WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs voted to report favorably S. 381, the “Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Latin Americans of Japanese Descent Act.” S. 381, sponsored by Senator Daniel K. Inouye (HI), is identical to H.R. 662, which is Representative Xavier Becerra’s (CA-31) bill of the same name. Yesterday's markup demonstrated a momentous step toward creating a commission to investigate and study the wartime violations committed by the U.S. government against Japanese Latin Americans during World War II.
“Yesterday’s successful markup was an exercise in progress and compassion – progress for an issue that has long deserved its due, and compassion by the senators serving on the committee who in bipartisan fashion recognized the need for this commission,” Rep. Becerra said.
When signed into law, the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Latin Americans of Japanese Descent Act would create a commission to investigate the U.S. government’s involvement in the abduction, internment, and deportation of Japanese Latin Americans, and make recommendations for any appropriate remedies to Congress based on their findings. The commissioners would be composed of nine members, three each appointed by the president, the speaker of the House of Representatives, and the president pro tempore of the Senate.
“This is a very significant step for the remaining Japanese Latin American internees and their families,” Rep. Becerra said.
Now that it has cleared the committee, the next stop for the bill will be the Senate floor. Under the rules that govern the House of Representatives, the House can take up a Senate-passed bill, thus avoiding a conference committee and sending the bill directly to the president for his signature.
# # # Becerra.House.gov # # #