[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 129 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 129

 Recognizing the historical significance of the Merced Assembly Center 
    to the Nation and the importance of establishing an appropriate 
memorial at that site to serve as a place for remembering the hardships 
   endured by Japanese-Americans, so that the United States remains 
   vigilant in protecting our Nation's core values of equality, due 
           process of law, justice, and fundamental fairness.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 4, 2009

    Mr. Cardoza (for himself, Mr. Costa, Mr. Honda, and Ms. Matsui) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                            on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the historical significance of the Merced Assembly Center 
    to the Nation and the importance of establishing an appropriate 
memorial at that site to serve as a place for remembering the hardships 
   endured by Japanese-Americans, so that the United States remains 
   vigilant in protecting our Nation's core values of equality, due 
           process of law, justice, and fundamental fairness.

Whereas, on February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive 
        Order No. 9066, authorizing the forced internment of both United States 
        citizens and legal residents of Japanese ancestry during World War II;
Whereas in the largest single relocation of individuals in the history of our 
        Nation, approximately 120,000 Japanese-Americans were forced into 
        internment camps by the United States Government in violation of their 
        fundamental constitutional rights;
Whereas due to this unjust internment, these Japanese-Americans faced tremendous 
        hardships, such as family separation, the loss of their homes, 
        businesses, jobs, and dignity;
Whereas following Executive Order No. 9066, Japanese-Americans in parts of 
        Washington, Oregon, California, and southern Arizona were ordered to 
        report to assembly centers before being removed to more permanent war 
        relocation centers;
Whereas the Merced Assembly Center, located in Merced, California, was the 
        reporting site for 4,669 Japanese-Americans;
Whereas as a young child, United States Congressman Mike Honda and his family 
        were held at the Merced Assembly Center prior to being interned in 
        Amache, Colorado, and his public career has been dedicated to educating 
        and preventing this type of injustice from reoccurring;
Whereas in 1998, then Assembly member Mike Honda authored the World War II 
        Internment of Japanese-Americans: California Civil Liberties Public 
        Education Act, which became California public law in 1999 and serves as 
        an important program to educate the public about the internment;
Whereas February 19th, the 67th anniversary of Executive Order No. 9066, is 
        known as the Day of Remembrance;
Whereas the Merced Assembly Center Commemorative Committee has been charged with 
        the task of establishing a memorial to recognize the historic tragedy 
        that took place at the Merced Assembly Center; and
Whereas the unveiling ceremony for the memorial at the Merced Assembly Center 
        will take place on February 21, 2009: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes the 
historical significance of the Merced Assembly Center to the Nation and 
the importance of establishing an appropriate memorial at that site to 
serve as a place for remembering the hardships endured by Japanese-
Americans, so that the United States remains vigilant in protecting our 
Nation's core values of equality, due process of law, justice, and 
fundamental fairness.
                                 <all>