H. R. 2442
One Hundred Sixth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday,
the twenty-fourth day of January, two thousand
An Act
To provide for the preparation of a Government report detailing injustices suffered
by Italian Americans during World War II, and a formal acknowledgment of
such injustices by the President.
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 ‘‘Wartime Violation of Italian
American Civil Liberties Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The freedom of more than 600,000 Italian-born
immigrants in the United States and their families was
restricted during World War II by Government measures that
branded them ‘‘enemy aliens’’ and included carrying identifica-
tion cards, travel restrictions, and seizure of personal property.
(2) During World War II more than 10,000 Italian Ameri-
cans living on the West Coast were forced to leave their homes
and prohibited from entering coastal zones. More than 50,000
were subjected to curfews.
(3) During World War II thousands of Italian American
immigrants were arrested, and hundreds were interned in mili-
tary camps.
(4) Hundreds of thousands of Italian Americans performed
exemplary service and thousands sacrificed their lives in
defense of the United States.
(5) At the time, Italians were the largest foreign-born group
in the United States, and today are the fifth largest immigrant
group in the United States, numbering approximately 15 mil-
lion.
(6) The impact of the wartime experience was devastating
to Italian American communities in the United States, and
its effects are still being felt.
(7) A deliberate policy kept these measures from the public
during the war. Even 50 years later much information is still
classified, the full story remains unknown to the public, and
it has never been acknowledged in any official capacity by
the United States Government.
SEC. 3. REPORT.
The Attorney General shall conduct a comprehensive review
of the treatment by the United States Government of Italian Ameri-
cans during World War II, and not later than 1 year after the
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date of the enactment of this Act shall submit to the Congress
a report that documents the findings of such review. The report
shall cover the period between September 1, 1939, and December
31, 1945, and shall include the following:
(1) The names of all Italian Americans who were taken
into custody in the initial roundup following the attack on
Pearl Harbor, and prior to the United States declaration of
war against Italy.
(2) The names of all Italian Americans who were taken
into custody.
(3) The names of all Italian Americans who were interned
and the location where they were interned.
(4) The names of all Italian Americans who were ordered
to move out of designated areas under the United States Army’s
‘‘Individual Exclusion Program’’.
(5) The names of all Italian Americans who were arrested
for curfew, contraband, or other violations under the authority
of Executive Order No. 9066.
(6) Documentation of Federal Bureau of Investigation raids
on the homes of Italian Americans.
(7) A list of ports from which Italian American fishermen
were restricted.
(8) The names of Italian American fishermen who were
prevented from fishing in prohibited zones and therefore unable
to pursue their livelihoods.
(9) The names of Italian Americans whose boats were con-
fiscated.
(10) The names of Italian American railroad workers who
were prevented from working in prohibited zones.
(11) A list of all civil liberties infringements suffered by
Italian Americans during World War II, as a result of Executive
Order No. 9066, including internment, hearings without benefit
of counsel, illegal searches and seizures, travel restrictions,
enemy alien registration requirements, employment restric-
tions, confiscation of property, and forced evacuation from
homes.
(12) An explanation of whether Italian Americans were
subjected to civil liberties infringements, as a result of Execu-
tive Order No. 9066, and if so, why other Italian Americans
were not.
(13) A review of the wartime restrictions on Italian Ameri-
cans to determine how civil liberties can be better protected
during national emergencies.
SEC. 4. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.
It is the sense of the Congress that—
(1) the story of the treatment of Italian Americans during
World War II needs to be told in order to acknowledge that
these events happened, to remember those whose lives were
unjustly disrupted and whose freedoms were violated, to help
repair the damage to the Italian American community, and
to discourage the occurrence of similar injustices and violations
of civil liberties in the future;
(2) Federal agencies, including the Department of Edu-
cation and the National Endowment for the Humanities, should
support projects such as—
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(A) conferences, seminars, and lectures to heighten
awareness of this unfortunate chapter in our Nation’s his-
tory;
(B) the refurbishment of and payment of all expenses
associated with the traveling exhibit ‘‘Una Storia Segreta’’,
exhibited at major cultural and educational institutions
throughout the United States; and
(C) documentaries to allow this issue to be presented
to the American public to raise its awareness;
(3) an independent, volunteer advisory committee should
be established comprised of representatives of Italian American
organizations, historians, and other interested individuals to
assist in the compilation, research, and dissemination of
information concerning the treatment of Italian Americans;
(4) after completion of the report required by this Act,
financial support should be provided for the education of the
American public through the production of a documentary film
suited for public broadcast; and
(5) the President should, on behalf of the United States
Government, formally acknowledge that these events during
World War II represented a fundamental injustice against
Italian Americans.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.