PUBLIC LAW 109–119—DEC. 1, 2005 119 STAT. 2529

Public Law 109–119

109th Congress

An Act

To authorize appropriations to the Secretary of the Interior for the restoration

of the Angel Island Immigration Station in the State of California.

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 ‘‘Angel Island Immigration Station

Restoration and Preservation Act’’.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress makes the following findings:

(1) The Angel Island Immigration Station, also known as

the Ellis Island of the West, is a National Historic Landmark.

(2) Between 1910 and 1940, the Angel Island Immigration

Station processed more than 1,000,000 immigrants and emigrants from around the world.

(3) The Angel Island Immigration Station contributes

greatly to our understanding of our Nation’s rich and complex

immigration history.

(4) The Angel Island Immigration Station was built to

enforce the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and subsequent

immigration laws, which unfairly and severely restricted Asian

immigration.

(5) During their detention at the Angel Island Immigration

Station, Chinese detainees carved poems into the walls of the

detention barracks. More than 140 poems remain today, representing the unique voices of immigrants awaiting entry to

this country.

(6) More than 50,000 people, including 30,000 schoolchildren, visit the Angel Island Immigration Station annually

to learn more about the experience of immigrants who have

traveled to our shores.

(7) The restoration of the Angel Island Immigration Station

and the preservation of the writings and drawings at the Angel

Island Immigration Station will ensure that future generations

also have the benefit of experiencing and appreciating this

great symbol of the perseverance of the immigrant spirit, and

of the diversity of this great Nation.

SEC. 3. RESTORATION.

(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized

to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior $15,000,000

for restoring the Angel Island Immigration Station in the San

Francisco Bay, in coordination with the Angel Island Immigration

Angel Island

Immigration

Station

Restoration and

Preservation Act.

Dec. 1, 2005

[H.R. 606]

119 STAT. 2530 PUBLIC LAW 109–119—DEC. 1, 2005

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 606:

SENATE REPORTS: No. 109–157 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources).

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 151 (2005):

May 23, considered and passed House.

Nov. 16, considered and passed Senate.

Æ

Station Foundation and the California Department of Parks and

Recreation.

(b) FEDERAL FUNDING.—Federal funding under this Act shall

not exceed 50 percent of the total funds from all sources spent

to restore the Angel Island Immigration Station.

(c) PRIORITY.—(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the

funds appropriated pursuant to this Act shall be used for the

restoration of the Immigration Station Hospital on Angel Island.

(2) Any remaining funds in excess of the amount required

to carry out paragraph (1) shall be used solely for the restoration

of the Angel Island Immigration Station.

Approved December 1, 2005.