REFERENCE: Vol. 138 No. 124

TITLE: CIVIL LIBERTIES ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1992

SPEAKER: Mr. EDWARDS of California; Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts; Mr. GEKAS; MR. GEPHARDT; MR. MATSUI; MR. MINETA

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

Ê[*H8345]Ê Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4551) to amend the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 to increase the authorization for the Trust Fund under that Act, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read as follows:

H.R. 4551

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the "Civil Liberties Act Amendments of 1992".

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION FOR TRUST FUND.

Section 104(e) of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 (50 U.S.C. App. 1989b-3(e)) is amended by striking "$1,250,000,000" and inserting "$1,650,000,000".

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

Section 108(2) of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 (50 U.S.C. App. 1989b-7(2)) is amended in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by inserting ", or the spouse or a parent of an individual of Japanese ancestry," after "Japanese ancestry".

SEC. 4. BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT; JUDICIAL REVIEW.

(a) Benefit of the Doubt. -- Section 105(a) of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 (50 U.S.C. App. 1989b-4(a)) is amended --

(1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (7) as paragraphs (4) through (8), respectively; and

(2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:

"(3) Benefit of the doubt. -- When, after consideration of all evidence and relevant material for determining whether an individual is an eligible individual, there is an appropriate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding the merits of an issue material to the determination of eligibility, the benefit of the doubt in resolving each such issue shall be given to such individual.".

(b) Judicial Review. -- Section 105 of such Act is amended by adding at the end the following:

"(h) Judicial Review. --

"(1) Review by the claims court. -- A claimant may seek judicial review of a denial of compensation under this section solely in the United States Claims Court, which shall review the denial upon the administrative record and shall hold unlawful and set aside the denial if it is found to be arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law.

"(2) Applicability. -- This subsection shall apply only to any claim filed in court on or after the date of the enactment of this subsection.".

(c) Conforming Amendments. -- Section 105 of such Act is amended --

(1) in subsection (a) --

(A) in paragraph (1) --

(i) by striking "(6)" and inserting "(7)"; and

(ii) by striking "(4)" and inserting "(5)";

(B) in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (4) (as redesignated by subsection (a)(1) of this section) --

(i) by striking "(4)" and inserting "(5)"; and

(ii) by striking "(5)" and inserting "(6)";

(C) in paragraph (6) (as redesignated by subsection (a)(1) of this section) --

(i) by striking "(4)" and inserting "(5)"; and

(ii) by striking "(3)" and inserting "(4)"; and

(D) in paragraph (7) (as redesignated by subsection (a)(1) of this section) by striking "(6)" and inserting "(8)"; and

(2) in subsection (b) by striking "(6)" and inserting "(8)".

SEC. 5. TERMINATION OF DUTIES OF ATTORNEY GENERAL.

Section 105(e) of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 (50 U.S.C. App. 1989b-4(e)) is amended by striking "when the Fund terminates." and inserting "180 days after the Fund terminates.".

SEC. 6. EXCLUSION OF PAYMENTS AS INCOME FOR VETERANS BENEFITS.

(a) Exclusion. -- Section 105(f)(2) of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 (50 U.S.C. App. 1989b-4(f)(2)) is amended by striking out ", or the" and inserting "or available under any other law administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or for purposes of determining the".

(b) Effective Date. -- The amendment made by subsection (a) shall be effective as of August 10, 1988.

SEC. 7. COMPLIANCE WITH BUDGET ACT.

Section 110 of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 (50 App. 1989b-9) is amended --

(1) by inserting "(a) In General. -- " before "Subject to";

(2) in subsection (a) (as so designated by paragraph (1)) --

(A) in the first sentence, by inserting "and except as provided in subsection (b)" after "105(g) of this title"; and

(B) by striking the second sentence; and

(3) by adding at the end the following new subsections:

(b) Payments From Discretionary Appropriations. --

"(1) Payments. -- Any such payment made to an individual who is not of Japanese ancestry and who is an eligible individual on the basis of the amendment made by section 3 of the Civil Liberties Act Amendments of 1992 shall not be an entitlement and shall be made from discretionary appropriations.

"(2) Authorization of appropriations. -- There are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 1993 and each subsequent fiscal year such sums as may be necessary for the payments from discretionary appropriations described in paragraph (1).

"(c) Definitions. -- As used in this section --

"(1) the term 'discretionary appropriations' has the meaning given that term in section 250(c)(7) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 900(c)(7)); and

"(2) the term 'entitlement' means 'spending authority' as defined in section 401(c)(2)(C) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 651(c)(2)(C)).".

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Frank] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Gekas] will be recognized for 20 minutes.

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Frank].

Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking minority Member for his cooperation in bringing this bill forward.

Mr. Speaker, we passed some time ago, I believe 1988, in the House, in the full Congress, a bill which recognizes the error that was made when innocent people were interned during World War II. We had a procedure set forward atÊ [*H8346]Ê that time to do what we could to undo that error. We could not, of course, totally undo it, but we could do the best that was possible 40-some-odd years later.

I want to commend the Justice Department under this current administration. They have done an excellent job in administering this. You often hear about problems. You hear about money misspent. Here we have had a significant sum of money well spent, well administered. The Justice Department has, in fact, done a better job than we thought they were going to do, and they have, working with the community, effectively the Japanese-Americans, identified a significant number of people we were legally eligible under this bill.

We had a cap on it which now turns out to be an interference with the appropriate administration of the legislation.

We also want to make it clear that spouses not of Japanese ancestry who chose to accompany their spouses when their spouses were incarcerated should be treated in a similar fashion. I should certainly think, with all the emphasis on family, that we would feel that this decision not to have a family split up but to share the fate with one's spouse is a decision that ought to be fully recognized.

These are in the nature of technical amendments. They do not change the decision we made 5 years ago. They simply give effect to it, and I hope that the legislation will be passed.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I offer to compliment the gentleman from Massachusetts for the speedy consideration of this piece of legislation.

The Congress may have had a division of opinion back in the late 1980's when we first debated this particular issue, and there was heated and proper debate, as I recall. But the ultimate decision of the Congress then was to make sure that every individual illegally interned during that bad period in American history should be placed on the list to later be compensated by the Government which acted so blatantly illegally against that individual, and so we come to a point today where the issue, as far as we are concerned, is moot.

We want to provide the proper remedy for those persons interned. The debate of the past as to whether or not we should do it no longer appears on the horizon, no longer is a part of the debate. The only thing that remains to do is to make sure we complete the job that the original legislation offered to do, namely, to compensate those interned.

The numbers having been now expanded to include people not first contemplated is the right thing to do for the Congress. And so we offer complete and unanimous support for the legislation.

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

Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California [Mr. Edwards], a very distinguished senior member of the subcommittee.

Mr. EDWARDS of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the subcommittee for yielding me this time and congratulate him and the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Gekas] for the splendid work in bringing this bill to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4551, the Civil Liberties Act Amendments of 1992. I want to commend my colleagues on the Judiciary Committee for their work in bringing this measure to the floor. I also want to express my deep appreciation for the work of my friend and fellow Californian, Norm Mineta, for his consistent leadership on this issue. Without his persistence, the United States Government may never have issued its long-awaited apology to the Japanese-Americans interned during World War II.

Mr. Speaker, today we are not breaking new ground. We are merely taking the next necessary steps to honor a commitment Congress and the President made to Japanese-Americans in 1988.

During World War II, the United States Government ordered Japanese-Americans from their homes and into internment camps. Practically overnight, these Americans lost much of what they had worked for and what they thought the United States Government would protect.

The experience of Japanese-Americans during World War II shows in painful detail that the protections and rights provided by the Constitution are meaningless unless we as citizens are prepared to make certain they are upheld. In 1942, too many Americans were willing to ignore the Constitution and give in to the mistaken belief that Japanese-Americans would not be loyal to the United States.

All Americans, not just those interned in resettlement camps, were diminished by the arbitrary denial of civil liberties of Japanese-Americans. These rights are meaningless unless everyone enjoys them.

Congress reaffirmed its commitment to individual rights by passing the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. Under this bill, the United States Government issued a formal apology for the internment policy and began making reparations payments to the survivors.

Because original estimates of the number of eligible reparations recipients were low, Congress now needs to authorize additional funds for the program. By passing H.R. 4551 we can ensure that everyone entitled to reparations under the 1988 act will receive them. Not only will the Federal Government's apology then be complete, but we will have also shown that there is meaning behind the words in the Constitution.

GENERAL LEAVE

Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 4551, the bill now under consideration.

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

There was no objection.

MR. MATSUI. MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY IN STRONG SUPPORT OF H.R. 4551, THE CIVIL LIBERTIES ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1992. TODAY WE WILL VOTE TO FINISH THE WORK WHICH WE BEGAN IN 1988 WHEN WE PASSED THE ORIGINAL CIVIL LIBERTIES ACT. THAT ACT PROMISED TO HELP AMERICA COME TO GRIPS WITH ONE OF ITS DARKEST MOMENTS: THE FORCED INTERNMENT OF JAPANESE-AMERICANS, CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES, WHO WERE VICTIMS OF RACISM AND MASS HYSTERIA. H.R. 4551 ASSURES THAT A MERE TECHNICALITY WILL NOT PREVENT ELIGIBLE AND DESERVING FORMER INTERNEES FROM RECEIVING JUST COMPENSATION, AND ALSO PROVIDES COMPENSATION FOR DESERVING INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE INADVERTENTLY OVERLOOKED BY THE ORIGINAL LEGISLATION.

THIS ISSUE TRANSCENDS THE NARROW INTERESTS OF PROVIDING REDRESS TO THOSE WHO WERE INTERNED DURING WORLD WAR II, AND SYMBOLIZES AN AFFIRMATION OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THE CIVIL LIBERTIES ACT OF 1988 AFFIRMED ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL, INALIENABLE RIGHTS UPON WHICH THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED: THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM FROM UNCONSTITUTIONAL INTERFERENCE WITH LIBERTY OF THE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

SOME HISTORIANS CONTINUE TO DEBATE WHETHER THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT LOSSES WHEN JAPANESE-AMERICANS WERE RELOCATED FROM THEIR HOMES, OR WHETHER THE CAMPS PROVIDED AN IDYLLIC EXPERIENCE. YET THOSE WHO MERELY LOOK AT THE PROPERTY AND BUSINESS LOSSES OF THOSE WHO WERE INTERNED OVERLOOK THE HIGHEST COST OF ALL -- INDIVIDUAL PRIDE AND TRUST IN THE AMERICAN SYSTEM. THIS DEBATE HAS NEVER BEEN ABOUT MONEY. THE ISSUE CUTS TO THE HEART OF THE FOUNDATION OF FREEDOM AND LIBERTY IN AMERICAN SOCIETY.

TODAY WE ARE SEEKING TO FULFILL THE CONGRESSIONAL INTENT OF THE REDRESS LAW AND TO COMPLETE THE HEALING PROCESS THAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO AMERICANS OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY. I WISH THE ORIGINAL LEGISLATION WAS SUFFICIENT, BUT WE ARE CONFRONTED BY THE FACT THAT THE ORIGINAL REDRESS FUNDING REQUEST WAS INADEQUATE. THE OFFICE OF REDRESS ADMINISTRATION AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ESTIMATES THAT REDRESS FUNDING WILL EXPIRE BEFORE NEARLY 15,000 ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS RECEIVE THEIR PAYMENTS. IF THE FUNDING IS EXHAUSTED, WE WOULD BE LEFT WITH AN INEQUITY WHERE MOST WOULD HAVE RECEIVED PAYMENTS, BUT OTHERS, WHOSE BIRTHDATES CAME LATER, WOULD STILL BE AWAITING PAYMENTS.

H.R. 4551 WILL INCREASE THE AUTHORIZATION TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR ALL ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS. THE NEW AUTHORIZATION WOULD COVER THE PAYMENTS FOR ALL THE SURVIVING RECIPIENTS AND MAINTAIN A FUND CREATED BY CONGRESS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE INTERMENT HISTORY. WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO MAKE GOOD ON REPARATIONS FOR THOSE WHO ARE REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES AND INTERNED 50 YEARS AGO. THIS LEGISLATION WILL BRING THAT OBLIGATION TO ITS FRUITION AND RELIEVE THE PAINS THAT HAVE NOT BEENÊ [*H8347]Ê HEALED BY TIME. THE LEGISLATION ALSO INCORPORATES PROVISIONS ORIGINALLY INTRODUCED IN MY BILL, H.R. 4553, WHICH PROTECTS BENEFITS DUE TO VETERANS AND SURVIVORS. WITHOUT THIS CLARIFYING LANGUAGE, THOSE VETERANS AND SURVIVORS WHO ALSO RECEIVE REDRESS PAYMENTS WOULD LOSE THEIR ELIGIBILITY FOR VA PENSION BENEFITS, WHICH IS A STARK DEPARTURE FROM THE INTENT OF CONGRESS.

H.R. 4551 IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT LEGISLATION WHICH WILL SEND A SIGNAL TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT THE AMERICAN SYSTEM WORKS AND THAT AMERICANS CAN BELIEVE IN THE SAFEGUARDS OF OUR CONSTITUTION. I ASK ALL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING THIS LEGISLATION.

MR. GEPHARDT. MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY IN STRONG SUPPORT OF H.R. 4551, ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZATION FOR THE CIVIL LIBERTIES ACT. THE PASSAGE OF THE CIVIL LIBERTIES ACT OF 1988 REPRESENTED A COURAGEOUS AND NECESSARY STEP TOWARD MAKING AMENDS FOR THE HARM DONE TO AMERICAN CITIZENS DURING WORLD WAR II. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE REPRESENTATIVE MINETA FOR HIS TIRELESS WORK AND DEDICATION ON BEHALF OF THIS EFFORT.

FIFTY YEARS AGO OUR GOVERNMENT ISSUED DIRECTIVES ORDERING THE EVACUATION AND INTERNMENT OF 120,000 PERSONS OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY FROM THE WEST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES. SOME WERE FORCED FROM THEIR HOMES WITH JUST A FEW HOURS' NOTICE. FAMILIES COULD TAKE WITH THEM ONLY WHAT COULD BE CARRIED, AND THEY WERE TAKEN BY TRAIN TO INTERNMENT CAMPS WHERE THEY WERE HELD FOR UP TO 4 YEARS.

TWO-THIRDS OF THOSE RELOCATED TO THE INTERNMENT CAMPS WERE U.S. CITIZENS. THE OTHERS WERE PERMANENT RESIDENT ALIENS WHO WERE INELIGIBLE FOR CITIZENSHIP BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE. THESE ACTS OF INJUSTICE WERE COMMITTED ON THE BASIS OF SECURITY REASONS ALTHOUGH NOT ONE ACT OF SABOTAGE OR ESPIONAGE HAS EVER BEEN DOCUMENTED.

THE LOSSES INCURRED BY THE VICTIMS OF THESE EVENTS ARE INCALCULABLE. THEIR DEPRIVATIONS GO FAR BEYOND THE HOMES, FARMS AND BUSINESSES THAT WERE LEFT BEHIND OR SOLD FOR A FRACTION OF THEIR WORTH. CAREERS AND CHILDREN'S EDUCATIONS SUFFERED IRREPARABLE DAMAGE. THEIR BASIC CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF DUE PROCESS AND EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW WENT IGNORED. THEY SUFFERED TERRIBLE HUMILIATION AND SHAME AS THEY WERE REGARDED AS DISLOYAL AND DANGEROUS TO THEIR OWN COUNTRY.

CONDITIONS IN THE INTERNMENT CAMPS WERE DIFFICULT. LOCATED INLAND IN DESOLATE AREAS OF WYOMING, COLORADO, CALIFORNIA, IDAHO, UTAH, ARKANSAS, AND ARIZONA, THE CAMPS OFFERED LITTLE OR NO PRIVACY, A POOR DIET, AND INADEQUATE MEDICAL CARE. THE LIVING QUARTERS WERE CRAMPED, HOUSING AN AVERAGE FAMILY OF SIX IN ONE ROOM.

IRONICALLY, WHILE FAMILY AND LOVED ONES WERE BEING HELD IN BARBED-WIRE CAMPS, THOUSANDS OF JAPANESE-AMERICANS WERE SERVING IN THE UNITED STATES MILITARY. TO PROVE THEIR LOYALTY TO THEIR COUNTRY, MANY JOINED THE MILITARY RIGHT FROM THE INTERNMENT CAMPS. THE 442D REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM, MADE UP OF SECOND GENERATION JAPANESE-AMERICANS, WAS ONE OF THE MOST DECORATED COMBAT TEAMS IN WORLD WAR II.

THE 100TH CONGRESS TOOK AN HISTORIC STEP IN ADOPTING THE CIVIL LIBERTIES ACT OF 1988, WHICH OFFICIALLY APOLOGIZED FOR THE INTERNMENT AND AUTHORIZED REPARATIONS PAYMENTS TO THE SURVIVORS. THROUGH THIS ACT, CONGRESS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THOSE IN POWER AT THE TIME FAILED TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION. WE OWE IT TO EVERY AMERICAN CITIZEN TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THE COMMITMENT TO CORRECTING THAT MISCARRIAGE.

TO DATE, 50,000 INDIVIDUALS HAVE RECEIVED THEIR REDRESS PAYMENTS. THE OFFICE OF REDRESS ADMINISTRATION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS IDENTIFIED 95 PERCENT OF THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR PAYMENT. THE PROGRAM IS WELL UNDER WAY AND IS ACHIEVING THE OBJECTIVES OF THE LEGISLATION. TO COMPLETE ALL REDRESS PAYMENTS, HOWEVER, AN ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZATION IS NEEDED.

CONGRESSMAN MINETA AND I HAVE INTRODUCED LEGISLATION, THE CIVIL LIBERTIES ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1992, TO PROVIDE THE ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZATION THAT WILL ENABLE THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO FULFILL THE MANDATES OF THE LAW. OUR LEGISLATION AUTHORIZES AN ADDITIONAL $400 MILLION FOR THE CIVIL LIBERTIES PUBLIC EDUCATION FUND, WHICH WAS CREATED IN 1988 BY THE ORIGINAL ACT.

ONE PURPOSE OF THE FUND IS TO MAKE REDRESS PAYMENTS OF $20,000 TO EACH ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL. EARLIER IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT 60,000 INDIVIDUAL WERE ELIGIBLE FOR PAYMENT. THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE NOW ESTIMATES THAT THE ORIGINAL FIGURE OF 60,000 ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS WAS TOO LOW, AND HAS ISSUED ITS FINAL ESTIMATE THAT A TOTAL OF 80,000 REDRESS PAYMENTS WILL BE NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE PROGRAM.

ONCE THE PAYMENTS TO INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, A BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FUND WILL BE NAMED. AT THAT POINT, MONEYS IN THE FUND WILL BE USED FOR HISTORICAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC EDUCATION, WITH THE PURPOSE OF ENSURING THAT THE INTERNMENT IS REMEMBERED AND THAT SIMILAR VIOLATIONS OF CIVIL LIBERTIES NEVER OCCUR AGAIN.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE ATTITUDES THAT LED TO THE INTERNMENT HAVE NOT DISAPPEARED. HATE CRIMES HAVE RECENTLY INCREASED DRAMATICALLY AGAINST ASIAN-AMERICANS AND OTHER CITIZENS; SUSPICION FELL ON ARAB-AMERICANS DURING THE PERSIAN GULF WAR, INCLUDING A TROUBLING PROGRAM OPERATED BY THE FBI TO INTERVIEW ARAB-AMERICANS ABOUT TERRORIST ACTIVITY. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO RELAX OUR EFFORTS TO PREVENT PREJUDICE, DISCRIMINATION, THE ABROGATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS, AND THE VIOLATION OF CIVIL LIBERTIES.

IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE PAYMENTS TO INDIVIDUALS AND FULFILL THE EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE OF THE CIVIL LIBERTIES ACT, I URGE SUPPORT FOR PASSAGE OF H.R. 4551 TODAY.

MR. MINETA. MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY IN STRONG SUPPORT OF H.R. 4551 AND I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME IN MOVING FOR ITS QUICK ADOPTION.

MR. SPEAKER, THE FORCIBLE REMOVAL AND INTERNMENT OF JAPANESE-AMERICANS DURING WORLD WAR II IS A STAIN ON OUR NATIONAL HONOR. THANKS TO THE PASSAGE OF THE CIVIL LIBERTIES ACT OF 1988 IN THE 100TH CONGRESS, THAT STAIN IS FINALLY BEING ERASED.

THE LEGISLATION BEFORE US TODAY WILL COMPLETE THAT PROCESS. H.R. 4551, THE CIVIL LIBERTIES ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1992, WILL AUTHORIZE THE FUNDING NECESSARY TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THAT ACT, AND WILL ENSURE THAT OUR NATION LIVES UP TO ITS COMMITMENT TO REDRESS THE WRONGS OF THE INTERNMENT AND EVACUATION.

AS THE COMMISSION ON WARTIME RELOCATION AND INTERNMENT OF CIVILIANS DOCUMENTED IN ITS REPORT, "PERSONAL JUSTICE DENIED," THE REMOVAL OF JAPANESE-AMERICANS FROM THE WEST COAST WAS CARRIED OUT DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NOT ONE DOCUMENTED INSTANCE OF ESPIONAGE, SABOTAGE OR FIFTH-COLUMN ACTIVITY COMMITTED BY AN AMERICAN OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY OR JAPANESE RESIDENT ALIEN ON THE WEST COAST.

WITHOUT ANY SHRED OF PROOF OF DISLOYALTY, MORE THAN 120,000 AMERICANS OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY WERE FORCED FROM THEIR HOMES AND BUSINESSES AND INTO INTERNMENT CAMPS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

WHEN THE RACIAL HYSTERIA THAT FOLLOWED THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR BEGAN TO SEEK OUT TARGETS, IT SETTLED VERY QUICKLY ON AMERICANS OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY. THE INTERVIEWS AND ARRESTS WERE JUST THE BEGINNING. BETWEEN DECEMBER 1941 AND FEBRUARY 1942, WE WERE EXCLUDED FROM A GROWING LIST OF SECURITY AREAS. AS WE QUICKLY LEARNED, EVEN AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP MEANT NOTHING IF YOUR PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS HAPPENED TO HAVE COME FROM JAPAN.

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S SIGNING OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 9066 ON FEBRUARY 19, 1942, WAS SOON FOLLOWED BY ORDERS FROM THE ARMY THAT DECLARED THE WESTERN HALVES OF THE STATES OF CALIFORNIA, OREGON, AND WASHINGTON, AND THE SOUTHERN HALF OF ARIZONA AS SECURITY ZONES WHERE AMERICANS OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY WOULD BE EXCLUDED.

MR. SPEAKER, I REMEMBER ONE NIGHT IN FEBRUARY 1942, WHEN MY FATHER CALLED OUR FAMILY TOGETHER. HE TOLD US THAT HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO HIM OR MY MOTHER, SINCE THEY WERE RESIDENT ALIENS. ALTHOUGH MY FATHER HAD BEEN IN THIS COUNTRY FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS, THE ORIENTAL EXCLUSION LAW PREVENTED MY PARENTS FROM BECOMING U.S. CITIZENS.

BUT MY FATHER WAS SURE THAT THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS NATION WOULD PROTECT HIS CHILDREN, ALL OF WHOM WERE AMERICAN CITIZENS. FOR AS LONG AS I LIVE, I WILL NEVER FORGET MY FATHER'S SHAME AND DISILLUSIONMENT WHEN HE DISCOVERED THAT HE WAS WRONG.

ON MARCH 2, 1942, GEN. JOHN L. DEWITT ISSUED HIS PROCLAMATION NO. 2, ANNOUNCING THAT ALL INDIVIDUALS OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY ALIEN AND NONALIEN WOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM THE WEST COAST.

I WAS NO LONGER RECOGNIZED AS A U.S. CITIZEN. I HAD BECOME A NONALIEN.

MR. SPEAKER, IT WAS 50 YEARS AGO THIS YEAR THAT GENERAL DEWITT ISSUED HIS PROCLAMATION NO. 4, INSTITUTING THE MASS RELOCATION AND INTERNMENT.

MANY WERE GIVEN JUST A FEW DAYS, SOMETIMES ONLY HOURS, TO DISPOSE OF THEIR POSSESSIONS AND TO LEAVE FOR THE ASSEMBLY CENTERS. WE WERE ALLOWED TO TAKE ONLY WHAT WE COULD CARRY, AND NONE OF US KNEW WHETHER WE WOULD EVER SEE OUR HOMES AGAIN.

WE WERE TOLD THAT OUR LOYALTY THIS COUNTRY WAS IN DOUBT SIMPLY BECAUSE OF OUR ANCESTRY. AS GENERAL DEWITT SAID:

THE JAPANESE RACE IS AN ENEMY RACE AND WHILE MANY SECOND AND THIRD GENERATION JAPANESE BORN ON UNITED STATES SOIL, POSSESSED OF UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP, HAVE BECOME "AMERICANIZED," THE RACIAL STRAINS ARE UNDILUTED. THAT JAPAN IS ALLIED WITH GERMANY AND ITALY IN THIS STRUGGLE IS NO GROUND FOR ASSUMING THAT ANY JAPANESE, BARRED FROM ASSIMILATION BY CONVENTION AS HE IS, THOUGH BORN AND RAISED IN THE UNTIED STATES, WILL NOT TURN AGAINST THIS NATION WHEN THE FINAL TEST OF LOYALTY COMES.

OR, AS GENERAL DEWITT PUT IT THE NEXT DAY, "A JAP IS A JAP."

WHEN WE WERE FORCED FROM OUR HOMES AND INTO THE CAMPS, WE WERE TOLD THAT WE COULDN'T BE TRUSTED. LATER, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE EVACUATION AND THE INTERNMENT WERE BEING DONE FOR OUR OWN PROTECTION.

EVEN AS A CHILD OF 10 YEARS OLD, I KNEW THIS FOR THE LIE THAT IT WAS. IF WE WERE BEING PROTECTED, THEN WHY DID THE GUARDS ON THE TRAIN AND THE GUARDS ON THE WATCHTOWERS HAVE THEIR GUNS POINTED IN AT US, INSTEAD OF OUT?

Ê[*H8348]Ê FOR UP TO 4 YEARS, JAPANESE-AMERICANS WERE HELD IN THE CAMPS, STRIPPED OF OUR MOST BASIC RIGHTS AS AMERICANS. THE SHAME OF THE INTERNMENT AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT OUT COUNTRY JUDGED US DISLOYAL REMAINS WITH US TO THIS DAY.

BUT, MR. SPEAKER, THE STORY OF JAPANESE-AMERICANS IS ULTIMATELY ONE OF ENDURING AND UNSHAKABLE FAITH IN THIS COUNTRY. THAT FAITH, AND OUR COMMITMENT TO THIS NATION, WERE DEMONSTRATED TIME AND AGAIN THROUGHOUT THE WAR.

BY THE THOUSANDS, JAPANESE-AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN VOLUNTEERED FROM THE CAMPS TO SERVE IN THE UNITED STATES MILITARY. IN ALL, 33,000 AMERICANS OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES DURING WORLD WAR II.

THEY SERVED IN THE MILITARY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE, THEY SERVED AS MEDICS AND TEACHERS, THEY SERVED IN THE WAC'S, AND IN THE AIR CORPS.

THEIR MOST CELEBRATED CONTRIBUTIONS WERE IN THE ARMY, WHERE THE ALL-NISEI 100TH BATTALION AND 442D REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM BECAME TWO OF THE MOST DECORATED UNITS IN AMERICAN MILITARY HISTORY.

THE 100TH BATTALION, ORIGINALLY A PART OF THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD, LEFT FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER IN SEPTEMBER 1943. FIGHTING AS PART OF THE ALLIED CAMPAIGN IN ITALY, THE 1,400 MEN OF THE 100TH SUFFERED AN EXTRAORDINARY LEVEL OF CASUALTIES.

IN JUST THE FIRST MONTH AND A HALF OF FIGHTING, THE 100TH HAD 78 KILLED AND 239 WOUNDED OR INJURED. DURING THAT CAMPAIGN THE 100TH ULTIMATELY EARNED 900 PURPLE HEARTS, EARNING THE NICKNAME "THE PURPLE HEART BATTALION."

IN JUNE 1944, THE 100TH MERGED WITH THE 442D REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM, WHICH WAS COMPOSED OF JAPANESE-AMERICAN VOLUNTEERS FROM HAWAII AND THE UNITED STATES MAINLAND.

THE 442D SUFFERED 9,486 CASUALTIES DURING THE 7 MAJOR CAMPAIGNS IT CARRIED OUT IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER. BY THE WAR'S END THE 442D HAD EARNED 18,143 INDIVIDUAL DECORATIONS INCLUDING ONE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR, 47 DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSSES, 350 SILVER STARS, 810 BRONZE STARS, AND OVER 3,600 PURPLE HEARTS.

THE UNIT WAS CITED SEVEN TIMES BY PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT AND TRUMAN WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION.

AMERICANS OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY ALSO PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN FIGHTING THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC. THE VOLUNTEERS OF THE MILITARY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE PROVIDED VITAL SUPPORT IN TRANSLATING CAPTURED DOCUMENTS AND INTERROGATING PRISONERS.

AMONG THEIR MOST NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WERE TRANSLATIONS OF CAPTURED DOCUMENTS REVEALING THE CALL SIGNS AND CODE NAMES FOR THE ENTIRE JAPANESE IMPERIAL NAVY, ITS AIR SQUADRONS, AND BASES. THEY ALSO TRANSLATED DOCUMENTS REVEALING THE ENTIRE JAPANESE NAVAL BATTLE PLAN FOR THE PHILIPPINES.

BUT AS THESE MEN AND WOMEN WERE GIVING THEIR ALL TO DEFEND THIS COUNTRY AND ITS FREEDOMS, THEY CARRIED WITH THEM THE PAIN OF KNOWING THAT MANY OF THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES SAT LOCKED BEHIND BARBED WIRE FENCES IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE HAD ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT THESE SACRIFICES WOULD ONE DAY BE RECOGNIZED, AND THAT ONE DAY OUR COUNTRY WOULD REALIZE HOW UNJUST OUR INTERNMENT HAD BEEN. IN CONTRAST TO THE TRAGIC DISILLUSIONMENT OF 1942, TODAY WE KNOW THAT OUR FAITH IN THIS NATION WAS NOT MISPLACED.

MR. SPEAKER, I HAVE SERVED IN THE HOUSE FOR MORE THAN 17 YEARS. I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT I HAVE NEVER FELT SUCH PRIDE IN THIS CONGRESS OR IN THIS COUNTRY THAN ON THE DAY THE 100TH CONGRESS FINALLY PASSED H.R. 442, THE CIVIL LIBERTIES ACT OF 1988. WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE CIVIL LIBERTIES ACT, THIS NATION FIRMLY REDEDICATED ITSELF TO THE PRINCIPLES AND PROTECTIONS OF OUR CONSTITUTION, OFFERING THE PROMISE OF REDRESS TO THOSE WHO HAD BEEN WRONGED BY THE INTERNMENT.

THE LEGISLATION BEFORE US TODAY IS VITALLY NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE FULFILLMENT OF THAT PROMISE.

H.R. 4551, THE CIVIL LIBERTIES ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1992, INTRODUCED BY MY GOOD FRIENDS THE HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER RICHARD GEPHARDT AND THE REPUBLICAN WHIP NEWT GINGRICH, WILL PROVIDE THE $400 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZATION NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE ORIGINAL PURPOSES OF THE CIVIL LIBERTIES ACT OF 1988.

THE ACT AUTHORIZED $1.25 BILLION, BASED ON THE ESTIMATE THAT 60,000 INTERNEES AND EVACUEES WERE STILL SURVIVING AT THE TIME THE CIVIL LIBERTIES ACT OF 1988 WAS SIGNED INTO LAW BY RONALD REAGAN.

AS THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE'S OFFICE OF REDRESS ADMINISTRATION [ORA] HAS VERIFIED INDIVIDUAL CASES, HOWEVER, IT HAS BECOME CLEAR THAT THE 60,000 ESTIMATE WAS TOO LOW. ORA NOW EXPECTS TO VERIFY 80,000 REDRESS CLAIMS, REQUIRING AN ADDITIONAL $400 MILLION.

H.R. 4551 WOULD PROVIDE THE ADDITIONAL $250 MILLION REQUESTED BY THE PRESIDENT FOR REDRESS PAYMENTS IN FISCAL YEAR 1993. IT WILL AUTHORIZE $100 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 1994 TO MAKE THE FINAL 5,000 REDRESS PAYMENTS.

H.R. 4551 WILL ALSO EXPAND THE CIVIL LIBERTIES ACT TO INCLUDE INDIVIDUALS NOT OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY WHO WERE INTERNED OR EVACUATED ALONG WITH THEIR JAPANESE-AMERICAN SPOUSES AND CHILDREN.

MR. SPEAKER, I WAS TREMENDOUSLY PLEASED TO SEE THAT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT MADE THIS REQUEST. IT AFFECTS A RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER, CURRENTLY ESTIMATED TO BE NO MORE THAN 40 PEOPLE, BUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT GROUP NONETHELESS.

SINCE THEY WERE NOT THEMSELVES JAPANESE-AMERICANS, THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE NOT DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE ORDERS THAT EXCLUDED AND INTERNED AMERICANS OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY. BUT BECAUSE THEY WERE THE WIVES AND HUSBANDS, AND MOTHERS AND FATHERS OF JAPANESE-AMERICANS, THEY FACED A HORRIBLE CHOICE: EITHER RETAIN THEIR FREEDOM OR PRESERVE THEIR FAMILIES BY FOLLOWING THEIR SPOUSES AND CHILDREN INTO THE INTERNMENT CAMPS.

MANY WERE WOMEN WITH SMALL CHILDREN, SOME ONLY INFANTS WHEN THE INTERNMENT ORDERS CAME. THOSE ORDERS WERE NOT CONCERNED WITH WHETHER INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTED A THREAT TO THIS COUNTRY. THEY CARED ONLY ABOUT RACE, AND STRUCK EVEN AT AMERICAN CHILDREN OF PARTIAL JAPANESE ANCESTRY.

THESE PARENTS WERE TOLD THAT THEIR CHILDREN MUST BE TAKEN TO AN INTERNMENT CAMP, BUT THAT THEY THEMSELVES COULD REMAIN FREE. THOSE WHO CHOSE TO KEEP THEIR FAMILIES TOGETHER BY EVACUATING OR ENTERING THE CAMPS WERE NO LESS AFFECTED, AND TO CALL THEIR INTERNMENT VOLUNTARY WOULD BE LUDICROUS.

H.R. 4551 WILL AT LONG LAST RECOGNIZE AND ATTEMPT TO REDRESS THE INJUSTICE AND THE INDIGNITY THEY SUFFERED.

IN ADDITION, H.R. 4551 MAKES ADMINISTRATIVE AND TECHNICAL CHANGES TO THE CIVIL LIBERTIES ACT THAT WERE REQUESTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION, EXTENDING THE AUTHORITY OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL UNDER THE PROGRAM AND CLARIFYING THE PROCEDURE FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW FOR THOSE WHOSE REDRESS CLAIMS HAVE BEEN DENIED.

FINALLY, MR. SPEAKER, H.R. 4551 WILL PRESERVE THE EDUCATION FUNCTION OF THE CIVIL LIBERTIES PUBLIC EDUCATION FUND. THE EDUCATION PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE TWO KEY GOALS OF THE CIVIL LIBERTIES ACT: TO HELP ENSURE THAT SUCH A VIOLATION OF CIVIL LIBERTIES NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

IN THE WAKE OF OUR CURRENT TRADE FRICTIONS WITH JAPAN, HATE CRIMES HAVE DRAMATICALLY INCREASED AGAINST ASIAN-AMERICANS. ESPECIALLY IN MY HOME STATE OF CALIFORNIA, THE INCREASE HAS BEEN DISTURBING.

ON DECEMBER 7, LAST YEAR IN SAN FRANCISCO, A GASOLINE BOMB WAS THROWN AT A JAPANESE COUPLE. LAST NOVEMBER, A JAPANESE-AMERICAN COMMUNITY CENTER IN NORWALK, CA, WAS VANDALIZED AND RACIAL SLURS PAINTED ON THE WALLS. IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, A CROSS WAS BURNED IN FRONT OF AN ASIAN RESTAURANT IN LOS ANGELES. EARLIER THIS YEAR, A BOMB THREAT WAS MADE AGAINST THE LOS ANGELES OFFICE OF THE JAPANESE-AMERICAN CITIZENS LEAGUE IN CONNECTION WITH THE DAY OF REMEMBRANCE, THE JAPANESE-AMERICAN COMMUNITY'S ANNUAL OBSERVANCE OF THE ANNIVERSARY OF PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S SIGNING OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 9066.

THESE ARE NOT ISOLATED INCIDENTS, MR. SPEAKER. A RECENT REPORT BY THE UNITED STATES CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION DRAMATICALLY DEMONSTRATED CONTINUED VIOLENCE AND PREJUDICE AGAINST AMERICANS OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY AND ALL OF ASIAN-AMERICAN ANCESTRY.

THE EDUCATION FUNCTION AUTHORIZED BY THE CIVIL LIBERTIES ACT WILL SERVE A CRUCIAL ROLE IN DISSEMINATING AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE INTERNMENT, AND ITS PLACE IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

IF THERE WERE ANY REMAINING DOUBTS THAT THE SEARCH FOR SCAPEGOATS, AND THE TENDENCY TOWARD UNFOUNDED SUSPICION REMAIN WITH US TODAY, THEY WERE CERTAINLY REMOVED FOR ME BY THE EXPERIENCE OF ARAB-AMERICANS DURING THE PERSIAN GULF WAR.

IN LATE 1990, MY OFFICE BEGAN HEARING REPORTS OF INTERVIEWS OF ARAB-AMERICANS BY AGENTS OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION AND THE SECRET SERVICE. LOYAL AMERICANS FOUND THEMSELVES BEING ASKED ABOUT TERRORIST ACTIVITY IN THE UNITED STATES, AND ABOUT THEIR POLITICAL VIEWS ON THE WAR.

THESE PEOPLE HAD NO INFORMATION ABOUT TERRORIST ACTIVITY. THEIR POLITICAL VIEWS ON THE WAR WERE NONE OF ANYBODY ELSE'S BUSINESS, AND CERTAINLY NOT THE GOVERNMENT'S. IT WAS CLEAR TO THEM, AND TO ME, THAT THEY WERE SUDDENLY UNDER SUSPICION SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THEIR ANCESTRY.

FOR ME, MR. SPEAKER, AND FOR EVERY AMERICAN OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY, THOSE QUESTIONS WERE CHILLINGLY FAMILIAR. ONCE AGAIN, A GROUP OF AMERICANS WERE HAVING THEIR LOYALTY THROWN INTO DOUBT BECAUSE WE FOUND OURSELVES AT WAR AND CONVENIENTLY FORGOT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ANCESTRY AND CITIZENSHIP.

WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF MY GOOD FRIEND, MR. EDWARDS OF CALIFORNIA, A MEETING WAS ARRANGED WITH THE FBI TO DISCUSS THESE INTERVIEWS, AND I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT MEETING.

IN THAT MEETING AN OFFICIAL OF THE FBI TOLD US THAT THE INTERVIEWS WERE BEING CONDUCTED WITH ARAB-AMERICANS FOR THEIR OWN PROTECTION. I PROBABLY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SURPRISED. BUT SOMEHOW I THOUGHT THAT OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS THEY WOULD AT LEAST HAVE THOUGHT UP A NEW WAY TO WORD THE EXCUSE.

HAS THE SITUATION IMPROVED IN 50 YEARS, MR. SPEAKER? CERTAINLY.

TODAY WE HAVE POLITICAL LEADERS LIKE DON EDWARDS, MERV DYMALLY, BOB MATSUI, NICK RAHALL, AND BARNEY FRANK WHO STOOD UP ANDÊ [*H8349]Ê SAID "NO." AND THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT A HEIGHTENED AWARENESS OF WHAT HAPPENED TO JAPANESE-AMERICANS DURING WORLD WAR II WAS A POWERFUL WEAPON IN FIGHTING DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ARAB-AMERICANS THIS TIME.

BUT IT IS CLEAR THAT THE ATTITUDES AND THE PREJUDICES THAT LED TO THE INTERNMENT ARE STILL WITH US, MR. SPEAKER. WE HAVE A DUTY AND AN OBLIGATION TO DO EVERYTHING WITHIN OUR POWER TO SEE THAT THE STORY OF THE INTERNMENT IS KNOWN, UNDERSTOOD, AND REMEMBERED.

THE EDUCATION COMPONENT OF THE CIVIL LIBERTIES ACT IS NO LESS IMPORTANT TODAY THAN IT WAS IN 1988, OR IN 1941.

FINALLY, MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO CHAIRMAN JACK BROOKS FOR MOVING THIS LEGISLATION FORWARD TODAY; TO SPEAKER TOM FOLEY, WHO WAS THE LEAD SPONSOR OF THE CIVIL LIBERTIES ACT DURING HIS TENURE AS MAJORITY LEADER; OUR CURRENT MAJORITY LEADER, MY GOOD FRIEND RICHARD GEPHARDT, FOR INTRODUCING H.R. 4551; THE DISTINGUISHED REPUBLICAN WHIP NEWT GINGRICH, THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE'S RANKING REPUBLICAN, HAMILTON FISH, REPRESENTATIVES HENRY HYDE, DON EDWARDS, BOB MATSUI, PATSY MINK, NANCY PELOSI, AND ALL THE MEMBERS AND STAFF ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE WHO HAVE HELPED IN THE EFFORT TO BRING THIS BILL FORWARD TODAY. THIS HAS TRULY BEEN A BIPARTISAN EFFORT.

BUT I MUST SAY A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS [MR. FRANK] FOR HIS CONTINUED LEADERSHIP ON THIS PROGRAM. HE AND HIS DEDICATED STAFF ARE OWED A DEBT OF GRATITUDE NOT ONLY BY AMERICANS OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY, BUT BY ALL AMERICANS WHO TREASURE THE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS GUARANTEED BY OUR GREAT CONSTITUTION.

MR. SPEAKER, IN PASSING THE CIVIL LIBERTIES ACT OF 1988 THE CONGRESS MADE A FIRM COMMITMENT TO REDRESSING THE INJUSTICE OF THE INTERNMENT, AND THIS NATION REDEDICATED ITSELF TO THE PROTECTIONS GUARANTEED TO ALL AMERICANS BY OUR CONSTITUTION. H.R. 4551, THE CIVIL LIBERTIES ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1992, WILL ENSURE THAT WE LIVE UP TO THAT COMMITMENT AND LIVE UP TO THE PROMISE OF REDRESS FOR THOSE WHO WERE INTERNED. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT IT AND THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CIVIL LIBERTIES ACT OF 1988.

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

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Frank] that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4551, 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.