Letter to the Hon Ken Calvert, Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, and the Hon Betty McCollum, Ranking Member of the Committee on Appropriations, Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies - Matsui Leads Over 50 Congressional Colleagues in Calling for Funds to Preserve Former Japanese American Confinement Sites

Letter

Dear Chairman Calvert and Ranking Member McCollum:

As you craft the Fiscal Year 2019 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill, we respectfully request that you maintain level funding to support efforts to preserve the historic confinement sites where Japanese Americans were incarcerated during World War II.

The Japanese American internment constituted one of the darkest periods in our nation's history. It would be an even greater failure on our part not to guard against the future perpetration of similar racially motivated acts. The camps, relocation centers, processing areas, and other confinement sites located throughout the South and West are invaluable physical links that help to help current and future generations connect with the history and significance of the incarceration.

Congress has recognized the important educational role of confinement sites. With the passage of P.L. 109-441, Congress unanimously agreed to authorize $38 million to use these sites as tools to educate the American public. In recent fiscal years, your subcommittee provided and Congress approved a $3 million appropriation to preserve Japanese American confinement sites.

Congress further recognized the patriotism of many Japanese Americans who courageously volunteered to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces while their families were imprisoned by honoring these veterans with the Congressional Gold Medal in 2011.

Building on this history of Congressional support, we respectfully request continued funding to support the significant community interest in restoring and maintaining these sites. This funding will leverage proportional local involvement to ensure that historically significant areas receive the attention they deserve. Federal resources provided by your subcommittee will build upon the strong bipartisan support Congress has already demonstrated and reaffirm our national commitment to preserving these sites so that we never repeat this history.

Sincerely,