Japanese American World War II History Network Act passes House of Representatives

Press Release

Congressman Jay Obernolte's (R-Hesperia) Japanese American WWII History Network Act (H.R. 6434) passed the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday with broad bipartisan support after gaining rapid momentum in the House Natural Resources Committee. The bill will create a Japanese American World War II History Network administered by the National Park Service to interconnect sites across the country related to the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans and to increase recognition of this human rights tragedy which occurred on U.S. soil during World War II.

"The mass incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II was the heartbreaking culmination of what occurred when our country turned its back on its founding principles and allowed thousands of Americans to lose their liberties in the face of racism and fear. By bringing transparency to the story of Japanese American internment, we can help ensure that such injustice never again occurs within our nation," said Rep. Obernolte.

"Many of you have heard about how many Issei and Nisei generations often did not talk about their camp experiences with their children and grandchildren," Friends of Manzanar Chair Bruce Saito said during the bill's hearing. "Such was my case, and [that's] one of the reasons I think creating the Japanese American World War II History Network is so important. We must continue to strengthen the network and continue to connect the dots through the network so this tragic and very important lesson in history is never forgotten."

The creation of a Japanese American World War II History Network will significantly improve awareness for potentially hundreds of sites across the United States. The network will follow the model of existing National Park Service networks, such as the African American Civil Rights Network, to provide a platform to increase access and promote heritage tourism to federal, state, and privately-owned sites linked to the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. Users will be empowered to use an interactive map to explore different geographic areas, learn about the journeys of Japanese Americans during World War II and plan visits to historic and cultural sites.

H.R. 6434 is cosponsored by Reps. Joe Neguse (D-CO), Pete Stauber (R-MN), Chris Stewart (R-UT), Tom O'Halleran (D-AZ), Don Young (R-AK), Blake Moore (R-UT), Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Cliff Bentz (R-OR), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM) and Jim Costa (D-CA).

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:

National Japanese American Historical Society: "The National Japanese American Historical Society, Inc. (NJAHS) is in full support of your bill the Japanese American World War II History Network Act (H.R. 6434). The Military Intelligence Service Historic Learning Center at Building 640 in the Presidio of San Francisco has an excellent opportunity to become a part of the Japanese American WWII History Network… Building 640 is also a symbol of the patriotism and military effectiveness of the 6,000 MIS soldiers who served during WWII and in postwar Japan; their heroism and wartime/peacetime contributions served as an antidote to the discrimination experienced by the Japanese American community. Ironically, it was situated on the same U.S. Army headquarters where they implemented Executive Order 9066 that culminated in the exclusion, forced removal and incarceration of 120,000 Americans of Japanese descent."

Historical Museum at Fort Missoula: "During WWII, over 1,000 Issei men were wrongfully imprisoned at Fort Missoula, stripped of their civil liberties, and subjected to "loyalty" hearings, in which they were forced to try and prove their loyalty to the United States. We believe that the Japanese American World War II Network Act will be a powerful tool in helping to educate the public about these men and the wrongs committed against them."

Arkansas Historic Preservation Program: "The state of Arkansas had two relocation camps during this time. One was in Rohwer, which is in Desha County, and the other camp was Jerome, which is part of Chicot and Drew Counties. This act will most certainly bring much needed attention to these historic locations. "

AEPAC Architecture Firm owner Lorraine Minatoishi, Ph.D., AIA: "Internees at Honouliuli were released following the news of Japan's surrender in 1945, and the POWs were released the following year. Vegetation quickly grew and took over and the site was left forgotten as the attention drew to victories celebrated at Pearl Harbor and beyond…On February 19, 2015, President Barack Obama announced the designation of Honouliuli National Monument…By enacting H.R. 6436, more sites like Honouliuli will be included in or determined by the Secretary to be eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places; thus, furthering the study of Japanese Americans experience during World War II."

The Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community: "Nearly eighty years ago on March 30, 1942, two hundred and twenty-seven men, women, and children of Japanese ancestry -- two-thirds of them American citizens, were forcibly removed from their homes on Bainbridge Island as a result of wartime hysteria and the implementation of Executive Order 9066. The abrupt dislocation from the everyday lives of hardworking Bainbridge Island families to life in government sponsored concentration camps caused years of humiliation, pain, and loss of livelihood, not to mention intergenerational trauma for their descendants. This history must be remembered and preserved in order that the sacrifices of our elders be recognized."

Washington Trust for Historic Preservation: "Establishing the Japanese American WWII History Network within the National Park Service would serve to strengthen education, understanding, and collaboration related to telling the story and impact of EO 9066. This action would supplement other work in which the NPS is currently engaged related to the management of sites of exclusion, such as Minidoka National Historic Site, Manzanar National Historic Site, and the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial, to name a few. It would also work in concert with the existing Japanese American Confinement Sites (JACS) grant program, enabling partners throughout the West Coast to engage in further research, discourse, and preservation of these sites."

State of Washington Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation: "Washington State was the first to feel the brunt of this unnecessary and catastrophic action. The proposed Network will not only increase awareness about this difficult history, but will also identify the important places that communicate this history on the landscape. We must endeavor to prevent history from repeating itself, and this initiative is a critical step in letting this difficult history be etched in our collective memory."

Amanche Preservation Society: "Legislation to preserve, produce and distribute educational materials about the Japanese American experience during WWII is of paramount importance for the education of teaching civil liberties and tolerance within the United States… The Japanese American World War II History Network Act will help all families of this great nation with the understanding of how civil liberties should always be preserved no matter what race or ethnic background they may be."

Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition: "We need to continue to educate and inform the public about our history in order that such a wrong will not happen again to other American innocent civilians, citizens, and children. This massive relocation, as you know, was not conducted with due process of law as guaranteed by our U.S. Constitution."

Arizona Preservation Foundation: "The Act will foster access to information and interpretation about the tragic and unfortunate incarceration of Japanese American individuals and families during World War II, along with the daily experiences and hardships they endured during those trying times. Education materials to be created thanks to this Act will help to communicate facts that are often not covered in regular history, social studies or civics classes."

The Topaz Museum: "The Topaz Museum supports the House of Representatives' bill to create a Japanese American World War II History Network within the National Park Service. With the need to continually assess and reevaluate educational and interpretive programs, the Japanese American World War II History Network will add to the tools available to tell our stories."

Utah Division of State History: "The creation of the Japanese American World War II Network would not only amplify the national story of Japanese Internment, but it will also provide opportunities to tell local stories at a national level, helping share Topaz's history and the stories of those that once resided there."

National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers: "The Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism can be found a short walk from NCSHPO's headquarters in Washington, D.C. This memorial honors those Japanese Americans who served in the U.S. military during WWII and lived in incarceration camps. The legislation proposed to create a WWII Network will undoubtedly serve as a useful tool in identifying and preserving important sites related to the WWII Japanese experience."

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