[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 158 (Wednesday, November 10, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H11904-H11910]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       WARTIME VIOLATION OF ITALIAN-AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES ACT

  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 2442) to provide for the preparation of a Government report 
detailing injustices suffered by Italian Americans during World War II, 
and a formal acknowledgment of such injustices by the President.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2442

       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 ``Wartime Violation of Italian 
     American Civil Liberties Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The freedom of more than 600,000 Italian-born 
     immigrants in the United States and their families was 
     restricted during World War II by Government measures that 
     branded them ``enemy aliens'' and included carrying 
     identification cards, travel restrictions, and seizure of 
     personal property.
       (2) During World War II more than 10,000 Italian Americans 
     living on the West Coast were forced to leave their homes and 
     prohibited from entering coastal zones. More than 50,000 were 
     subjected to curfews.
       (3) During World War II thousands of Italian American 
     immigrants were arrested, and hundreds were interned in 
     military camps.
       (4) Hundreds of thousands of Italian Americans performed 
     exemplary service and thousands sacrificed their lives in 
     defense of the United States.
       (5) At the time, Italians were the largest foreign-born 
     group in the United States, and today are the fifth largest 
     immigrant group in the United States, numbering approximately 
     15 million.
       (6) The impact of the wartime experience was devastating to 
     Italian American communities in the United States, and its 
     effects are still being felt.
       (7) A deliberate policy kept these measures from the public 
     during the war. Even 50 years later much information is still 
     classified, the full story remains unknown to the public, and 
     it has never been acknowledged in any official capacity by 
     the United States Government.

     SEC. 3. REPORT.

       The Inspector General of the Department of Justice shall 
     conduct a comprehensive review of the treatment by the United 
     States Government of Italian Americans during World War II, 
     and not later than one year after the date of enactment of 
     this Act shall submit to the Congress a report that documents 
     the findings of such review. The report shall cover the 
     period between September 1, 1939, and December 31, 1945, and 
     shall include the following:
       (1) The names of all Italian Americans who were taken into 
     custody in the initial roundup following the attack on Pearl 
     Harbor, and prior to the United States declaration of war 
     against Italy.
       (2) The names of all Italian Americans who were taken into 
     custody.
       (3) The names of all Italian Americans who were interned 
     and the location where they were interned.
       (4) The names of all Italian Americans who were ordered to 
     move out of designated areas under the United States Army's 
     ``Individual Exclusion Program''.
       (5) The names of all Italian Americans who were arrested 
     for curfew, contraband, or other violations under the 
     authority of Executive Order 9066.
       (6) Documentation of Federal Bureau of Investigation raids 
     on the homes of Italian Americans.
       (7) A list of ports from which Italian American fishermen 
     were restricted.
       (8) The names of Italian American fishermen who were 
     prevented from fishing in prohibited zones and therefore 
     unable to pursue their livelihoods.
       (9) The names of Italian Americans whose boats were 
     confiscated.
       (10) The names of Italian American railroad workers who 
     were prevented from working in prohibited zones.
       (11) A list of all civil liberties infringements suffered 
     by Italian Americans during World War II, as a result of 
     Executive Order 9066, including internment, hearings without 
     benefit of counsel, illegal searches and seizures, travel 
     restrictions, enemy alien registration requirements, 
     employment restrictions, confiscation of property, and forced 
     evacuation from homes.
       (12) An explanation of why some Italian Americans were 
     subjected to civil liberties infringements, as a result of 
     Executive Order 9066, while other Italian Americans were not.
       (13) A review of the wartime restrictions on Italian 
     Americans to determine how civil liberties can be better 
     protected during national emergencies.

     SEC. 4. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of the Congress that--
       (1) the story of the treatment of Italian Americans during 
     World War II needs to be told in order to acknowledge that 
     these events happened, to remember those whose lives were 
     unjustly disrupted and whose freedoms were violated, to help 
     repair the damage to the Italian American community, and to 
     discourage the occurrence of similar injustices and 
     violations of civil liberties in the future;
       (2) Federal agencies, including the Department of Education 
     and the National Endowment for the Humanities, should support 
     projects such as--
       (A) conferences, seminars, and lectures to heighten 
     awareness of this unfortunate chapter in our Nation's 
     history;
       (B) the refurbishment of and payment of all expenses 
     associated with the traveling exhibit ``Una Storia Segreta'', 
     exhibited at major cultural and educational institutions 
     throughout the United States; and
       (C) documentaries to allow this issue to be presented to 
     the American public to raise its awareness;
       (3) an independent, volunteer advisory committee should be 
     established comprised of representatives of Italian American 
     organizations, historians, and other interested individuals 
     to assist in the compilation, research, and dissemination of 
     information concerning the treatment of Italian Americans; 
     and
       (4) after completion of the report required by this Act, 
     financial support should be provided for the education of the 
     American public through the production of a documentary film 
     suited for public broadcast.

     SEC. 5. FORMAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.

       The President shall, on behalf of the United States 
     Government, formally acknowledge that these events during 
     World War II represented a fundamental injustice against 
     Italian Americans.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde).


                             General Leave

  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and to include extraneous material on H.R. 2442.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, few people know that during World War II, approximately 
600,000 Italian Americans in the United States were deprived of their 
civil liberties by government measures that branded them enemy aliens.
  In fact, on December 7, 1941, hours after the Japanese attack on 
Pearl Harbor, the FBI took into custody hundreds of Italian American 
resident aliens previously classified as ``dangerous'' and shipped them 
to camps where they were imprisoned until Italy surrendered in 1943.
  As so-called enemy aliens, Italian American resident aliens were 
required to carry a special photo identification booklet at all times 
and they were forced to turn over to the government such items as 
shortwave radios, cameras, and flashlights. Those suspected of 
retaining these items had their homes raided by the FBI.
  In California, about 52,000 Italian American resident aliens were 
subjected to a curfew that confined them to their homes between 8 p.m. 
and 6 a.m. and a travel restriction that prohibited them from traveling 
farther than five miles from their homes. These measures made it 
difficult, if not

[[Page H11905]]

impossible, for some Italian Americans to travel to their jobs; and 
thousands were arrested for violations of these and other restrictions.
  Then on February 24, 1942, 10,000 Italian American resident aliens 
living in California were ordered by the Federal Government to evacuate 
coastal and military zones. Most of those who had to abandon their 
homes were elderly, some of whom were taken away in wheelchairs and on 
stretchers.
  Later in the fall of 1942, about 25 Italian American citizens were 
ordered to evacuate these areas.
  In Half Moon Bay, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, and Monterey the 
evacuation orders had an enormous impact on hundreds of Italian 
American fishermen, such as Giuseppe DiMaggio, father of baseball 
brothers Joe and Dominick and Vince DiMaggio, as well. They were 
prohibited from taking their boats out to sea.
  In fact, many boats belonging to Italian American fishermen were 
impounded by the U.S. Navy for the duration of the war.
  On March 12, 1942, Ezio Pinza, a renowned opera singer at the 
Metropolitan Opera in New York, was arrested and interned at Ellis 
Island of all places. After two hearings and nearly three months of 
confinement on charges that were never articulated by the Government, 
Mr. Pinza was released.
  Despite his ordeal, Ezio Pinza was honored to have been chosen to 
sing the ``Star Spangled Banner'' at the welcoming home ceremonies for 
Generals Patton and Doolittle.
  This secret history of wartime restrictions on Italian Americans 
living in the United States has been largely absent from the American 
history books. It is long past the time that this unknown part of 
American history and the plight of immigrant people living in the 
United States who endured oppression during World War II should be 
revealed. The truth has to be told. I was shocked when I first heard of 
these abuses against one of the most loyal segments of our country.
  H.R. 2442, the ``Wartime Violation of Italian American Civil 
Liberties Act,'' requires the Department of Justice to conduct a 
comprehensive review of the Federal Government's treatment of the 
Italian Americans during World War II and to submit to the Congress a 
report that documents the findings of that review.
  This bill also requires the President to formally acknowledge that 
these events represented a fundamental injustice against Italian 
Americans.
  In addition, H.R. 2442 encourages Federal agencies, including the 
Department of Education and the National Endowment for the Humanities, 
to support, among other things, conferences, seminars, and lectures to 
heighten awareness of the injustices committed against Italian 
Americans.

  H.R. 2442 thus brings to the forefront the discrimination and the 
prejudice that was suffered by Italian Americans during World War II. 
It is my hope that a report submitted by the Justice Department 
pursuant to H.R. 2442 will unearth long buried events and recast the 
plight of Italian American immigrants in a way that will help heal 
those who suffered and make sure that history will never repeat such 
injustice again.
  I want to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lazio) and the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) for bringing this to our national 
attention.
  I want to also thank Mr. Anthony LaPiana of my district, who so 
forcibly brought this to my attention.
  I urge Members to vote in favor of H.R. 2442.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I first want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Hyde), the chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, and the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) for their efforts in bringing 
this bill to the floor today.
  I have worked on this legislation with my colleague the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Lazio), and I am proud to be here today to express 
my support for the ``Wartime Violation of Italian American Civil 
Liberties Act.''
  December 7, 1941, is a day that is very well-known. On that day, the 
Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and the U.S. entered World War II.
  What has been overlooked since that day is the fact that Italian 
Americans on that day suddenly became so-called ``enemy aliens.'' Loyal 
Italian American patriots who had fought alongside U.S. armed forces in 
World War I, mothers and fathers of U.S. troops fighting in World War 
II, even women and children, were suspected of being dangerous and 
subversive solely because they were Italian American.
  With this new enemy alien status, Italians were subject to the strict 
curfew regulations, forced to carry photo IDs, and could not travel 
farther than a five-mile radius from their homes without prior 
approval.
  Furthermore, many Italian fishermen were forbidden from using their 
boats in prohibited zones. Since fishing was the only means of income 
for many families, households were torn apart or completely relocated 
as alternative sources of income were sought.
  It is difficult to believe, Mr. Speaker, that over 10,000 Italians 
deemed enemy aliens were forcibly evacuated from their homes and over 
52,000 were subject to strict curfew regulation.
  Ironically, at that time, over half a million Italian Americans were 
serving in the U.S. armed forces, fighting to protect the liberties of 
all Americans, while many of their family members had their basic 
rights and freedoms revoked.
  When we first started working on this legislation, we had vague 
accounts of mostly non-Italians who were subjected to these civil 
liberties abuses.

                              {time}  1645

  However, throughout this process, we have come in contact with many 
Italians who experienced the internment ordeal firsthand. As the 
gentleman from Illinois mentioned, Dominic DiMaggio testified at a 
Committee on the Judiciary hearing about his dismay when he returned 
from the war to find that his mother and father were so-called enemy 
aliens. Doris Pinza, wife of international opera star Ezio Pinza, also 
testified at the hearing about her husband who was only weeks away from 
obtaining U.S. citizenship when he was classified as an enemy alien and 
detained at Ellis Island. It still saddens me to think that Ellis 
Island, the world renowned symbol of freedom and democracy, the place 
where my grandparents came to this country, was used as a holding cell 
for Italians. There is even documented evidence of Italians being 
interned in camps at Missoula, Montana, and we have photos that we hope 
to get here soon which will demonstrate that Missoula, Montana as well 
was a holding camp for Italian Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, we must ensure that these terrible events will never be 
perpetrated again. We must safeguard the individual rights of all 
Americans from arbitrary persecution or no American will ever be 
secure. The least our government can do is try to right these terrible 
wrongs by acknowledging that these events did occur. While we cannot 
erase the mistakes of the past, we must try to learn from them in order 
to ensure that we never subject anyone ever again to the same 
injustices.
  The Wartime Violation of Italian American Civil Liberties Act calls 
on the Department of Justice to publish a report detailing the unjust 
policies of the government during this time period. Essential to the 
report will be a study examining ways to safeguard individual rights 
during national emergencies.
  Mr. Speaker, we owe it to the Italian American community, especially 
to those and the families who endured these abuses, to recognize the 
injustices of the past. Documentation and education about the suffering 
of all groups of Americans who face persecution is important in order 
to ensure that no group's civil liberties is ever violated again. I 
look forward to casting my vote for this important legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Fossella).
  Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois for 
yielding me this time. I would also like to compliment the sponsors, 
the lead sponsor in particular the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lazio) 
on this bill, because I think it is going to shed some light on a 
silent chapter in American history.
  First, let me say, I think we live in a wonderful country. We are so 
blessed to

[[Page H11906]]

live in a land of freedom and opportunity and indeed that is why so 
many of our ancestors came to these shores. As my grandparents came 
from Italy, they came for nothing but to seek a better way of life. 
Some of their children served this country in World War II.
  This resolution does not ask for any memorials or any payments. I 
think what it seeks to do is just to shed a little light on what was an 
injustice during a time when so many Italian Americans were serving 
this great country. If we can just allow those generations yet to come 
to appreciate the contributions made by millions of Italian Americans 
like so many other Americans who gave their life for this country so 
that we could be free, I think we would be making a wonderful 
statement, that when this country perhaps engages in an injustice, it 
is willing to right it. We are not coming down here screaming that this 
has got to be erased from the history books. No, indeed what we are 
doing is, as I said, letting the generations yet to come know what this 
is all about.
  The Italian Americans who served this country in war and otherwise in 
business in our local communities really love and appreciate this 
country. What this will do, Mr. Speaker, is to allow those families 
that were dishonored by some of these actions by the United States 
Government to erase that dishonor from their family books, because if 
there is anything Italian Americans appreciate and love, it is their 
pride and honor. They love this country. They love what it represents. 
If we can do that and call into question some of the activities that 
occurred about 50 years ago by this government, I think it would be a 
good thing.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North 
Carolina (Mr. Watt).
  Mr. WATT of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
this bill. The bill was considered in the Subcommittee on the 
Constitution, we worked on it, and I raised one concern during the 
deliberations in the subcommittee that I want to raise again on the 
floor, not to diminish the importance of the bill but to express 
concern about how we are doing this.
  There are a number of things that we could direct the President to 
apologize for that have happened in the history of our country. This 
will be the first time that we will have gone on record as directing 
the President of the United States to make a formal apology for some 
historical event. Now, apologies have been made and this is one where 
it would be justified. There is no question about it. But I am 
concerned about the precedent that we establish by the last provision 
in the bill which directs the President, it says the President shall on 
behalf of the United States Government formally acknowledge that these 
events during World War II represented a fundamental injustice against 
Italian Americans. I think that is a wrong precedent to establish. It 
is not something that would impel me to vote against this bill or to 
lobby against it because it is a wonderful bill, but I do encourage my 
colleagues as we go forward in the process to correct that language, 
because otherwise the President of the United States is going to be out 
there every week apologizing for something or acknowledging some 
injustice. I am not sure that we want to start that precedent in our 
country, regardless of how terrible the incidents are that we are 
acknowledging.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, 
simply to comment on the gentleman from North Carolina's statement. It 
may be a distinction without a difference, but the word ``apology'' is 
not used. It is an acknowledgment that these events represented a 
fundamental injustice against Italian Americans. And so that is 
somewhat different.
  There is a precedent of sorts for this, 22 U.S. Code Annotated, 
section 1394, Recognition of Philippine Independence. The President of 
the United States, if I may read, shall by proclamation and on behalf 
of the United States, shall recognize the independence of the 
Philippine Islands as a separate and self-governing nation and 
acknowledge the authority and control over the same of the government 
instituted by the people thereof under the constitution then in force.
  So this statute, which is law and which Harry Truman, I might add, 
followed through with an appropriate proclamation, required an 
acknowledgment, a recognition of the independence of the Philippine 
Islands. I would cite that to my friend.
  Mr. WATT of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. HYDE. I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina.
  Mr. WATT of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I do not want to diminish 
the value of this bill by getting sidetracked onto this side issue. But 
even that language would be better than the language that we have in 
this bill. The only point I want to make is that I hope the sponsors of 
this bill and the draftspeople, as the bill goes forward in the process 
with the Senate, take a close look at what we are doing here and 
consider altering the way we are doing it. But again, I do not want 
anything to diminish the value of this bill. It is a very important 
bill. We ought to acknowledge it. The President has suggested that we 
do it simply by saying the United States Government formally 
acknowledges, et cetera.
  But again we cannot do it on the suspension calendar, anyway. I just 
wanted to make sure that some deliberation about how we do this gets 
put out.
  Mr. HYDE. I think the gentleman's point is certainly worth making.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
New Jersey (Mrs. Roukema).
  (Mrs. ROUKEMA asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Mrs. ROUKEMA. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I do want to say that it is incomprehensible to me that 
this abuse and discrimination could have occurred and that it was not 
rectified for all these years. And so I want to thank the gentleman and 
certainly the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lazio) and the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Engel) for bringing it to the attention of this 
House. It is long overdue. And as has been stated very adequately and 
more than adequately by the gentleman from Illinois, exactly what it 
does to put this, our house in order here.
  The proper context of this, as I see it as an Italian American, is 
that these restrictions and discrimination were imposed on Italian 
Americans at the time when they were contributing so richly to our 
society. In fact, it was at a time when 1.2 million Americans were 
estimated to be of Italian descent serving in the United States 
military defending our country.
  I guess I want to say, Mr. Speaker, that most of the 600,000 Italians 
had been living in the United States since the turn of the century, 
long before any possible hostilities between their homeland and their 
new land. In that regard, Mr. Speaker, I do want to acknowledge the 
Scafatis and the D'Alessios from which I am descended.
  I thank my colleagues so much for this opportunity and this 
rectification of this discrimination.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2442 and urge its 
immediate passage. In fact, House consideration of this legislation is 
long overdue. In fact, it is in comprehensible that this abuse and 
discrimination could have occurred or that it was not rectified for all 
these years!
  This is straightforward legislation designed to address injustices 
that occurred during a complicated time. This bill simply requires the 
President of the United States to formally acknowledge that Italians 
and Italian-Americans faced serious violations of their civil rights 
during World War II. The bill further directs the Justice Department to 
compile and catalogue these violations.
  It has been my experience that few Americans are aware that more than 
half a million Italians living in the United States during World War II 
suffered serious violations of their civil rights.
  Shortly after the United States declared war on Italy in 1941, the 
federal government classified more than 600,000 Italians living in the 
United States as ``internal enemies.'' From February through October 
1942, the United States imposed restrictions on these 600,000 Italians. 
They were required to register at the nearest post office, carry 
identification cards, and report all job changes. They could not travel 
more than five miles from their own homes. In some states, they had to 
adhere to dusk to dawn curfews. They were forbidden to own guns. 
Cameras and short-wave radios were also ``out-of-bounds''.
  To put this in the proper context, these restrictions and 
discriminations were imposed on

[[Page H11907]]

Italian Americans at a time when they were contributing richly to 
American society. In the least, an estimated 1.2 million Americans of 
Italian descent were serving in the U.S. military, constituting one of 
the largest segments of the U.S. combat forces in the war effort.
  Mr. Speaker, most of these 600,000 Italians had been living in the 
United States since the turn of the century--long before any possible 
hostilities between their homeland--Mother Italy--and their new land--
the United States of America. My family--the Scafatis and the 
D'Alessios--came to this country in the early 1900s. And while I have 
never heard any family stories that they were subjected to this kind of 
overt discrimination, the point is, they could have been.
  And if it could have happened to them in 1942, we have to ask: what 
is to prevent the wholesale violation of another ethnic group's civil 
rights in the Year 2002?
  Make no mistake about it. The United States has always been ``The 
Shining City on a Hill.'' America is, indeed, the ``Great Melting Pot'' 
where peoples of all races and national origins come to live and work 
in relative harmony.
  With that said, we can be justifiably proud of our national ability 
to shine a spotlight on our darkest moments. There is no doubt that the 
treatment of Italians in America during World War II was a dark chapter 
in American history.
  That is precisely why this legislation is so important. By debating 
H.R. 2442, we are shining a light on this dark chapter, so that current 
generations will not repeal the mistakes of the past. So that our 
children and their children will understand more clearly than ever that 
our precious civil rights exist for everyone and for all times.
  Support H.R. 2442.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman 
from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro).
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) for 
bringing this bill to the floor. As a cosponsor of the Wartime 
Violation of Italian American Civil Liberties Act, I rise in strong 
support of the bill.
  This bill rights a terrible wrong against our parents, our 
grandparents and the upstanding elders of our communities. A century 
ago, Italian Americans left behind their homes to make their way in the 
new world. It is places like Wooster Square in New Haven, Connecticut, 
where I grew up that they came with little else but a determination to 
work hard and make a new life. They raised their families, and built 
strong, tightly knit communities. The values that Italian Americans 
shared are the same values that have made this Nation great; hard work, 
family, community, faith.
  My own father, an Italian immigrant, served in the United States 
Army. And yet in our history, 600,000 Italian Americans were treated as 
enemies in their own land. Ten thousand were forced from their homes, 
and hundreds lost their jobs or were shipped to internment camps, all 
because they were Italian.
  I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) and the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Lazio) for keeping up the pressure on the Federal 
Government to acknowledge the nightmare that Italian Americans lived 
through, loyal U.S. citizens, leaders of their communities, during 
World War II.
  I know I speak for both my family and myself when I say it is an 
honor to stand here today to call on our government to recognize this 
terrible injustice. This wrong must not be hidden in the shadows any 
longer. I am very proud to stand here and to support this bill. Again, 
I thank my colleagues.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella).
  Mrs. MORELLA. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, as an original cosponsor, I am pleased to rise in 
support of the Wartime Violation of Italian American Civil Liberties 
Act. I want to commend the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lazio) and the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) for being such leaders in making 
sure that this piece of legislation was well crafted and came before 
the House.
  I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) very much for helping 
this bill come before us for a vote. It is so important. H.R. 2442 is 
going to officially acknowledge the denial of human rights and freedoms 
of Italian Americans during World War II by the United States 
Government.
  While many Americans know the sad history of our Nation's treatment 
of Japanese Americans following Pearl Harbor and our entry into World 
War II, remarkably, few Americans know that shortly after that attack, 
the attention and concern of the U.S. Government was similarly focused 
on Italian Americans. More than 600,000 Italian Americans were 
determined to be enemy aliens by their own government.

                              {time}  1700

  More than 10,000 were forcibly evicted from their homes; 52,000 were 
subject to strict curfew regulations, and hundreds were shipped to 
internment camps. Constitutional guarantees of due process were 
absolutely unrecognized.
  Although they had family members whose basic rights had been revoked, 
more than a half million Italian Americans served this Nation with 
honor and valor to defeat fascism during World War II. My three 
brothers served very valiantly in World War II and one, in fact, 
received a Purple Heart. Thousands made the ultimate sacrifice.
  The Wartime Violation of Italian Americans Civil Liberties Act 
directs the Department of Justice to prepare a comprehensive report 
detailing the unjust policies against Italian Americans during this 
period of American history. It is vital to the foundations of our 
democratic governance that the people be fully informed of these 
devastating actions. This legislation recognizes the thousands of 
innocent victims and honors those who suffered. In a country that so 
cherishes its equality, we must acknowledge the travesties of the past 
so we are not condemned to repeat them.
  As the daughter of immigrant parents from Italy, I am very glad that 
this House of Representatives and my colleagues have brought forward 
this resolution, and I seek its swift passage.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Barrett of Nebraska). The gentleman from 
New York (Mr. Engel) has 11\1/2\ minutes remaining; the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Hyde) has 6\1/2\ minutes remaining.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Pallone).
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from New York 
(Mr. Engel) for bringing this legislation and this whole issue really 
to my attention. I think it was several months ago, maybe even a year 
ago, when the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) mentioned to me that 
he was involved with the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lazio) in 
introducing this bill. I want to say that I was frankly shocked by some 
of the information that has come forward in terms of Italian Americans 
being taken into custody, being interned, being ordered to move to 
designated areas.
  I say that because as an Italian American and representing a district 
that has a very large number of Italian Americans, most of my knowledge 
about the history of World War II and the Italian American 
participation was of so many soldiers of Italian American dissent going 
abroad, fighting in the war, including my father and a lot of my 
relatives, and I only had the memory, the positive memory, if you will, 
of their contribution to the war effort. To be told that there were 
many Italian Americans that suffered these various terrible things that 
happened to them was very disconcerting.
  So, Mr. Speaker, when I saw this bill and I saw the effort to have a 
thorough investigation which this bill would require, I think it is 
about time; I think it is time that this take place. I think it is very 
important to Italian Americans that this information come forward. We 
have an obligation to our community and certainly the country has an 
obligation to all of those who served during the war to make sure that 
this information is brought forward so that we can get to the bottom of 
it.
  I just want to commend the two gentlemen from New York for their 
efforts on this behalf and I urge support for the bill.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I 
want to go into the well and show my colleagues two photos that were 
taken during that terrible period.
  These photos were taken at Missoula, Montana at the internment camp 
holding the various Italian Americans primarily from the West Coast, 
and one of

[[Page H11908]]

the things that people are saying, as our colleagues have said when 
they first heard about it and as the chairman said, everyone was in 
shock because nobody could really believe that this had actually 
happened. We had heard about the terrible internment of Japanese 
Americans during the war, but no one knew anything about Italian 
Americans. My colleagues can see over here, this was from Missoula, 
Montana, and this is a picture of the internment camp. We can see a 
band of Italian Americans just waiting to go into the camp.
  The next photo actually is a little bit closer and it shows again the 
fence, how the people were fenced in; we can see the American flag 
flying, and again, we have Italian Americans arriving at the Missoula, 
Montana internment camp in 1941. Again, this happened shortly after, a 
matter of days literally, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
  So I am very proud of our colleagues on both sides of the aisle who 
have really helped move this legislation; the chairman, who moved 
mountains to get this done, and it has been a pleasure working with my 
good friend and colleague from New York (Mr. Lazio).
  When we wrote this legislation, Mr. Speaker, we wanted the American 
public to know, and we want the Justice Department to continue to open 
up its records, because if there are things that we still do not know, 
we want to know all that happened during this period. This is obviously 
the greatest country in the world and even great countries make some 
mistakes, and we raise this not to go back in the past, but we raise 
this so that mistakes like this will never be made again against any 
American or against any kind of people.
  I want to acknowledge the role that NIAF, the National Italian 
American Foundation, has played in helping with this bill, and I want 
to especially acknowledge the role that my administrative assistant, 
John Calvelli, played in helping to draft this legislation. I think 
most of the wording of this bill he wrote, and I am very grateful for 
everything that he has done for this legislation. I look forward to 
swift and speedy passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield the balance of our time 
to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lazio), the chief sponsor of this 
excellent legislation.
  Mr. LAZIO. Mr. Speaker, let me begin by saying, that there are a lot 
of folks who thought this day would never come; that this House would 
never consider a resolution that spoke to an era in American history 
that some believed was long forgotten. But they did not count on the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), and I want to thank my friend, the 
chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, for once again reflecting 
his sense of decency and justice in helping to move this bill to the 
floor. I also wanted to thank the subcommittee chairman, the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Canady) and of course the leading cosponsor of the 
bill, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) for his remarkable 
efforts in trying to move this bill forward.
  This legislation embodies values that we hold dear in our Nation--the 
values of truth, of liberty, and of freedom. These are the very same 
values that our country fought to protect in nations far overseas 
during the Second World War.
  Mr. Speaker, I happen to be a member of the Anthony Cassamento Lodge 
of the Sons of Italy back on Long Island. Now, the name Anthony 
Cassamento may not ring a bell to most people, but it means a great 
deal to me. Anthony Cassamento is a true American hero who lived in my 
district until his death. He was a man who earned the Congressional 
Medal of Honor for his conduct at the Battle of Guadalcanal. During the 
battle, every member of Corporal Cassamento's machine-gun section was 
killed or wounded in a fire fight. Cut off from all help and badly 
injured, he manned his section's weapon singlehandedly, beating back 
repeated assaults on his position and destroying an enemy machine gun 
nest. In the process, he provided crucial covering fire for a flanking 
assault by the rest of his unit, and saved dozens of American lives.
  Mr. Speaker, while Anthony Cassamento was manning that machine gun 
nest and saving American lives for the cause of freedom, hundreds of 
his fellow Italian Americans were being shipped and held in internment 
camps for no other reason than their ethnicity, because they happened 
to be born as Italian Americans. While Anthony Cassamento was providing 
covering fire for his fellow Marines, his friends and acquaintances 
back home were considered enemy aliens by the U.S. Government.
  It is a little known fact that in the first days after Pearl Harbor, 
hundreds of Italian Americans were arrested as security risks and 
shipped off to distant internment centers without benefit of counsel or 
of trial. They were held against their will until Italy surrendered two 
years later. Two years later, Mr. Speaker. Consider that. Without 
trial, without due process.
  Another 10,000 Italian Americans across the Nation were forcibly 
evacuated from their homes in the early months of 1942. Also, as the 
chairman of the committee has explained, an estimated 600,000 Italian 
nationals, most of whom had lived in the United States for decades, 
were eventually deemed ``enemy aliens'' and subject to strict travel 
restrictions, curfews and seizures of their personal property. This all 
happened while half a million Italian Americans like Anthony Cassamento 
and my own dad, Anthony Lazio, were serving, fighting, and some, yes, 
even dying in the U.S. armed forces during World War II.
  Now, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) had referenced a recent 
hearing where we listened to former all-star Red Sox center fielder Dom 
DiMaggio, brother of the famed Yankee Clipper Joe DiMaggio, as he 
described the shame that his father felt after being classified as an 
enemy alien. He explained the hurt his father felt after being 
prohibited from visiting the wharf where he had worked for decades.
  We listened to Doris Pinza, widow of the international opera star, 
Ezio Pinza, as she related a terrible ordeal her husband endured, which 
included three months of detention at Ellis Island. It is a testament 
to Mr. Pinza's unwavering patriotism, his love of this country, that 
after all that, he sang the Star-Spangled Banner at the welcoming home 
ceremonies for Generals Patton and Doolittle after the war.
  We listened to Rose Scudero tell the story about how as a young 
woman, she and her mother were forcibly relocated to another town in 
California while her dad, a U.S. citizen, stayed behind to work in a 
shipyard vital to the war effort.
  These were truly moving stories, Mr. Speaker, stories of loyal, 
patriotic Americans who were treated like criminals by the country that 
they loved.
  To this day, few Americans have any idea these events took place. 
Most believe that President Roosevelt's infamous Executive Order 9066 
applied only to Japanese and Japanese Americans, but there is another 
sad chapter to this story, ``Una Storia Segreta,'' a secret story. The 
bill we are considering today represents a modest attempt to start 
setting the record straight.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to say that this bill has attracted 86 
cosponsors from both sides of the aisle. The diversity of this list 
reflects both the national scope of the injustices that took place and 
the widespread desire felt across ethnic and geographic lines that 
justice be done.
  As we have heard also, Mr. Speaker, the noted poet and philosopher 
George Santayana observed that ``Those who cannot remember the past are 
condemned to repeat it.'' But the truth must be established before it 
can be remembered. That is why this bill has been introduced. We owe it 
to the Italian American community and indeed to the American public to 
find out exactly what happened and to publicize it. A complete 
understanding of what took place during this sad chapter of American 
history is the best guarantee that it will never happen again.
  With that, I once again want to thank the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Hyde), the chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, for his 
leadership in bringing this measure to the floor today.
  Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a proud cosponsor of ``The 
Wartime Violations of Italian-American Civil Liberties Act.''
  I want to begin by thanking the distinguished chairman and ranking 
member of the

[[Page H11909]]

House Judiciary Committee for helping bring this worthwhile resolution 
before the full House today.
  Too few Americans know that during world war II Italian Immigrants in 
America were classified as ``dangerous aliens'' during World War II.
  And too few Americans know that many of these Italian immigrants were 
shipped to internment camps.
  In fact, during World War II, over 10,000 Italian immigrants to our 
country were removed from their homes and over 52,000 others had to 
endure strict curfew regulations.
  I stand here today in support of this resolution because it is the 
moral responsibility of the United States Government to acknowledge 
this mistreatment of Italian-Americans during World War II.
  Understand, while over 500,000 Italian-Americans were fighting to 
defend our nation in World War II, many of their families in the United 
States were being forced to carry photo ID cards and were unable to 
move freely throughout the country.
  This resolution rightly calls on the President to acknowledge the 
suffering caused by the Federal Government's policies towards law 
abiding Italian-Americans during World War II.
  It directs the U.S. Justice Department to publish a comprehensive 
report detailing the U.S. Government's unjust policies towards Italian-
Americans during World War II.
  More importantly, this Justice Department report will include an 
examination of how the civil liberties of all Americans can be 
protected in times of national emergencies in the future.
  Mr. Speaker, my fellow House members, the time has come for us to 
recognize the enormous suffering endured by Italian-Americans during 
World War II.
  I urge my colleagues to support this worthwhile resolution.
  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, as the grandson of Italian immigrants, I rise 
in strong support of this legislation which brings light to a dark 
period in our nation's history.
  During World War II, the United States government placed several 
restrictions on many Italian-born immigrants. By 1942, unbelievably 
over 600,000 Italian Americans were classified as enemy aliens, forcing 
over 10,000 in internment military camps without due process, imposing 
travel restrictions beyond a five mile radius of their homes, forcing 
them to carry a photo ID and seizing property. Ironically, more than 
500,000 Italian Americans were courageously serving in the United 
States Armed Forces fighting to preserve democracy and civil liberties 
of all Americans abroad, while back home some of their families were 
denied the basic freedoms they were fighting to protect!
  Clearly, this tragic chapter in American history must not be 
forgotten. This important measure seeks to raise the plight of all 
Italian Americans who experienced harassment, harsh detainment and 
unjust treatment during World War II. Specifically, H.R. 2442 urges the 
President to publicly recognize and acknowledge our governments 
systematic denial of basic human rights and freedoms of Italian 
Americans during the War and requires the Justice Department to review 
the treatment of Italian Americans, and issue a comprehensive report 
detailing the unjust polices during this period, including a study to 
list all of the civil liberties infringements suffered.
  After all, an Italian American discovered America. Italian immigrants 
helped to build this country and have contributed immeasurably to the 
rich fabric of our history, society and culture and around the world. 
The actions and policies of our government during World War II was a 
black mark that almost destroyed a part of the very foundation upon 
which America was established and built and has been maintained.
  I urge all my colleagues to support this long overdue legislation.
  Mr. LARSON. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of a bill that I am 
co-sponsoring, which aims to increase public awareness about a 
violation committed by our government nearly 60 years ago against 
hundreds of thousands of Italian Americans. Under this bill, the 
President, on behalf of the United States Government, would formally 
acknowledge that the civil liberties of Italian Americans were violated 
during World War II.
  Given the tremendous contributions that Italian Americans have made 
to this country, it is hard to believe that our government once felt it 
had to protect itself from those considered to be ``dangerous aliens,'' 
as they were termed in 1941.
  To fully understand the need for this legislation, we must recall the 
events that took place beginning in 1941. On December 7, 1941, hours 
after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, FBI agents took into custody 
hundreds of Italian Americans previously classified as ``dangerous 
aliens.'' Without counsel or trial, approximately 250 of them were 
shipped to internment camps in Montana and on Ellis Island, where they 
were imprisoned until Italy surrendered in 1943. Their crime: suspicion 
that these men, some of whom are anti-fascist, might be dangerous in 
time of war. How truly sad that a person's ethnic background was once 
reason enough to remove them from society.
  In January 1942, all aliens of Italian descent (approximately 600,000 
individuals) were deemed ``enemy'' aliens, and were required to re-
register at post offices nationwide. This is quite noteworthy since 
resident aliens had already registered in 1940 under the Smith Act. All 
were required to carry photo-bearing ID booklets at all times, 
forbidden to travel beyond a five mile radius of home, and required to 
turn in ``countraband''--shortwave radios, cameras, flashlights, etc. 
On October 12, 1942, Attorney General Francis Biddle finally announces 
that Italian Americans are removed from ``enemy alien'' status.
  Yet, their release from this status didn't allow them much time to 
enjoy life as fully-recognized members of American society. Records 
reveal that Italian Americans, the largest foreign-born group in the 
nation, comprised the largest ethnic group in the Untied States Armed 
Forces during World War II.
  And their contributions to the United States did not stop there.
  Italian Americans have made their mark in so many areas of our lives, 
from business, to education, to government. For example, the largest 
bank in the country, Bank of America was established by Amadeo Pietro 
Giannini, and Tropicana was founded by Anthony Rossi, the founder of 
Fairleigh Dickinson University was Peter Sammartino and Mother Grancis 
Cabrini founded 14 colleges, 98 schools, and 28 orphanages; and Charles 
Joseph Bonaparte founded the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this bill on behalf of all Italian Americans, 
so that future generations will have a better understanding of our 
nation's history. As I have demonstrated, Italian Americans have 
contributed so much to this country, and I believe we own them, and 
their families who had to endure American societal pressures in the 
1940s, this respect.
  It is through the educational efforts that this bill seeks to 
initiate, such as encouraging relevant federal agencies to support 
projects that heighten public awareness of this unfortunate chapter in 
our nation's history; such as having the President and Congress provide 
direct financial support for a film documentary; and such as the 
formation of an advisory committee to assist in the compilation of 
relevant information regarding this matter and related public policy 
matters, that we will ensure that this tragedy is never repeated.
  On behalf of the 630,000 Italian Americans in Connecticut, and the 
114,574 who live in our state's capitol, Hartford, which is in my 
district and ranks 21st on the National Italian American Foundation's 
list of top 50 cities with the most Italian Americans, I urge support 
of this bill. We cannot change the past, but recognizing this serious 
violation will send an important message to the generations who have 
been affected by this terrible period of time in our nation's history. 
It will tell them: ``You are not forgotten.''
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the ``Wartime 
Violation of Italian American Civil Liberties Act,'' H.R. 2442. This 
legislation addresses and attempts to redress America's mistaken 
discriminatory policies during World War II that harmed Italian 
Americans. This bill would require the Government to prepare a report 
detailing the injustices suffered by Italian Americans during World War 
II, and have the President formally acknowledge such injustices.
  Throughout America, more than ten thousand Italian Americans were 
forcibly evacuated from their houses and taken away from military 
installations and coastal areas. In addition, approximately 600,000 
Italian nationals, many whom had spent years in America, were 
mislabeled ``enemy aliens'' and forced to endure strict travel 
restrictions, curfews, and seizures of personal property. Some of these 
Italian Americans were excluded from California and the district I 
represent, San Francisco.
  As with many Japanese Americans, the U.S. government deprived these 
Italian Americans of their civil liberties. The government prevented 
them from traveling far from their homes and confiscated their 
shortwave radios, cameras, and firearms. Historians estimate that in 
California, 52,000 Italian Americans were subjected to a curfew. In 
Boston harbor and other ports, Italian American fishermen were denied 
their livelihood. Despite this mistreatment, more than 500,000 Italian 
Americans were allowed to serve and fight in the U.S. armed forces.
  To straighten the official historical record, The Wartime Violation 
of Italian American Civil Liberties Act would have the Department of 
Justice prepare and publish a comprehensive report detailing the 
government's unjust policies and practices during this time period. 
Looking ahead, this bill would require the Department to analyze how it 
will protect U.S. civil liberties during future national emergencies. 
The bill also requires the President to

[[Page H11910]]

formally acknowledge America's failure to protect the civil liberties 
of Italian Americans, who were then America's largest foreign-born 
ethnic group.
  We can never undo the injustices that were done to Italian Americans, 
including thousands of long term residents. We can never adequately 
compensate those individuals or the Italian American community. We can 
take steps to remember and publicize this shameful chapter of American 
history. We can work to ensure that every American has equal 
protections and equal opportunities. Too frequently in our history, our 
society and individuals have sought to mislabel those different from us 
and override the rights of these ``others.'' This bill reminds us of 
our obligation to prevent the government and individuals from 
mislabeling and then discriminating against the ``other.''
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of our time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 2442.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________