ACLU Letter to Congress Urging Support of H.R. 3266 and S. 1691, the "Wartime Treatment Study Act"
Re: Support H.R. 3226 and S. 1691, the ""Wartime Treatment Study Act""
Dear Member of Congress,
On behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union and its more than 400,000 members, we urge you to support and co-sponsor S. 1691 and H.R. 3226, the ""Wartime Treatment Study Act.""
Following a comprehensive study of the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II by an independent commission, Congress formally apologized for the policy and provided compensation to surviving internees. However, Congress has not considered wartime injustices suffered by German and Italian Americans as well as by Jewish refugees.
This legislation would establish two independent commissions to determine how these injustices might be addressed. The ""Commission on Wartime Treatment of European Americans"" would study and report on the extent to which the civil rights of German Americans, Italian-Americans, and others were abused during World War II. The United States restricted travel, seized personal property, and in some cases interned German and Italian Americans. The ""Commission on the Wartime Treatment of Jewish Refugees"" would look into the reasons behind the government's shameful denial of entry to Jewish refugees fleeing Europe prior to and during the Nazi's genocidal campaigns.
The legislation is not limited to the injustices of the past, but also requires both commissions to recommend how best to protect civil liberties during times of war or crisis. At a time when Congress and the Administration have placed many limitations on civil liberties in the name of a war on terrorism, such a sober analysis of how best to protect civil liberties is particularly crucial.
Now more than ever, this nation must come to terms with our past mistakes, and - perhaps more importantly - consider concrete measures to prevent such abuses from ever happening again.
We urge you support and cosponsor this legislation.
Sincerely,
Laura W. Murphy
Director, ACLU Washington National Office
Timothy H. Edgar
Legislative Counsel