To read Senator Feingold's statement on this bill click here>>> Statement on S.1356

Wartime Treatment of European Americans and Refugees Study Act (Introduced in Senate)

S 1356 IS

107th CONGRESS
1st Session

S. 1356
To establish a commission to review the facts and circumstances surrounding injustices suffered by European Americans, European Latin Americans, and European refugees during World War II.


IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

August 3, 2001
Mr. FEINGOLD (for himself, Mr. GRASSLEY, and Mr. KENNEDY) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary



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A BILL
To establish a commission to review the facts and circumstances surrounding injustices suffered by European Americans, European Latin Americans, and European refugees during World War II.


Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Wartime Treatment of European Americans and Refugees Study Act'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:

(1) The United States has long encouraged other nations to acknowledge their wartime offenses against civilians. Now, the United States Government should fully assess its treatment of European Americans and European Latin Americans during World War II and its effect on Italian American, German American, and other European American communities.

(2) The United States Government should also fully assess its treatment of European refugees who fled persecution and genocide in Europe to seek refuge in the United States prior to and during World War II.

(3) During World War II, the United States Government branded as `enemy aliens' more than 600,000 Italian-born and 300,000 German-born United States resident aliens and their families and required them to carry Certificates of Identification, limited their travel, and seized their personal property. At that time, these groups were the two largest foreign-born groups in the United States.

(4) During World War II, the United States Government arrested, interned or otherwise detained thousands of European Americans, some remaining in custody for years after cessation of World War II hostilities, and repatriated, exchanged, or deported European Americans, including American-born children, to hostile, war-torn European Axis nations, many to be exchanged for Americans held in those nations.

(5) Pursuant to a policy coordinated by the United States with Latin American countries, many European Latin Americans, including German and Austrian Jews, were captured, shipped to the United States and interned. Many were later expatriated, repatriated or deported to hostile, war-torn European Axis nations during World War II, most to be exchanged for Americans and Latin Americans held in those nations.

(6) Millions of European Americans served in the armed forces and thousands sacrificed their lives in defense of the United States.

(7) The wartime policies of the United States Government were devastating to the Italian Americans and German American communities, individuals and their families. The detrimental effects are still being experienced.

(8) Prior to and during World War II, the United States restricted the entry of European refugees who were fleeing persecution and sought safety in the United States. During the 1930's and 1940's, the quota system, immigration regulations, visa requirements, and the time required to process visa applications affected the number of European refugees, particularly those from Germany and Austria, who could gain admittance to the United States.

(9) Time is of the essence for the establishment of a Commission, because of the increasing danger of destruction and loss of relevant documents, the advanced age of potential witnesses and, most importantly, the advanced age of those affected by the United States Government's policies. Many who suffered have already passed away and will never know of this effort.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) DURING WORLD WAR II- The term `during World War II' refers to the period between September 1, 1939, through December 31, 1948.

(2) EUROPEAN AMERICANS-

(A) IN GENERAL- The term `European Americans' refers to United States citizens and permanent resident aliens of European ancestry, including Italian Americans, German Americans, Hungarian Americans, Romanian Americans, and Bulgarian Americans.

(B) ITALIAN AMERICANS- The term `Italian Americans' refers to United States citizens and permanent resident aliens of Italian ancestry.

(C) GERMAN AMERICANS- The term `German Americans' refers to United States citizens and permanent resident aliens of German ancestry.

(3) EUROPEAN REFUGEES- The term `European refugees' refers to European nationals who desired to flee persecution and genocide in Europe and to enter the United States during the period between January 1, 1933 and December 31, 1945 but were denied entry.

(4) EUROPEAN LATIN AMERICANS- The term `European Latin Americans' refers to persons of European ancestry, including Italian or German ancestry, residing in a Latin American nation during World War II.

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

(a) IN GENERAL- There is established the Commission on Wartime Treatment of European Americans and Refugees (referred to in this Act as the `Commission').

(b) MEMBERSHIP- The Commission shall be composed of 11 members, who shall be appointed not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act as follows:

(1) Five members shall be appointed by the President.

(2) Three members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, in consultation with the minority leader.

(3) Three members shall be appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, in consultation with the minority leader.

(c) TERMS- The term of office for members shall be for the life of the Commission. A vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, and shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made.

(d) REPRESENTATION- The Commission shall include 2 members from the Italian American community and 2 members from the German American community representing their wartime treatment interests. The Commission shall also include 2 members representing the interests of European refugees.

(e) MEETINGS- The President shall call the first meeting of the Commission not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

(f) QUORUM- Six members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings.

(g) CHAIRMAN- The Commission shall elect a Chairman and Vice Chairman from among its members. The term of office of each shall be for the life of the Commission.

(h) COMPENSATION-

(1) IN GENERAL- Members of the Commission shall serve without pay.

(2) REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES- All members of the Commission shall be reimbursed for reasonable travel and subsistence, and other reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties.

SEC. 5. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

(a) IN GENERAL- It shall be the duty of the Commission to review--

(1) the United States Government's wartime treatment of European Americans and European Latin Americans as provided in subsection (b)(1); and

(2) the United States Government's refusal to allow European refugees fleeing persecution in Europe entry to the United States as provided in subsection (b)(2).

(b) SCOPE OF REVIEW-

(1) EUROPEAN AMERICANS AND EUROPEAN LATIN AMERICANS- The Commission's review shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(A) A comprehensive review of the facts and circumstances surrounding United States Government actions during World War II which violated the civil liberties of European Americans and European Latin Americans pursuant to the Alien Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. 21-24), Presidential Proclamations 2526, 2527, 2655, 2662, Executive Orders 9066 and 9095, and any directive of the United States Armed Forces pursuant to such law, proclamations, or executive orders respecting the registration, arrest, exclusion, internment, exchange, or deportment of European Americans and European Latin Americans. This review shall include an assessment of the underlying rationale of the United States Government's decision to develop related programs and policies, the information the United States Government received or acquired suggesting the related programs and policies were necessary, the perceived benefit of enacting such programs and policies, and the immediate and long-term impact of such programs and policies on European Americans and European Latin Americans and their communities.

(B) A review of United States Government action with respect to European Americans pursuant to the Alien Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. 21-24) and Executive Order 9066 during World War II, including registration requirements, travel and property restrictions, establishment of restricted areas, raids, arrests, internment, exclusion, policies relating to the families and property that excludees and internees were forced to abandon, internee employment by American companies (including a list of such companies and the terms and type of employment), exchange, repatriation, and deportment, and the immediate and long-term effect of such actions, particularly internment, on the lives of those affected. This review shall include a list of all temporary detention and long-term internment facilities.

(C) A brief review of the participation by European Americans in the United States
Armed Forces including the participation of European Americans whose families were excluded, interned, repatriated, or excluded.


(D) A recommendation of appropriate remedies, including how civil liberties can be better protected during war, or an actual, attempted, or threatened invasion or inclusion, an assessment of the continued viability of the Alien Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. 21-24), and public education programs related to the United States Government's wartime treatment of European Americans, European Latin Americans, and European refugees during World War II.

(2) EUROPEAN REFUGEES- The Commission's review shall cover the period between January 1, 1933, through December 31, 1945, and shall include, to the greatest extent practicable, the following:

(A) A review of the United States Government's refusal to allow European refugees entry to the United States, including a review of the underlying rationale of the United States Government's decision to refuse the European refugees entry, the information the United States Government received or acquired suggesting such refusal was necessary, the perceived benefit of such refusal, and the impact of such refusal on European refugees.

(B) A review of Federal refugee policy relating to those fleeing persecution or genocide, including recommendations for making it easier for future victims of persecution or genocide to obtain refuge in the United States.

(c) FIELD HEARINGS- The Commission shall hold public hearings in such cities of the United States as it deems appropriate.

(d) REPORT- The Commission shall submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to Congress not later than 18 months after the date of the first meeting called pursuant to section 4(e).

SEC. 6. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

(a) IN GENERAL- The Commission or, on the authorization of the Commission, any subcommittee or member thereof, may, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act, hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and places, and request the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, records, correspondence, memorandum, papers, and documents as the Commission or such subcommittee or member may deem advisable. The Commission may request the Attorney General to invoke the aid of an appropriate United States district court to require, by subpoena or otherwise, such attendance, testimony, or production.

(b) GOVERNMENT INFORMATION AND COOPERATION- The Commission may acquire directly from the head of any department, agency, independent instrumentality, or other authority of the executive branch of the Government, available information that the Commission considers useful in the discharge of its duties. All departments, agencies, and independent instrumentalities, or other authorities of the executive branch of the Government shall cooperate with the Commission and furnish all information requested by the Commission to the extent permitted by law, including information collected as a result of Public Law 96-317 and Public Law 106-451. For purposes of the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(9)), the Commission shall be deemed to be a committee of jurisdiction.

SEC. 7. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

The Commission is authorized to--

(1) appoint and fix the compensation of such personnel as may be necessary, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that the compensation of any employee of the Commission may not exceed a rate equivalent to the rate payable under GS-15 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of such title;

(2) obtain the services of experts and consultants in accordance with the provisions of section 3109 of such title;

(3) obtain the detail of any Federal Government employee, and such detail shall be without reimbursement or interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege;

(4) enter into agreements with the Administrator of General Services for procurement of necessary financial and administrative services, for which payment shall be made by reimbursement from funds of the Commission in such amounts as may be agreed upon by the Chairman of the Commission and the Administrator;

(5) procure supplies, services, and property by contract in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and to the extent or in such amounts as are provided in appropriation Acts; and

(6) enter into contracts with Federal or State agencies, private firms, institutions, and agencies for the conduct of research or surveys, the preparation of reports, and other activities necessary to the discharge of the duties of the Commission, to the extent or in such amounts as are provided in appropriation Acts.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

From funds currently authorized to the Department of Justice, there are authorized to be appropriated not to exceed $850,000 to carry out the purposes of this Act.

SEC. 9. SUNSET.

The Commission shall terminate 60 days after it submits its report to Congress.