FINAL BILL REPORT

SHJM 4026

As Passed Legislature

Brief Description:  Requesting a memorial to remember the internment of Japanese‑Americans during World War II.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on State Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Rockefeller, Woods, Jackley, Murray, Lovick, Tokuda, Ogden, Romero, Hunt, McDermott, Veloria, Doumit, Jarrett, Talcott, Cox, Ballasiotes, Ahern, Orcutt, Schmidt, Esser, Santos, Cooper, Cody, Simpson, Benson, Carrell, Kessler, Schual‑Berke, Linville, McIntire, Mulliken, Upthegrove, Chase and Van Luven).

House Committee on State Government

Senate Committee on State & Local Government

Background:

On February 19, 1942, just a little over two months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 authorizing the military to exclude any person from designated military areas.  This order authorized the military to: (1) designate military areas; and (2) to remove any persons considered a danger.  On March 2, 1942, the West Coast commander of the United States Army issued Public Proclamation No. 1 which designated the entire West Coast a restricted military area.  Twenty-two days later, on March 24, 1942, the army issued the first Civilian Exclusion Order resulting in the evacuation of approximately 227 Japanese on Bainbridge Island.  By June 1942, over 110,000 Japanese-Americans were moved to concentration camps for the remainder of World War II.

Summary:

A request is made to Congress to designate the former Eagledale Ferry Landing on Bainbridge Island as a national memorial to commemorate the unconstitutional internment of Japanese‑Americans during World War II.

Votes on Final Passage:

House870

Senate490