Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act

Bill: 110-hr-1595
Sponsor: Del. Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [D-GU-At Large]
Introduced: 2007-03-20 in the House
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Armed Forces and National Security
Claims
Compensation (Law)
Concentration camps
Congressional reporting requirements
Congressional tributes
Crime and Law Enforcement
Department of Justice
East Asia
Economics and Public Finance
Families
Federal-territorial relations
Fines (Penalties)
Forced labor
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Government trust funds
Grants-in-aid
Guam
History
International Affairs
Japan
Labor and Employment
Legal fees
Limitation of actions
Military history
Military occupation
Pacific Islanders
Prisoners of war
Rape
Survivors' benefits
Victims of crimes
War casualties
War crimes
Women
World War II

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: 
Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act - Recognizes the suffering and the loyalty of the people of Guam during the Japanese occupation of Guam in World War II. 
 
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to make specified payments to: (1) living Guam residents who were raped, injured, interned, or subjected to forced labor or marches resulting from, or incident to, such occupation and subsequent liberation; and (2) survivors of compensable residents who died in war or survivors of compensable injured residents (such payments to be made after payments have been made to surviving Guam residents).
 
Defines &quot;compensable Guam decedent&quot; and &quot;compensable Guam victim.&quot;
 
Directs the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission to specify injuries that would constitute a severe personal injury or a personal injury. Authorizes the Commission to adjudicate claims and determine payment eligibility. 
 
Requires: (1) claims to be filed within one year after the Commission publishes public notice of the filing period in the Federal Register; and (2) the Commission to make filing period information available to the public through the media in Guam.
 
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a grant program for research, educational, and media activities that memorialize the events surrounding the occupation of Guam during World War II or honor the loyalty of the people of Guam during such occupation, or both.

action_date: 2007-05-07
text: 
Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act - (Sec. 2) Recognizes the great suffering and steadfast loyalty and courage of the people of Guam during the Japanese occupation of Guam in World War II. 
 
(Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to make the following payments for Guam World War II claims: (1) spouses, children or parents of compensable Guam decedents would be eligible for $25,000; (2) compensable Guam victims who were raped or suffered severe personal injury would be eligible for $15,000, those who were subjected to forced labor or suffered personal injury would be eligible for $12,000, and those who were subjected to forced march, internment, or hiding to evade internment would be eligible for $10,000; and (3) eligible heirs of compensable decedents or compensable victims would be eligible for $7,000. 
 
Requires payments to be made to living compensable Guam victims before survivor payments are made.
 
Defines &quot;compensable Guam decedent&quot; and &quot;compensable Guam victim.&quot;
 
(Sec. 4) Authorizes the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission to adjudicate claims and determine payment eligibility. 
 
Requires: (1) claims to be filed within one year after the Commission publishes public notice of the filing period in the Federal Register; and (2) the Commission to make filing period information available to the public through the media in Guam.
 
(Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a grant program for research, educational, and media activities that memorialize the events surrounding the occupation of Guam during World War II, honor the loyalty of the people of Guam during such occupation, or both. 
 
(Sec. 6) Authorizes appropriations which shall remain available for obligation until September 30, 2012, for: (1) claims payments and adjudication; and (2) the World War II grants program.

action_date: 2007-05-08
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on May 7, 2007. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act - (Sec. 2) Recognizes the great suffering and steadfast loyalty and courage of the people of Guam during the Japanese occupation of Guam in World War II. 
 
(Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to make the following payments for Guam World War II claims: (1) spouses, children or parents of compensable Guam decedents would be eligible for $25,000; (2) compensable Guam victims who were raped or suffered severe personal injury would be eligible for $15,000, those who were subjected to forced labor or suffered personal injury would be eligible for $12,000, and those who were subjected to forced march, internment, or hiding to evade internment would be eligible for $10,000; and (3) eligible heirs of compensable decedents or compensable victims would be eligible for $7,000. 
 
Requires payments to be made to living compensable Guam victims before survivor payments are made.
 
Defines &quot;compensable Guam decedent&quot; and &quot;compensable Guam victim.&quot;
 
(Sec. 4) Authorizes the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission to adjudicate claims and determine payment eligibility. 
 
Requires: (1) claims to be filed within one year after the Commission publishes public notice of the filing period in the Federal Register; and (2) the Commission to make filing period information available to the public through the media in Guam.
 
(Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a grant program for research, educational, and media activities that memorialize the events surrounding the occupation of Guam during World War II, honor the loyalty of the people of Guam during such occupation, or both. 
 
(Sec. 6) Authorizes appropriations which shall remain available for obligation until September 30, 2012, for: (1) claims payments and adjudication; and (2) the World War II grants program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-09
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-05-08
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2007-05-08
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 288 - 133 (Roll no. 309). (text: CR 5/7/2007 H4495-4496)
action_date: 2007-05-08
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 288 - 133 (Roll no. 309).(text: CR 5/7/2007 H4495-4496)
action_date: 2007-05-08
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4608-4609)
action_date: 2007-05-07
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2007-05-07
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1595.
action_date: 2007-05-07
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4495-4499)
action_date: 2007-05-07
text: Ms. Bordallo moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2007-05-07
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 78.
action_date: 2007-05-07
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 110-129.
action_date: 2007-05-07
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 110-129.
action_date: 2007-05-02
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2007-05-02
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Introduced in House