A resolution supporting the goals of the Japanese American, German American, and Italian American communities in recognizing a National Day of Remembrance to increase public awareness of the events surrounding the restriction, exclusion, and internment of individuals and families during World War II.

        [Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 118 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

108th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 118

Supporting the goals of the Japanese American, German American, and
Italian American communities in recognizing a National Day of
Remembrance to increase public awareness of the events surrounding the
restriction, exclusion, and internment of individuals and families
during World War II.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 10, 2003

Mrs. Boxer submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Supporting the goals of the Japanese American, German American, and
Italian American communities in recognizing a National Day of
Remembrance to increase public awareness of the events surrounding the
restriction, exclusion, and internment of individuals and families
during World War II.

Whereas, on February 19, 1942, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed
Executive Order 9066, which authorized the exclusion of 120,000 Japanese
Americans and legal resident aliens from the West coast of the United
States and the internment of United States citizens and legal permanent
residents of Japanese ancestry in internment camps during World War II;
Whereas the freedom of Italian Americans and German Americans was also
restricted during World War II by measures that branded them as enemy
aliens and included required identification cards, travel restrictions,
seizure of personal property, and internment;
Whereas President Gerald Ford formally rescinded Executive Order 9066 on
February 19, 1976, in his speech, ``An American Promise'';
Whereas Congress adopted legislation which was signed by President Jimmy Carter
on July 31, 1980, which established the Commission on Wartime Relocation
and Internment of Civilians (the ``Commission'') to investigate the
claim that the incarceration of Japanese Americans and legal resident
aliens during World War II was justified by military necessity;
Whereas the Commission held 20 days of hearings and heard from over 750
witnesses on this matter and published its findings in a report entitled
``Personal Justice Denied'';
Whereas the Commission concluded that the promulgation of Executive Order 9066
was not justified by military necessity and that the decision to issue
the order was shaped by ``race prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of
political leadership'';
Whereas Congress enacted the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, in which it apologized
on behalf of the Nation for ``fundamental violations of the basic civil
liberties and constitutional rights of these individuals of Japanese
ancestry'';
Whereas President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 into law
on August 10, 1988, proclaiming that day to be a ``great day for
America'';
Whereas the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 established the Civil Liberties Public
Education Fund, the purpose of which is ``to sponsor research and public
educational activities and to publish and distribute the hearings,
findings, and recommendations of the Commission on Wartime Relocation
and Internment of Civilians so that the events surrounding the
exclusion, forced removal, and internment of civilians and permanent
resident aliens of Japanese ancestry will be remembered, and so that the
causes and circumstances of this and similar events may be illuminated
and understood'';
Whereas Congress adopted the Wartime Violation of Italian Americans Civil
Liberties Act, which was signed by President Bill Clinton on November 7,
2000, and which resulted in a report containing detailed information on
the types of violations that occurred and lists of individuals of
Italian ancestry that were arrested, detained, and interned;
Whereas the Japanese American community recognizes a National Day of Remembrance
on February 19th of each year to educate the public about the lessons
learned from the internment to ensure that such an event never happens
again; and
Whereas the Day of Remembrance provides an opportunity for all people to reflect
on the importance of justice and civil liberties during times of
uncertainty and emergency: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes the historical significance of February 19,
1942, the date President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066,
which restricted the freedom of Japanese Americans, German
Americans, Italian Americans, and legal resident aliens through
required identification cards, travel restrictions, seizure of
personal property, and internment; and
(2) supports the goals of the Japanese American, German
American, and Italian American communities in recognizing a
National Day of Remembrance to increase public awareness of the
restrictions endured by the people in those communities as a
result of Executive Order 9066.
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