I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3198 
To establish commissions to review the facts and circumstances surrounding 
injustices suffered by European Americans, European Latin Americans, 
and Jewish refugees during World War II. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 30, 2005 
Mr. WEXLER (for himself, Mr. HONDA, Mr. GRIJALVA, and Mrs. MALONEY) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary 
A BILL 
To establish commissions to review the facts and cir-
cumstances surrounding injustices suffered by European 
Americans, European Latin Americans, and Jewish refu-
gees during World War II. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Wartime Treatment 
Study Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) During World War II, the United States 
successfully fought the spread of Nazism and fas-
cism by Germany, Italy, and Japan. 
(2) Nazi Germany persecuted and engaged in 
genocide against Jews and certain other groups. By 
the end of the war, 6,000,000 Jews had perished at 
the hands of Nazi Germany. United States Govern-
ment policies, however, restricted entry to the 
United States to Jewish and other refugees who 
sought safety from Nazi persecution. 
(3) While we were at war, the United States 
treated the Japanese American, German American, 
and Italian American communities as suspect. 
(4) The United States Government should con-
duct an independent review to assess fully and ac-
knowledge these actions. Congress has previously re-
viewed the United States Government’s wartime 
treatment of Japanese Americans through the Com-
mission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of 
Civilians. An independent review of the treatment of 
German Americans and Italian Americans and of 
Jewish refugees fleeing persecution and genocide has 
not yet been undertaken. 
(5) During World War II, the United States 
Government branded as ‘‘enemy aliens’’ more than
600,000 Italian-born and 300,000 German-born 
United States resident aliens and their families and 
required them to carry Certificates of Identification, 
limited their travel, and seized their personal prop-
erty. At that time, these groups were the two largest 
foreign-born groups in the United States. 
(6) During World War II, the United States 
Government arrested, interned or otherwise detained 
thousands of European Americans, some remaining 
in custody for years after cessation of World War II 
hostilities, and repatriated, exchanged, or deported 
European Americans, including American-born chil-
dren, to hostile, war-torn European Axis nations, 
many to be exchanged for Americans held in those 
nations. 
(7) Pursuant to a policy coordinated by the 
United States with Latin American countries, many 
European Latin Americans, including German and 
Austrian Jews, were captured, shipped to the United 
States and interned. Many were later expatriated, 
repatriated or deported to hostile, war-torn Euro-
pean Axis nations during World War II, most to be 
exchanged for Americans and Latin Americans held 
in those nations.
(8) Millions of European Americans served in 
the armed forces and thousands sacrificed their lives 
in defense of the United States. 
(9) The wartime policies of the United States 
Government were devastating to the Italian Ameri-
cans and German American communities, individuals 
and their families. The detrimental effects are still 
being experienced. 
(10) Prior to and during World War II, the 
United States restricted the entry of Jewish refugees 
who were fleeing persecution and sought safety in 
the United States. During the 1930’s and 1940’s, 
the quota system, immigration regulations, visa re-
quirements, and the time required to process visa 
applications affected the number of Jewish refugees, 
particularly those from Germany and Austria, who 
could gain admittance to the United States. 
(11) Time is of the essence for the establish-
ment of commissions, because of the increasing dan-
ger of destruction and loss of relevant documents, 
the advanced age of potential witnesses and, most 
importantly, the advanced age of those affected by 
the United States Government’s policies. Many who 
suffered have already passed away and will never 
know of this effort.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) DURING WORLD WAR II.—The term ‘‘during 
World War II’’ refers to the period between Sep-
tember 1, 1939, through December 31, 1948. 
(2) EUROPEAN AMERICANS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘European 
Americans’’ refers to United States citizens and 
permanent resident aliens of European ances-
try, including Italian Americans, German Amer-
icans, Hungarian Americans, Romanian Ameri-
cans, and Bulgarian Americans. 
(B) 
ITALIAN
AMERICANS.—The 
term 
‘‘Italian Americans’’ refers to United States 
citizens and permanent resident aliens of 
Italian ancestry. 
(C) 
GERMAN
AMERICANS.—The 
term 
‘‘German Americans’’ refers to United States 
citizens and permanent resident aliens of Ger-
man ancestry. 
(3) EUROPEAN LATIN AMERICANS.—The term 
‘‘European Latin Americans’’ refers to persons of 
European ancestry, including Italian or German an-
cestry, residing in a Latin American nation during 
World War II.