[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 118 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 118

  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 internment of individuals and families 
                          during World War II.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 10, 2003

 Mrs. Boxer submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                     the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  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 internment of individuals and families 
                          during World War II.

Whereas, on February 19, 1942, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed 
        Executive Order 9066, which authorized the exclusion of 120,000 Japanese 
        Americans and legal resident aliens from the West coast of the United 
        States and the internment of United States citizens and legal permanent 
        residents of Japanese ancestry in internment 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 as enemy 
        aliens and included required identification cards, travel restrictions, 
        seizure of personal property, and internment;
Whereas President Gerald Ford formally rescinded Executive Order 9066 on 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, which established the Commission on Wartime Relocation 
        and Internment of Civilians (the ``Commission'') 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 Commission concluded 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 internment 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 and lists of individuals of 
        Italian ancestry that were arrested, detained, and interned;
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 internment to ensure that such an event never happens 
        again; and
Whereas the Day of Remembrance provides an opportunity for all people to reflect 
        on the importance of justice and civil liberties during times of 
        uncertainty and emergency: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the historical significance of February 19, 
        1942, the date President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, 
        which restricted the freedom of Japanese Americans, German 
        Americans, Italian Americans, and legal resident aliens through 
        required identification cards, travel restrictions, seizure of 
        personal property, and internment; 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 the 
        restrictions endured by the people in those communities as a 
        result of Executive Order 9066.
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