[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 19 (Friday, February 18, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E280-E281]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN COMMEMORATION OF THE DAY OF REMEMBRANCE: INTRODUCTION OF THE WARTIME 
                     PARITY AND JUSTICE ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. XAVIER BECERRA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 17, 2005

  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 theatres. 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 was what those 
who endured internment knew all along. Surrounded by armed guards 
behind a prison fence, mothers

[[Page E281]]

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 seventeen 
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.
  That is why I am re-introducing legislation 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 will introduce the 
Wartime Parity and Justice Act of 2005 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.
  In addition, the Wartime Parity and Justice Act of 2005 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.
  At the forefront of this continuous fight for justice, there are 
Members of Congress and individuals of the community. This Saturday, I 
will have the privilege of joining with citizens in Los Angeles at the 
Japanese American National Museum to commemorate the Day of 
Remembrance. In addition, on April 8th and 9th of this year, there will 
be a public testimonial event called ``The Assembly on Wartime 
Relocation and Internment of Civilians'' at Hastings College of Law in 
San Francisco, California. At this historic event, former internees of 
Japanese descent as well as those of Italian and German ancestry will 
testify about their experiences under oath. This testimonial event will 
provide historical information, personal testimonies and community 
opinions to the public and Members of Congress. Campaign For Justice 
has been a leading driving force behind this event with Japanese 
American Citizens League, which has reaffirmed its support for the 
ongoing redress efforts.
  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 2005.

                          ____________________