[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 27 (Thursday, February 13, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E257-E258]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN COMMEMORATION OF THE DAY OF REMEMBRANCE--RE-INTRODUCTION OF THE 
                 WARTIME PARITY AND JUSTICE ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. XAVIER BECERRA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 13, 2003

  Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of my constituents 
to commemorate the Day of Remembrance. As we know, on February 19, 
1942, then President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 
that led to the internment of 120,000 Americans of Japanese descent. 
With the stroke of a pen, innocent men, women, and children became 
prisoners and were branded disloyal to the nation they called home. 
Lives were disrupted and homes were broken as these Americans were 
uprooted from their communities and locked behind barbed wire fences.
  The force of wartime hysteria darkened the light of justice and 
reasonable people suddenly embarked on an unreasonable course. Indeed, 
America was engaged in a monumental struggle as our soldiers engaged 
the enemy in the European and Pacific Theatre. Here in the United 
States, many citizens had faces that looked like that of the enemy. 
Without any evidence, fear was mounting, and the patriotism of these 
Japanese Americans was questioned. Some worried that they were intent 
on doing harm against the very flag they saluted. Decades later, 
history vindicated these loyal Americans as not even a single 
documented case of sabotage or espionage was committed by an American 
of Japanese ancestry during that time.
  What our nation found through the disinfectant of time, those who 
endured internment knew all along. Surrounded by armed guards behind a 
prison fence, mothers thought of their sons who fought for the freedom 
of the nation that denied them of their own liberty. Indeed today the 
annuls of military history show that the Japanese American soldiers of 
the 442nd and combat regiment fought honorably and bravely for ideals 
they knew our nation had not yet afforded to their own families back 
home. Still, they were worth fighting for. And this regiment would 
become the most decorated group of soldiers in American history as they 
proved their devotion to our nation fighting in both the European and 
Pacific theatres. It took more than 50 years, but finally in 2000, 
President Bill Clinton awarded 22 of these heroes with the Medal of 
Honor.
  In 1983, a Presidential Commission concluded that the internment was 
the result of both racism and wartime hysteria. Five years later, then 
President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act into law that 
provided an official apology and redress to most of those confined in 
U.S. internment camps during World War II. This was the culmination of 
half a century of struggle to bring justice to those to whom it was 
denied. I am proud that our nation did the right thing. But fifteen 
years after the passage of the CLA, we still have unfinished work to be 
done to rectify and close this regrettable chapter in our nation's 
history.
  Last Congress, I introduced bi-partisan legislation in Congress to 
finish the remaining work of redress. While most Americans are aware of 
the internment of Japanese Americans, few know about our government's 
activities in other countries resulting from prejudice held against 
people of Japanese ancestry. Recorded thoroughly in government files, 
the U.S. government involved itself in the expulsion and internment of 
an estimated 2,000 people of Japanese descent who lived in various 
Latin American countries. Uprooted from their homes and forced into the 
United States, these civilians were robbed of their freedom as they 
were kidnapped from nations not even directly involved in World War II. 
These individuals are still waiting for equitable redress, and justice 
cries out for them to receive it. That is why today I re-introduced the 
Wartime Parity and Justice Act of 2003 to finally turn the last page in 
this chapter of our nation's history.
  This bill provides redress to every Japanese Latin American 
individual forcibly removed and interned in the United States. These 
people paid a tremendous price during one of our nation's most trying 
times. Indeed, America accomplished much during that great struggle. As 
we celebrate our great achievements as a nation let us also recognize 
our errors and join together as a nation to correct those mistakes. My 
legislation is the right thing to do to affirm our commitment to 
democracy and the rule of law.

[[Page E258]]

  In addition, the Wartime Parity and Justice Act of 2003 provides 
relief to Japanese Americans confined in this country but who never 
received redress under the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 given 
technicalities in the original law. Our laws must always establish 
justice. They should never deny it. That is why these provisions ensure 
that every American who suffered the same injustices will receive the 
same justice. Finally, my legislation will reauthorize the educational 
mandate in the 1988 Act which was never fulfilled. This will etch this 
chapter of our nation's history into our national conscience for 
generations to come as a reminder never to repeat it again.
  Mr. Speaker, let us renew our resolve to build a better future for 
our community as we dedicate ourselves to remembering how we 
compromised liberty in the past. Doing so will help us to guard it more 
closely in the future. As we commemorate the Day of Remembrance, I look 
forward to working with my colleagues to pass the Wartime Parity and 
Justice Act of 2003.

                          ____________________