[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 119 (Tuesday, September 28, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H7662-H7664]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   ANGEL ISLAND IMMIGRATION STATION RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION ACT

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4469) to authorize appropriations to the Secretary of the 
Interior for the restoration of the Angel Island Immigration Station in 
the State of California.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4469

       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 ``Angel Island Immigration 
     Station Restoration and Preservation Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The Angel Island Immigration Station, also known as the 
     Ellis Island of the West, is a National Historic Landmark.
       (2) Between 1910 and 1940, the Angel Island Immigration 
     Station processed more than 1,000,000 immigrants and 
     emigrants from around the world.
       (3) The Angel Island Immigration Station contributes 
     greatly to our understanding of our Nation's rich and complex 
     immigration history.
       (4) The Angel Island Immigration Station was built to 
     enforce the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and subsequent 
     immigration laws, which unfairly and severely restricted 
     Asian immigration.
       (5) During their detention at the Angel Island Immigration 
     Station, Chinese detainees carved poems into the walls of the 
     detention barracks. More than 140 poems remain today, 
     representing the unique voices of immigrants awaiting entry 
     to this country.
       (6) More than 50,000 people, including 30,000 
     schoolchildren, visit the Angel Island Immigration Station 
     annually to learn more about the experience of immigrants who 
     have traveled to our shores.
       (7) The restoration of the Angel Island Immigration Station 
     and the preservation of the writings and drawings at the 
     Angel Island Immigration Station will ensure that future 
     generations also have the benefit of experiencing and 
     appreciating this great symbol of the perseverance of the 
     immigrant spirit, and of the diversity of this great Nation.

     SEC. 3. RESTORATION.

       (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior 
     $15,000,000 for restoring the Angel Island Immigration 
     Station in the San Francisco Bay, in coordination with the 
     Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation and the 
     California Department of Parks and Recreation.
       (b) Priority.--(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
     funds appropriated pursuant to this Act shall be used for the 
     restoration of the Immigration Station Hospital on Angel 
     Island.
       (2) Any remaining funds in excess of the amount required to 
     carry out paragraph (1) shall be used solely for the 
     restoration of the Angel Island Immigration Station.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Radanovich) and the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. 
Bordallo) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich)

[[Page H7663]]

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4469, introduced by the gentlewoman from California 
(Ms. Woolsey) would authorize appropriations to the Secretary of the 
Interior for the restoration of the Angel Island Immigration Station in 
the State of California.
  The restoration of this battered structure known as the ``Ellis 
Island of the West'' is important to our Nation's history as it was the 
first place that more than 1 million immigrants entered the United 
States between 1910 and 1940, many of whom became U.S. citizens.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I reserve the balance 
of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the sponsor of this bill, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey) for bringing forth this most 
important measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman 
from California (Ms. Woolsey).
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from 
California (Chairman Pombo) and the gentleman from West Virginia 
(Ranking Member Rahall), the gentlewoman from Guam (Ranking Member 
Bordallo) and the chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman from 
California (Chairman Radanovich) and the House leadership for allowing 
us to consider this piece of legislation. This is legislation that is 
very important to my district and to the San Francisco Bay Area.
  As my colleagues may know, I have worked for the past 2 years with 
the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation and the gentlewoman 
from California (Leader Pelosi) in an effort to preserve the historic 
Angel Island Immigration Station located just east of Sausalito in the 
San Francisco Bay.
  This landmark is a high priority because of what it means to Asian 
Americans. Many of my colleagues are familiar with the symbolism of 
Ellis Island to European Americans. Well, the same feelings of history 
and pride can be equated to the Americans of Asian heritage on the west 
coast, because Angel Island was the first American soil most Asian 
immigrants stepped on.
  With over 1 million people being processed through the site, millions 
of Asian descendants nationwide are eager to see their roots in this 
country honored in the same way that we honor Ellis Island.
  In addition, Angel Island Immigration Station also houses a unique 
literary display of Asian American culture. The walls of the main 
building hold layers of poetry reflecting the record of hardship 
endured and the indignities suffered by the early Chinese as they were 
being processed into America. If these walls crumble, we would lose 
this one-of-a-kind documentation forever.
  Because of its rich history, the site is currently used as a teaching 
tool for students and a museum for visitors. Hundreds of schoolchildren 
and researchers make the trip out to the site each year by ferry, by 
the way, to learn about its rich history.
  Mr. Speaker, I have worked with the Foundation to find additional 
sources of funding for the restoration project to ensure future 
generations can learn from this site. The current estimate to preserve 
it is over $30 million. With $16 million already raised through grants, 
State funding and private donations, $15 million is still needed. With 
no more grants to pursue and the State of California contributing close 
to half of the funding, it is important that we allow the Federal 
Government to become a part of this preservation effort, and that is 
what we are doing today, and I thank my colleagues for that.
  The Angel Island Immigration Station Restoration and Preservation 
Act, with over 45 bipartisan cosponsors, will simply allow the Angel 
Island Immigration Station to retain its status as a State-owned 
facility, while allowing the preservation project to receive Federal 
dollars. Passing this legislation will put us one step closer to 
protecting this site forever.
  Among the strongest supporters in this effort are the gentlewoman 
from California (Minority Leader Pelosi) and the gentleman from Indiana 
(Mr. Souder). Also, I would like to acknowledge the tireless work of 
Katherine Toy and Irene Bueno on behalf of the Angel Island Immigration 
Station Foundation. All of their hard work on this bill has been 
critical to moving it forward. In addition, I would like to thank 
Senator Feinstein and Senator Boxer for introducing identical 
legislation in the other body.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues again for allowing us to debate 
this important bill. The supporters are dedicated to this project and 
will continue to work passionately to help others learn and understand 
the story of the Angel Island Immigration Station. We urge our 
colleagues to join us and vote yes on H.R. 4469.
  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 4469, the Angel 
Island Immigration Station Restoration and Preservation Act.
  I would like to recognize my colleagues Representative Lynn Woosley 
from California for her steadfast leadership in ensuring Angel Island 
Immigration Station is preserved and restored.
  As Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, CAPAC, I 
support a Federal authorization of $15 million for the preservation and 
restoration of Angel Island, where people from China, Japan, Russia, 
India, Korea, Australia, and the Philippines entered the United States 
to start a new life.
  Mr. Speaker, Angel Island Immigration Station is appropriately known 
as the ``Ellis Island of the West.'' Located in the San Francisco Bay, 
Angel Island served as a processing and detainment center for 1 million 
immigrants between 1910 and 1940. Of those 1 million people, 175,000 
were Chinese immigrants and 150,000 were Japanese immigrants.
  For the 30 years that Angel Island was in existence, detainees 
experienced overcrowded facilities, humiliating medical examinations, 
intense interrogations, and countless days--even years--waiting until 
approval of their applications of deportation. Although conditions 
could be deplorable, Angel Island was an entry point to a better future 
for so many immigrants.
  Angel Island Immigration Station was closed in 1940 when a fire 
destroyed the administration building. In 1963, California State Parks 
assumed the role of stewardship of the site when Angel Island became a 
State park.
  In the 1970s, the site was set for demolition until a park ranger 
discovered etched writings on the walls. Etched by detainees, the 
writings and drawings on the wall reflect their hardships and hopes of 
detainees during the uncertain period in which they awaited decisions 
on their immigration applications. The cultural and historical value of 
these etchings sparked efforts to save this site, and in 1997, Angel 
Island Immigration Station became a National Historic Landmark.
  More than 50,000 people continue to visit Angel Island Immigration 
Station yearly, but sadly, the history of Angel Island is often left 
out of classroom lectures. With greater Federal support, however, we 
can restore the island's historic buildings, preserve irreplaceable 
immigration records, and keep alive the stories and memories of those 
who were detained on the island.
  While preserving the Angel Island Immigration Station is important to 
Asian Americans, it should be a priority for all Americans. Just as 
Ellis Island is a critical part of our Nation's history, Angel Island 
offers American's a richer and more comprehensive understanding of our 
history and the diversity we celebrate in this Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly support H.R. 4469 and its authorization 
of $15 million to restore and preserve historic buildings at Angel 
Island Immigration Station. I urge my colleagues to vote for this 
important piece of legislation.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4469, the Angel 
Island Immigration Station Restoration and Preservation Act and I want 
to thank Congresswoman Woolsey for spearheading this effort to preserve 
this historic landmark.
  The Angel Island Immigration Station is important to our country's 
immigration history. Considered the ``Ellis Island of the West'' it was 
originally built as a detention center to enforce the Chinese Exclusion 
Act of 1882, which limited immigration on the basis of nationality and 
race. Immigrants from China and other parts of Asia who were sent to 
the station for processing were treated far differently from immigrants 
arriving at Ellis Island. Often the Asian immigrants, particularly the 
Chinese, were subjected to extended periods of detention and isolation 
and which often resulted in denial of entry. During their detention, 
many would carve poems and drawings into the walls of their barracks, 
giving voice to their anger and frustration and providing first hand 
accounts of Asian immigrant struggles to reach America. It is these 
voices that H.R. 4469 seeks to preserve, and in doing so, honor their 
painful journey.

[[Page H7664]]

  Mr. Speaker, each May we honor the contributions of Asian Americans 
to our Nation. We have come a long way since Angel Island, but we 
cannot forget what it took to bring us to this point. I encourage my 
colleagues to support H.R. 4469 to ensure that the experiences of these 
immigrants will be remembered.
  Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4469, the Angel 
Island Immigration Station Restoration and Preservation Act.
  Historic preservation is the key to remembering our past. Without key 
places and artifacts from our history, it would be impossible to tell 
future generations of Americans how, when and where our country came to 
be what it is. Whenever a place or object is lost, a piece of history 
is gone forever. It is our duty to ensure that history is preserved.
  The Angel Island Immigration Station Restoration and Preservation Act 
aims to preserve part of our history. Known as the Ellis Island of the 
West, Angel Island was the primary entry point for hundreds of 
thousands of immigrants from the Pacific Rim, including Australia and 
New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, Russia, and in 
particular Asia. During Angel Island's years of operation, 1910-1940, 
an estimated 175,0000 Chinese immigrants were processed through Angel 
Island.
  In 1940, Angel Island Immigration Station closed after a fire 
destroyed the Administration Building. Following the Army's departure 
from Angel Island, the structures fell into disrepair. Many were 
removed by the Army Corps of Engineers and California State Parks. Of 
the original Immigration Station structures, only the Detention 
Barracks, Hospital, Power House, Pump House and Mule Barn remain. 
Today, these structures are in various states of disrepair; hence the 
need for this legislation.
  Without H.R. 4469, the structures on Angel Island will fall further 
into decay. Many of the buildings are crumbling and leak; consequently, 
many poems written by the Chinese immigrants detained at Angel Island 
are in danger of being destroyed. State, private, and local entities 
have already contributed mightily to this project; sadly, they have not 
been able to complete the project. This bill will authorize $15 million 
in funding so that this unique aspect of our history can be preserved 
for future generations. Compared to the $156 million spent to restore 
Ellis Island, this restoration project is a bargain and of no less 
significance.
  Millions of people journey to Ellis Island every year in order to see 
where their ancestors came ashore. This bill would allow descendants of 
Angel Island arrivals the same opportunity to visit the place where 
their ancestors' American Dreams started.
  Although the status of Angel Island as part of the California State 
Parks system sets it apart from many other historic sites that receive 
Federal funding, the importance of the site and its contribution to the 
United States makes its official designation irrelevant. Our Nation's 
history must be preserved regardless of official status.
  I urge my colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 4469, the Angel 
Island Immigration Station Restoration and Preservation Act. Keeping 
our immigration heritage in good repair is essential if the United 
States is to maintain its unique status as a beacon of democracy and 
opportunity.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4469.
  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.

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