WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today a bipartisan majority of members of the House Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law voted seven to two to favorably report H.R. 42, the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Latin Americans of Japanese Descent Act, to the full House Judiciary Committee. The bill was authored by Representative Xavier Becerra (CA-31), Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee.
“Today’s favorable bipartisan subcommittee vote marks an important step forward for the cause of justice for Japanese Latin Americans who were relocated, deported and interned by the United States during World War II,” said Rep. Becerra. “I applaud the subcommittee members for giving this important issue the attention it deserves.”
When signed into law, Rep. Becerra’s legislation 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.
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