Doris Matsui: “Mr. Speaker, the internment of thousands of Japanese Americans during World War II is a painful part of our past. The…”

“Mr. Speaker, the internment of thousands of Japanese Americans during World War II is a painful part of our past. The memories of the time that so many innocent Americans spent in stark and isolated camps continue to resonate today. We honor the memories of those people not by forgetting what happened, nor do we honor them by proclaiming that such events could never occur in today's United States. Instead, we honor the past by preserving the sites where the internment took place. In doing so, we deepen our understanding of the internment, and we help educate future generations about how to avoid this recurrence. Preserving these internment sites is a solemn task we all bear. That is why the legislation before us today is so important. It directs the Federal Government to partner with local entities to identify and protect internment sites. In the process, it will help to demonstrate our country's commitment to equality, justice and liberty for all. These are the founding principles of our Republic. We have no greater responsibility as Members of Congress than to protect and further these ideals.”