Washington, DC – The US Senate passed legislation on November 16, 2006, to create a new federal program to authorize broad funding for the preservation of World War II confinement sites used to imprison and detain Japanese Americans.  The bill number is HR 1492, which was passed by the House last year. 

Because the Senate amended HR 1492 before passing it, the Senate version of HR 1492 will have to go back to the House for approval.  Congressman Bill Thomas (CA-22), who is the sponsor of HR 1492, has asked the House leadership to schedule a House vote on HR 1492 as amended by the Senate for the week of December 5. 

The Japanese American National Heritage Coalition (Heritage Coalition) has been the major proponent for this legislation.  The Heritage Coalition’s National Coordinator Gerald Yamada stated that, “This legislation is significant because it provides the resources to preserve the lessons that must be learned from the hardships and sacrifices endured by Japanese Americans during World War II.” 

HR 1492 was introduced in the House in April 2005 by Congressman Thomas; House hearing was held in April 2005; and HR 1492 was passed by the House on November 16, 2005.

Senator Daniel Inouye (HI) introduced S.1719, the companion bill to HR 1492, in September 2005.  Senate hearing was held in April 2006,  and the Senate passed this legislation on November 16, 2006. 

At the April 6, 2006, Senate Subcommittee on National Parks hearing on HR 1492, two witnesses testified.  The US National Park Service (NPS) testified in opposition to this legislation.  Yamada testified on behalf of the Heritage Coalition in support of HR 1492 and S1719.  Yamada praised Senator Daniel Akaka for his participation at the hearing by saying, “As ranking minority member of the subcommittee, Senator Akaka was extremely helpful at the hearing to get the National Park Service witness to admit that NPS’ opposition was based solely on funding issues and not on the merits of the legislation.”  Yamada added that, “This distinction will be very helpful to the Heritage Coalition in its future efforts to secure funding for this program.”

Yamada pointed out that the key component to the Heritage Coalition’s legislative effort was getting broad and bipartisan congressional support.  Yamada added, “This legislation moved through Congress at an unprecedented rate due to Congressman Thomas’ commitment to make passage one of his priorities.” 

Senators Inouye and Akaka’s support was essential in limiting the changes to HR 1492 made by the Senate.  In working with the Senate, Yamada said having Senator Inouye introduce S 1719 as a companion bill to HR 1492 and having Senator Akaka’s support as the ranking minority member of the Subcommittee on National Parks were critical to the Heritage Coalition’s efforts.  Yamada also credited  Senators Pete Domenici (NM) and Craig Thomas

 (WY) for their efforts to move this legislation to the Senate floor for a vote so quickly. 

Yamada acknowledged other congressional co-sponsors.  Congressman Michael Honda (CA-15) and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-5) were original co-sponsors of HR 1492 in addition to 112 other House co-sponsors.  Senators Daniel Akaka (HI) and Robert Bennett (UT) were original co-sponsors of S 1719, and Senators Barbara Boxer (CA), Richard Durbin (IL), Orrin Hatch (UT) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX) signed on as co-sponsors of S 1719.  

      The Senate-passed version of HR 1492 made two substantial changes to the House-passed version.  Under the Senate-passed version, federal grants would be required to be awarded within six months after funding becomes available.  Second, the non-federal matching fund requirement was raised from 25% to 50%. 

     Yamada said that, “The changes made by the Senate amendments to HR 1492 are acceptable to the Heritage Coalition, and we expect that the House will pass the Senate amendments quickly.” 

      According to Yamada, the Heritage Coalition will turn its attention to convince President George Bush to sign HR 1492 into law.  Yamada cautioned that, “Since the National Park Service testified in opposition to this legislation at both the House and Senate hearings, we can’t assume that the President will sign HR 1492 into law.”  Yamada is highly optimistic that HR 1492 will become law before the end of this year.

      Although HR 1492 would authorize $38 million to fund preservation projects for confinement sites, Congress would still need to appropriate funds for this program.  Over 50 confinement sites so far have been identified as eligible to apply for funding under this program. 

      The Heritage Coalition was formed by Yamada in 2004 to support this legislative initiative.  The 28 organizations making up the Heritage Coalition are: Go For Broke National Educational Center, Go For Broke National Veterans Association, Japanese American Citizens

League; Japanese American National Museum; Japanese American Veterans Association;

National Asian Pacific American Bar Association; National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium; National Japanese American Historical Society; National Japanese American Memorial Foundation; National Japanese  American Veterans Council; Organization of Chinese Americans; Amache Preservation Society; Committee to Change “Jap” Road, TX; Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project, WA; Denver Central Optimists; Colorado River Indian Tribes; Friends of California Civil Liberties Public Education Program; Gila Reunion Committee; Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation; Japanese American Service Committee, Chicago, IL; Japanese American Historical Society, San Diego, CA; Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i; Life Interrupted Program (Arkansas Camps); Nisei Farmers League, CA; Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center; Poston Restoration Project; Topaz Museum Board, UT; and Tule Lake Preservation Committee.

            For more information, contact Gerald Yamada, National Coordinator, Japanese American National Heritage Coalition at (202) 887-1455 or gyamada@oconnorhannan.com.