To extend the Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Records Interagency Working Group for 2 years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 384, a bill extending the Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Records Interagency Working Group for two years. This crucial legislation amends the Japanese Imperial Government Disclosure Act of 2000 to extend from four to six years the existence of the Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Records Interagency Working Group. H.R. 842 extends by two years this worthy working group, which was originally created by Congress through Public Law 105-246 in 1998. The group is made up of government agency representatives who are directed to oversee the declassification of U.S. Government records that contain information about Nazi war crimes.

Such information includes trafficking of assets seized by the Nazis and post-war communications between U.S. Government and former Nazi officials, unless declassification would unduly violate personal privacy or harm national security or foreign policy interests. The law also allowed for expedited processing of Freedom of Information, requests made by survivors of the Holocaust.

On December 6, 2000, as part of the Intelligence Authorization Act for 2001, Congress changed the group's name to the Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Records Interagency Working Group. This action expanded the mission of the group to include the declassification of U.S. Government records related to World War II-era war crimes committed by the Japanese Imperial government.

Mr. Speaker, the Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Records Interagency Working Group is a valuable effort that informs the American people of the actions of their government while balancing the protection of legitimate national secrets.

I support this noble effort so that we can continue to confront this dark chapter in American History.

The vicious and barbaric war crimes committed by the Nazis, and the atrocities committed by the Japanese Imperial Government during World War II, were some of the worse criminal acts of the 20th century. Both of these historical crimes against humanity must be studied and chronicled in their entirety. The acts of barbarism and genocide committed by the German Nazi and Japanese Imperial governments should never be forgotten. Therefore, it is up to the elected representatives of the American people to ensure that the United States Government complies completely with the Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Records Interagency Working Group and makes accessible all information that is allowable by law.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.