Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians Act
PL 96-317 (S.1647), enacted 07/31/1980

94 STAT. 964 
PUBLIC LAW 96-317—JULY 31, 1980 
July 31, 1980 
[S. 1647] 
Commission on 
Wartime 
Relocation and 
Internment of 
Civilians Act. 
50 u s e app. 1981 
note. 
Public Law 96-317 
96th Congress 
An Act 
To establish a Commission to gather facts to determine whether any wrong was 
committed against those American citizens and permanent resident aliens 
affected by Executive Order Numbered 9066, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SHORT TITLE 
SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the "Commission on Wartime 
Relocation and Internment of Civilians Act". 
50 u s e app. 1981 
note 
3CFR, 
1938-1943 
Comp., p. 1092. 
FINDINGS AND PURPOSE 
SEC. 2. (a) The Congress finds that— 
(1) approximately one hundred and twenty thousand civilians 
were relocated and detained in internment camps pursuant to 
Executive Order Numbered 9066, issued February 19,1942, and 
other associated actions of the Federal Government; 
(2) approximately one thousand Aleut civilian American citi-
zens were relocated and, in some cases, detained in internment 
camps pursuant to directives of United States military forces 
during World War II and other associated actions of the Federal 
Government; and 
(3) no sufficient inquiry has been made into the matters 
described in paragraphs (1) and (2). 
(b) It is the purpose of this Act to establish a commission to— 
(1) review the facts and circumstances surrounding Executive 
Order Numbered 9066, issued February 19,1942, and the impact 
of such Executive order on American citizens and permanent 
resident aliens; 
(2) review directives of United States military forces requiring 
the relocation and, in some c£ises, detention in internment camps 
of American citizens, including Aleut civilians, and permanent 
resident aliens of the Aleutian and Pribilof Islands; and 
(3) recommend appropriate remedies. 
50 u s e app. 1981 
note. 
Membership. 
ESTABUSHMENT OF COMMISSION 
SEC. 3. (a) There is established the Commission on Wartime 
Relocation and Internment of Civilians (hereinafter referred to as the 
"Commission"). 
Ot)) The Commission shall be composed of seven members, who shall 
be appointed within ninety days after the date of enactment of this 
Act as follows: 
(1) Three members shall be appointed by the President. 
(2) Two members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives. 
PUBLIC LAW 96-317—JULY 31, 1980 
94 STAT. 965 
(3) Two members shall be appointed by the President pro 
tempore of the Senate. 
(c) The term of office for members shall be for the life of the Term. 
Commission. A vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, 
and shall be filled in the same manner in which the original 
appointment was made. 
(d) The first meeting of the Commission shall be called by the Meetings. 
President within one hundred and twenty days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, or within thirty days after the date on which 
legislation is enacted making appropriations to carry out this Act, 
whichever date is later. 
(e) Four members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but Quorum. 
a lesser number may hold hearings. 
(f) The Commission shall elect a Chairman and Vice Chairman 
from among its members. The term of office of each shall be for the 
life of the Commission. 
(g) Each member of the Commission who is not otherwise employed Compensation. 
by the United States Government shall receive compensation at a 
rate equal to the daily rate prescribed for GS-18 under the General 
Schedule contained in section 5332 of title 5, United States Code, for 
each day, including traveltime, he or she is engaged in the actual 
performance of his or her duties £is a member of the Commission. A 
member of the Commission who is an officer or employee of the 
United States Government shall serve without additional compensa-
tion. All members of the Commission shall be reimbursed for travel, 
subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in the 
performance of their duties. 
DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION 
SEC. 4. (a) It shall be the duty of the Commission to— 
(1) review the facts and circumstances surrounding Executive 
Order Numbered 9066, issued February 19,1942, and the impact 
of such Executive order on American citizens and permanent 
resident aliens; 
(2) review directives of United States military forces requiring 
the relocation and, in some cases, detention in internment camps 
of American citizens, including Aleut civilians, and permanent 
resident aliens of the Aleutian and Pribilof Islands; and 
(3) recommend appropriate remedies. 
(b) The Commission shall hold public hearings in such cities of the 
United States that it finds appropriate. 
(c) The Commission shall submit a written report of its findings and 
recommendations to Congress not later than the date which is one 
year after the date of the first meeting called pursuant to section 3(d) 
of this Act. 
POWERS OF THE COMMISSION 
SEC. 5. (a) The Commission or, on the authorization of the Commis-
sion, any subcommittee or member thereof, may, for the purpose of 
carrying out the provisions of this Act, hold such hearings and sit and 
act at such times and places, and request the attendance and 
testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, 
records, correspondence, memorandum, papers, and documents as 
the Commission or such subcommittee or member may deem advis-
able. The Commission may request the Attorney General to invoke 
the aid of an appropriate United States district court to require, by 
subpoena or otherwise, such attendance, testimony, or production. 
50 u s e app. 1981 
note. 
Review. 
3CFR 
1938-1943. 
Comp., p. 1092. 
Hearings. 
Report to 
Congress. 
50 u s e app. 1981 
note. 
94 STAT. 966 
PUBLIC LAW 96-317—JULY 31, 1980 
(b) The Commission may acquire directly from the head of any 
department, agency, independent instrumentahty, or other authority 
of the executive branch of the Government, available information 
which the Commission considers useful in the discharge of its duties. 
All departments, agencies, and independent instrumentalities, or 
other authorities of the executive branch of the Government shall 
cooperate with the Commission and furnish all 
information 
requested by the Commission to the extent permitted by law. 
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS 
50 use app. 1981 
SEC. 6. The Commission is authorized to— 
no*®- 
(1) appoint and fix the compensation of such personnel as may 
be necessary, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United 
States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, 
^ ^^ssi^^ ^* 
^ 
without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and sub-
*^^' 
chapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification 
and General Schedule pay rates, except that the compensation of 
any employee of the Commission may not exceed a rate equiva-
lent to the rate payable under GS-18 of the General Schedule 
5 use 5332. 
under section 5332 of such title; 
(2) obtain the services of experts and consultants in accordance 
5 use 3109. 
with the provisions of section 3109 of such title; 
(3) enter into agreements with the Administrator of General 
Services for procurement of necessary financial and administra-
tive services, for which payment shall be made by reimburse-
ment from funds of the Commission in such amounts £is may be 
agreed upon by the Chairman of the Commission and the 
Administrator; 
(4) procure supplies, services, and property by contract in 
accordance with applicable laws and regulations and to the 
extent or in such amounts as are provided in appropriation Acts; 
and 
(5) enter into contracts with Federal or State agencies, private 
firms, institutions, and agencies for the conduct of research or 
surveys, the preparation of reports, and other activities neces-
sary to the discharge of the duties of the Commission, to the 
extent or in such amounts as are provided in appropriation Acts. 
PUBLIC LAW 96-317—JULY 31, 1980 
94 STAT. 967 
TERMINATION 
SEC. 7. The Commission shall terminate ninety days after the date 50USCapp. 1981 
on which the report of the Commission is submitted to Congress "°*®-
pursuant to section 4(c) of this Act. 
AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS 
SEC. 8. To carry out the provisions of this Act, there are authorized ^^ USC app. 1981 
to be appropriated $1,500,000. 
"°*®-
Approved July 31, 1980. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 96-1146 accompanying H.R. 5499 (Comm. on the Judiciary). 
SENATE REPORT No. 96-751 (Comm. on Governmental Affairs). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 126 (1980): 
May 22, considered and passed Senate. 
July 21, H.R. 5499 passed House; passage vacated and S. 1647, amended, passed 
in lieu. 
July 24, Senate concurred in House amendment. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 16, No. 31: 
July 31, Presidential statement.