BILL ANALYSIS Ó ----------------------------------------------------------------- |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | ACR 13| |Office of Senate Floor Analyses | | |(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | | |327-4478 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- THIRD READING Bill No: ACR 13 Author: Williams (D), et al. Amended: 2/19/15 in Assembly Vote: 21 ASSEMBLY FLOOR: Read and adopted, 2/19/15 SUBJECT: Day of Remembrance SOURCE: Author DIGEST: This resolution declares February 19, 2015, as a Day of Remembrance in order to increase public awareness of the events surrounding the internment of Americans of Japanese ancestry during World War II. ANALYSIS: This resolution makes the following legislative findings: 1.On February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, pursuant to which 120,000 Americans and resident aliens of Japanese ancestry were incarcerated in internment camps scattered throughout western states during World War II and inflicted a great human cost of abandoned homes, businesses, careers, professional advancements, and disruption to family life. 2.Despite their families being incarcerated behind barbed wire in the United States, approximately 33,000 veterans of Japanese ancestry fought bravely for our country during World ACR 13 Page 2 War II, serving in the 100th Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion. These groups suffered nearly 10,000 casualties collectively and are honored as among World War II's most decorated combat teams. 3.Nearly 6,000 veterans of Japanese ancestry served with the Military Intelligence Service and have been credited for shortening the war by two years by translating enemy battle plans, defense maps, tactical orders, intercepted messages and diaries, and interrogating enemy prisoners. 4.On August 10, 1988, the federal Civil Liberties Act of 1988 was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan finding that Executive Order 9066 was not justified by military necessity and, hence, was caused by racial prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership. 5.The federal Civil Liberties Act of 1988 apologized on behalf of the people of the United States for the evacuation, internment, and relocation of Americans and permanent resident aliens of Japanese ancestry during World War II. The act also provided for restitution to those individuals of Japanese ancestry who were interned. 6.February 19, 2015, marks 73 years since the signing of Executive Order 9066 and a policy of grave injustice against American citizens and resident aliens of Japanese ancestry. This resolution declares February 19, 2015, as a Day of Remembrance in this state to increase public awareness of the events surrounding the internment of Americans of Japanese ancestry during World War II. Prior Legislation ACR 13 Page 3 ACR 85 (Muratsuchi, Resolution Chapter 8, Statutes of 2014), a similar resolution, declared February 19, 2014, as a Day of Remembrance in order to increase public awareness of the events surrounding the internment of Americans of Japanese ancestry during World War II. FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.:NoLocal: No Prepared by:Karen Chow / SFA / (916) 651-1520 3/4/15 16:01:21 SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: NONE RECEIVED **** END ****