To apologize for the treatment of Italian Americans during World War II.

Bill: 115-hr-1707
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-19]
Introduced: 2017-03-23
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Conflicts and wars

Constitution and constitutional amendments

Europe

First Amendment rights

Italy

Racial and ethnic relations

U.S. history
Latest action: action_date: 2017-04-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-03-23
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill declares that Congress apologizes on behalf of the nation for violations of the civil liberties and constitutional rights of Italian Americans during World War II.</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1707 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 23, 2017 Ms. Lofgren (for herself and Mr. Pascrell ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To apologize for the treatment of Italian Americans during World War II.

1. Apology for the treatment of Italian Americans during World War II (a) Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Over 15 million Italians have immigrated to the United States since 1852. (2) Italian immigrants have provided a culture and heritage that has enriched American life. (3) The treatment of Italian Americans during World War II was authorized by the Act of July 6, 1798 (Chapter 66, Sec. 1; 1 Stat. 577; 50 U.S.C. 21 ; commonly known as the Alien Enemies Act). (4) Additional authority for the treatment of Italian Americans during World War II was based on Executive Order 9066 (7 Fed. Reg. 1407) and Executive Order 9102 (7 Fed. Reg. 2165). (5) These orders required Italian-born citizens and their families to carry identification cards, face travel restrictions, and obey curfews. (6) These orders authorized the seizure of personal property. (7) 10,000 Italian Americans living on the West Coast were forced to leave their homes and were prohibited from entering coastal zones during World War II. (8) Thousands of Italian American immigrants were arrested and hundreds were interned in military camps during World War II. (9) The treatment of Italian Americans during World War II needs to be acknowledged in order to remember those whose lives were unjustly disrupted and whose freedoms were violated. (10) Acknowledging and apologizing for the treatment of Italian Americans during World War II would help repair the Italian American community and would discourage the occurrence of similar injustices and violations of civil liberties in the future. (b) Statement of Congress For these fundamental violations of the basic civil liberties and constitutional rights of Italian Americans during World War II, Congress apologizes on behalf of the Nation.