[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 29 (Tuesday, March 9, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E324-E325]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IN COMMEMORATION OF THE DAY OF REMEMBRANCE AND IN SUPPORT OF THE 
                 WARTIME PARITY AND JUSTICE ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. XAVIER BECERRA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 9, 2004

  Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to 
reflect on our past as we pave the way to a brighter future. The 
Japanese-American community recognizes a National Day of Remembrance 
each year to educate the public about the lessons learned from the 
internment camp experience during World War II to ensure that it never 
happens again. The Day of Remembrance commemorates February 19, 1942, 
the day on which President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 
9066, which eliminated the civil liberties of 120,000 people of 
Japanese descent and sent our country down a shameful path of race-
based discrimination, veiled by the fog of war. I ask for my 
colleagues' support for House Resolution 56 (H. Res. 56); and I commend 
my friend from California, Congressman Mike Honda, for offering it and 
for his leadership in championing awareness of the Japanese-American 
internment. H. Res. 56 recognizes the historical significance of 
February 19 and expresses congressional support for the Japanese-
American, German-American, and Italian-American communities in their 
goals to raise public awareness of Day of Remembrance events.
  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 history shows that the Japanese-American soldiers of the 
442nd 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 for whom it was 
denied. I am proud that our Nation did the right thing. But 16 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.
  I introduced bipartisan legislation, the Wartime Parity and Justice 
Act of 2003 (H.R. 779) 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 I introduced H.R. 779, to finally turn the last page in 
this chapter of our Nation's history, so that we not only remember that 
our country took away civil rights from innocent people from other 
countries, but that we now have recognized the wrong of our actions and 
have taken steps to provide equitable redress.
  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.
  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.

  Recently, in Los Angeles I was fortunate to join with about 300 
individuals to commemorate the Day of Remembrance in Los Angeles at the 
historic Japanese American National Museum. Included in the Los Angeles 
Day of Remembrance program was the screening of a film, ``Stand Up for 
Justice,'' which tells the story of Ralph Lazo, a Mexican-Irish 
American student at Belmont High School in downtown Los Angeles. Even 
in 1941, the school had an ethnically diverse population, and the film 
depicts Ralph's anger at the pain suffered by his Japanese American 
friend, Jimmy Matsuoka. Jimmy and his family are forced to sell their 
belongings and ``evacuate'' to a remote concentration camp. At the age 
of 16 Ralph voluntarily accompanied his Japanese American friends to 
Manzanar Internment Camp, where he spent 2\1/2\ years. Ralph remained a 
dear friend to the Japanese community and his loss was sorely felt in 
1992 when friends mourned the death of their loyal friend. He had stood 
by Japanese Americans during the difficult times at Manzanar and 
throughout the campaign for redress, and he demonstrated that you don't 
have to be Japanese American to stand up for what is right.
  At the forefront of this fight for justice, there are Members of 
Congress, the community and

[[Page E325]]

individuals like Ralph Lazo, giving a voice to those who were wronged 
in the past. Let us all remember, that the fight for justice for 
Japanese internees is one that is being fought by the entire community 
regardless of their ethnicity. We must all ``Stand Up for Justice.''
  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, we 
must pass H. Res. 56, in support of Japanese-American, German-American, 
and Italian American communities in their recognizing of this 
historical day. I also look forward to working with my colleagues to 
pass the Wartime Parity and Justice Act of 2003.

                          ____________________