[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 7, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E279]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        BAINBRIDGE ISLAND JAPANESE AMERICAN MONUMENT ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 6, 2007

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 161, 
to adjust the boundary of the Minidoka Internment National Monument in 
Idaho to include the Nidoto Nai Yoni (``Let it not happen again'') 
memorial. This memorial commemorates the Japanese Americans of 
Bainbridge Island, Washington, who were the first to be forcibly 
removed from their homes and relocated to internment camps during World 
War II.
  In 1942, 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry were forcibly removed 
from their homes and placed in internment camps--two-thirds of these 
were American citizens, none of which had ever shown disloyalty to the 
American cause. Forced to live under harsh conditions, the last 
internment camp closed 4 long years later.
  These innocent Americans were treated unjustly by their own 
government during a time of war, simply because of their national 
origin, and such a crime against them must not go unnoticed. The 
memorial is rightly named with the words, ``Let it not happen again,'' 
for it is important to remember the past mistakes of our government in 
an effort to avoid future ones.
  As we recognize this, we must strive to ensure that all Americans 
know about these mistakes to prevent their repetition. H.R. 161 helps 
accomplish this by requiring the Secretary of the Interior to 
coordinate the development of interpretive and educational materials 
and programs regarding the Bainbridge Island Japanese Americans.
  In times of war it may be easy to get carried away and put labels on 
those around us, assuming what their political ideals are based solely 
on their national origin or religious background. But as we have seen 
in World War II, such assumptions are unjust and can lead to disastrous 
consequences for a group of individuals.
  I thank my colleague, Mr. Inslee, for introducing this important 
legislation, to ensure that we never let such unjust practices occur in 
this great Nation again. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting 
this resolution.

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