[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 144 (Thursday, October 6, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 6, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
        RESTITUTION FOR THE ALEUTIANS, A DEBT OF HONOR FOR GUAM

                                 ______


                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 5, 1994

  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, today the House of Representatives will 
consider, and is expected to pass, S. 1457, an act to amend the 
Aleutian and Pribilof Islands Restitution Act to increase authorization 
for appropriation to compensate Aleut villages for church property 
lost, damaged, or destroyed during World War II. This act increases the 
authorization from $1.4 to $4.7 million.
  This bill would bring closure to the unfortunate experience of the 
Aleutian islanders in World War II. The Aleutian islanders were 
evacuated from their homes just prior to the outbreak of hostilities 
between Japan and the United States, and their islands were 
subsequently captured by the Japanese forces. The restitution 
authorized by the original act is for damages occurring to homes and 
churches during this period.
  I support S. 147 but I call the Nation's attention to another tragic 
occupation in World War II and a restitution issue that has yet to be 
addressed by the U.S. Congress. The occupation I am speaking of, that 
of Guam from December 10, 1941, to July 21, 1944.
  Unlike the Aleutian islanders, however, the Chamorus--the indigenous 
people of Guam--were never evacuated, but were left to endure a brutal 
32-month enemy occupation. Military planners who deemed that both Guam 
and the Aleutian Islands were vulnerable and were both likely to be 
attacked ensured two different fates for the Chamorus and the Aleutian 
islanders.
  During the occupation of Guam, the Chamorus endured atrocities 
including death, personal injury, internment in concentration camps 
forced labor, and forced marches. An effort was made in 1945, under 
provisions of the Guam Meritorious Claims Act, to compensate the people 
of Guam for their wartime claims. The Guam Meritorious Claims Act was 
seriously flawed and poorly administered. The result was that many 
Chamorus were denied their just claims. Typical of the injustice is the 
claim paid to the family of Mr. Cruz, who was beheaded by the Japanese 
for saving the life of an American aviator who was shot down over Guam. 
Mr. Cruz's life was compensated at a mere $36.
  Congress passed legislation in 1948, and again in 1962, to rectify 
the problems with claims of American citizens and nationals resulting 
from World War II. Guam's problems and the injustice of the claims 
administration on Guam, were not addressed in either corrective 
legislation.
  That injustices occurred in the payment of just claims to the people 
by Guam by the United States Government is not in dispute. That the 
Guam Meritorious Claims Act was seriously flawed is not in dispute. And 
that Congress, in all the opportunities it had to correct these 
problems when it addressed wartime claims for all other American 
citizens and nationals, failed in its responsibility to address Guam's 
claims is not in dispute.
  I introduced H.R. 4741, the Guam War Restitution Act, to correct 
these injustices and to provide for compensation for the just claims of 
the people of Guam. While it is not possible to pass H.R. 4741 in the 
remaining days of this Congress, I will reintroduce the Guam War 
Restitution Act in the 104th Congress. In a significant endorsement, on 
October 4, 1994, the Subcommittee on Insular and International Affairs 
reported H.R. 4741 favorably to the Committee on Natural Resources. I 
am also pleased that a companion bill has been offered by Senator 
Inouye and I applaud the Senator's efforts on behalf of the people of 
Guam.
  I request that my colleagues bear in mind as they vote to approve 
restitution for the Aleutian islanders that the tragic story of the 
people of Guam and the injustices of their war claims must likewise be 
addressed by Congress.

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