness, discussion, and self-examination are the keys to maintaining a vigilant and active society.

For many people who were interned, the names and places contained in this bill are living history. My family and I were imprisoned in Santa Anita Racetrack. We were later interned in the camp at Heart Mountain, WY.

The 442d Regimental Combat Team was formed by volunteers who left their families in the camps and went on to become the most highly decorated combat unit of the war in Europe. They trained at Camp Shelby, MS.

Indeed, every site named in this legislation has great personal meaning for those who were interned, and for American history.

Along with the people who lived at Lexington and Concord, Gettysburg, and Council Bluffs, those who were interned are a part of our national heritage.

Eventually, the men, women, and children who lived these times will be gone as well. But by adopting this legislation today, we can ensure that the memory of their experience lives on.

Mr. Speaker, the internment of Americans of Japanese ancestry during the Second World War is not a Japanese-American issue. It is not an Asian-American issue. It is an American issue.

In 1988, the Congress and the President said that the United States made a great mistake in 1942. And together, we pledged that it would never again occur.

This bill will help ensure that the full story of the internment will be told and remembered. And by doing so, it will help ensure that the internment will never be repeated.

I commend the chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands, Mr. Vento, and the ranking minority member, Mr. Marlenee for their support.

I would like to thank Chairman George Miller and the ranking Republican Don Young of the full Interior Committee.

I would like to extend my special thanks to the gentleman from Los Angeles, Mr. Levine, who has continued to demonstrate his dedication to civil rights over the years, and to my fellow Californians Bob Lagomarsino and Bill Thomas, whose efforts on behalf of the bill have been invaluable.

I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to one of the sponsors of a major title of this bill, the gentleman from California [Mr. Miller], chairman of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs.

Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 543. Title I designates the Manzanar National Historic Site in California. Title II is identical to H.R. 2351, legislation I introduced to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a national historic landmark theme study on Japanese-American history.

The Japanese-American internment period from 1941-46 was a tragic period in history. On February 19, 1942, President Roosevelt issued Executive Order No. 9066 which gave the Secretary of War permission to exclude any person from designated areas in order to secure national defense objectives against sabotage and espionage. The order was used to remove persons of Japanese ancestry, including American citizens and resident aliens, from the west coast.

Within a few months more than 100,000 people were ordered to give up their homes, farms, and businesses and forced to move to relocation centers and temporary detention camps in the western United States. The 10 relocation centers were Manzanar, CA; Tule Lake, CA; Poston, AZ; Gila River, AZ; Granada, CO; Jerome, AR; Rohwer, AR; Heart Mountain, WY; Minidoka, ID; and, Topaz, UT. Assembly centers were located in California, Arizona, Washington, and Oregon. In addition, the Immigration and Naturalization Service held Japanese-Americans at internment camps in New Mexico, Texas, Montana and North Dakota.

H.R. 543, introduced by Congressman Mel Levine, would designate Manzanar a national historic site in California. Manzanar was the first of 10 relocation camps where American citizens and resident aliens because of their Japanese heritage were sent against their will. Approximately 10,000 persons were relocated to Manzanar [*H4893] which now holds a special meaning to many Americans, especially those of Japanese descent.

Today, many visitors traveling in the Owens Valley along Highway 395 in California stop at Manzanar. Unfortunately, the historic resources at Manzanar are not well protected. Vandalism frequently occurs on the site. H.R. 543 would help protect Manzanar by authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to enter into cooperative agreements with public and private entities in California to manage the site and institute interpretive programs.

Manzanar is located on lands owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. H.R. 543 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to accept by donation or exchange the land. The city of Los Angeles would retain the water rights. It is my hope that the city will see fit to donate the approximately 550-acre Manzanar site. If the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power refuses, we will have lost a grand opportunity to teach others about the history of Manzanar and the importance of protecting civil liberties and the Constitution.

As my colleagues may recall, many Japanese-Americans, despite Executive Order No. 9066, participated in the defense of this country during World War II. Some were trained at such sites as Camp Shelby, MS and Camp McCoy, WI. Other Japanese-Americans were giving Japanese language lessons at the Military Intelligence Service language schools at Fort Savage and Fort Snelling, MN. Title II of H.R. 543 directs the Secretary of the Interior to study these sites and others for possible designation as national historic landmarks.

Scattered throughout the United States, the sites tell the story of a time when we allowed American citizens to be denied personal justice. This legislation will help future generations understand that humiliation and injustice suffered as a result of hysteria and racism, even during war time, should not be tolerated.

H.R. 543 complements the apology we made to Japanese-Americans in the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 by further recognizing the mistakes we made during World War II, and reinforcing our commitment to civil liberties and the Constitution.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressmen Vento and Levine, as well as the Japanese-American Citizens League for their contributions in this important legislation. I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 543.

MR. THOMAS OF CALIFORNIA. MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TO OFFER MY COMMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL BEFORE US TODAY, H.R. 543, TO ESTABLISH A MANZANAR NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE IN INYO COUNTY, CA, WITHIN THE 20TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WHICH I REPRESENT.

I REALIZE THERE ARE SOME WHO OPPOSE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ANY SORT OF NATIONAL PARK SERVICE UNIT TO OFFICIALLY COMMEMORATE THE U.S. INTERNMENT OF THOUSANDS OF JAPANESE-AMERICANS DURING WORLD WAR II. THE BELIEF IS THAT WE SHOULD LET THE PAST BE PAST, THAT AN EPISODE SUCH AS THIS IS AN EMBARRASSMENT TO THE UNITED STATES THAT SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO BE FORGOTTEN. I DISAGREE, OBVIOUSLY, WITH SUCH SENTIMENTS, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THE RELUCTANCE TO COME FACE TO FACE WITH AN UNFORTUNATE PIECE OF OUR NOT-TOO-DISTANT PAST. IT IS UNCOMFORTABLE, IT IS PAINFUL, TO REMEMBER THAT TIME. BUT IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO DO SO, BECAUSE ONLY THROUGH A DILIGENT PRESERVATION OF THOSE MEMORIES CAN WE HOPE TO AVOID THEIR REPETITION IN THE FUTURE.

ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO ENSURE THAT WE, AS A NATION, REMAIN MINDFUL OF THE PRECIOUS RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES WITH WHICH WE ARE BLESSED BUT WHICH WE ALL TOO OFTEN TAKE FOR GRANTED, IS TO FORMALLY COMMEMORATE A TIME WHEN MANY OF THESE SAME RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES WERE SUSPENDED FOR MANY OF OUR FELLOW CITIZENS. JUST SUCH A COMMEMORATION WOULD BE APPROPRIATELY SERVED BY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE AT MANZANAR. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THE PASSAGE OF H.R. 543.

MRS. MINK. MR. SPEAKER, I RISE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF H.R. 543, A BILL TO DESIGNATE MANZANAR INTERNMENT CAMP AS THE MANZANAR NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE. ONE OF THE GREATEST OF AMERICAN TRADITIONS IS THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC SITES SO THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS MAY FULLY APPRECIATE THE LESSONS THIS NATION HAS LEARNED IN THE YEARS OUR COUNTRY HAS EXISTED.

THE INTERNMENT OF JAPANESE-AMERICANS DURING WORLD WAR II IS NOT A PROUD CHAPTER IN OUR HISTORY AND IT IS CERTAINLY NOT A PLEASANT MEMORY FOR THOSE WHO SURVIVED THE ORDEAL, BUT IT IS NONETHELESS A PART OF THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE THAT MUST BE PRESERVED SO THAT THOSE WHOSE LIVES WERE SHATTERED BY THIS GREAT INJUSTICE WILL NOT HAVE SUFFERED IN VAIN.

MR. SPEAKER, THIS NATION HAS REALIZED THE MISTAKE THAT WAS MADE IN UNFAIRLY IMPRISONING JAPANESE-AMERICAN FAMILIES DURING THE WAR BECAUSE OF THEIR ANCESTRY. THIS CONGRESS HAS TAKEN STEPS TO TRY AND MAKE UP FOR THE DAMAGE DONE BY GIVING REPARATIONS TO THOSE WHO WERE SUBJECTED TO INTERNMENT. BUT ABOVE ALL APOLOGIES AND COMPENSATIONS, THE VICTIMS OF THIS CRIME AND THEIR FAMILIES WISH THAT THEIR SACRIFICES BE REMEMBERED, HONORED, AND MOST OF ALL, THAT THIS TYPE OF INJUSTICE AGAINST ONE GROUP OF AMERICANS NEVER BE REPEATED.

I COMMEND CHAIRMAN VENTO AND THE COMMITTEE FOR THEIR FINE WORK IN BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD. THE ACQUISITION OF THE MANZANAR SITE AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE JAPANESE-AMERICAN INTERNMENT STUDY WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARD HEALING THE WOUNDS OF THIS TRAGIC PERIOD OF OUR HISTORY.

PERHAPS THE TIME HAS COME TO FORGIVE THE TERRIBLE MISTAKES MADE BY MISGUIDED GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR. BUT WHILE WE CAN FORGIVE, WE MUST NEVER FORGET. MANZANAR AND THE OTHER INTERNMENT SITES WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED AS THE PLACES WHERE OUR GOVERNMENT IGNORED AT HOME THE VERY FREEDOMS WE WERE FIGHTING TO UPHOLD AROUND THE WORLD. IT IS NOT A PLEASANT MEMORY BUT IT IS MOST DEFINITELY AN AMERICAN MEMORY.

Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LAGOMARSINO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further request for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. McDermott). The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Vento] that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 543), as amended.

The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.

A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.