[Pages H9485-H9487]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

WORLD WAR II PACIFIC SITES ESTABLISHMENT ACT

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 5706) to establish the Pearl Harbor National Memorial in the
State of Hawai'i and the Honouliuli National Historic Site in the State
of Hawai'i, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:

H.R. 5706

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``World War II Pacific Sites
Establishment Act''.

SEC. 2. PEARL HARBOR NATIONAL MEMORIAL, HAWAI'I.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map entitled ``Pearl
Harbor National Memorial--Proposed Boundary'', numbered 580/
140,514, and dated November 2017.
(2) National memorial.--The term ``National Memorial''
means the Pearl Harbor National Memorial established by
subsection (b)(1)(A).
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(b) Pearl Harbor National Memorial.--
(1) Establishment.--
(A) In general.--There is established the Pearl Harbor
National Memorial in the State of Hawai'i as a unit of the
National Park System.
(B) Boundaries.--The boundaries of the National Memorial
shall be the boundaries generally depicted on the Map.
(C) Availability of map.--The Map shall be on file and
available for public inspection in appropriate offices of the
National Park Service.
(2) Purposes.--The purposes of the National Memorial are to
preserve, interpret, and commemorate for the benefit of
present and future generations the history of World War II in
the Pacific from the events leading to the December 7, 1941,
attack on O'ahu, to peace and reconciliation.
(c) Administration.--The Secretary shall administer the
National Memorial in accordance with this section, section
121 of Public Law 111-88, and the laws generally applicable
to units of the National Park System including--
(1) section 100101(a), chapter 1003, and sections
100751(a), 100752, 100753, and 102101 of title 54, United
States Code; and
(2) chapter 3201 of title 54, United States Code.
(d) Removal of Pearl Harbor National Memorial From World
War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument.--
(1) Boundaries.--The boundaries of World War II Valor in
the Pacific National Monument are revised to exclude from the
monument the land and interests in land identified as the
``Pearl Harbor National Memorial'' as depicted on the Map.

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(2) Incorporation into national memorial.--
(A) In general.--The land and interests in land excluded
from the monument under paragraph (1) are incorporated in and
made part of the National Memorial in accordance with this
section.
(B) Use of funds.--Any funds for the purposes of the land
and interests in land excluded from the monument under
paragraph (1) shall be made available for the purposes of the
National Memorial.
(C) References.--Any references in law (other than in this
Act), regulation, document, record, map or other paper of the
United States to resources in the State of Hawai'i included
in the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument
shall be considered a reference to Pearl Harbor National
Memorial.

SEC. 3. HONOULIULI NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE, HAWAI'I.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Historic site.--The term ``Historic Site'' means the
Honouliuli National Historic Site established by subsection
(b)(1)(A).
(2) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map entitled
``Honouliuli National Historic Site--Proposed Boundary'',
numbered 680/139428, and dated June 2017.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(b) Honouliuli National Historic Site.--
(1) Establishment.--
(A) In general.--There is established the Honouliuli
National Historic Site in the State of Hawai'i as a unit of
the National Park System.
(B) Boundaries.--The boundaries of the Historic Site shall
be the boundaries generally depicted on the Map.
(C) Availability of map.--The Map shall be on file and
available for public inspection in appropriate offices of the
National Park Service.
(2) Purposes.--The purposes of the Historic Site are to
preserve and interpret for the benefit of present and future
generations the history associated with the internment and
detention of civilians of Japanese and other ancestries
during World War II in Hawai'i, the impacts of war and
martial law on society in the Hawaiian Islands, and the co-
location and diverse experiences of Prisoners of War at the
Honouliuli Internment Camp site.
(c) Administration.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall administer the
Historic Site in accordance with this section and the laws
generally applicable to units of the National Park System,
including--
(A) section 100101(a), chapter 1003, and sections
100751(a), 100752, 100753, and 102101 of title 54, United
States Code; and
(B) chapter 3201 of title 54, United States Code.
(2) Partnerships.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary may enter into agreements
with, or acquire easements from, the owners of property
adjacent to the Historic Site to provide public access to the
Historic Site.
(B) Interpretation.--The Secretary may enter into
cooperative agreements with governmental and nongovernmental
organizations to provide for interpretation at the Historic
Site.
(3) Shared resources.--To the maximum extent practicable,
the Secretary may use the resources of the Pearl Harbor
National Memorial to administer the Historic Site.
(d) Abolishment of Honouliuli National Monument.--
(1) In general.--In light of the establishment of the
Honouliuli National Historic Site, the Honouliuli National
Monument is hereby abolished and the lands and interests
therein are incorporated within and made part of Honouliuli
National Historic Site. Any funds available for purposes of
Honouliuli National Monument shall be available for purposes
of the Historic Site.
(2) References.--Any references in law (other than in this
Act), regulation, document, record, map or other paper of the
United States to Honouliuli National Monument shall be
considered a reference to Honouliuli National Historic Site.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Gosar) and the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hanabusa) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.

General Leave

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arizona?
There was no objection.
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5706 will bring increased recognition to two
important World War II sites in Hawaii. The attack on Pearl Harbor on
December 7, 1941, will never be forgotten. Over 2,300 sailors,
soldiers, and civilians lost their lives that fateful day the United
States entered World War II. Five sites in Hawaii have been designated
memorials, including the USS Arizona, the USS Oklahoma, and the USS
Utah. Receiving over 1 million visitors each year, these serve as
places of reflection and remembrance as well as tombs of honor for the
crew members who remain there.
The creation of the sweeping World War II Valor in the Pacific
National Monument in 2008 incorporated the five Hawaii sites, along
with three locations in Alaska and one in California. H.R. 5706 would
establish the areas in Hawaii as the Pearl Harbor National Memorial as
a distinct unit of the National Park System, giving it the full
recognition this hallowed site deserves. This new designation will not
affect the existing management of the area in any way.
H.R. 5706 would also redesignate Honouliuli National Monument as a
National Historic Site. This site was the largest and longest used
World War II confinement facility in the Hawaiian Islands. By war's
end, over 2,000 people of Japanese ancestry were interned there--the
majority of which were American citizens. The boundaries and management
of the site will not change with the enactment of H.R. 5706.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to speak on this next bill, H.R. 5706,
the World War II Pacific Sites Establishment Act, and it means a great
deal to me. H.R. 5706 would allow for a functional redesignation of two
significant sites in Hawaii: Pearl Harbor and the Honouliuli Internment
Camp, providing both of these sites with enabling legislation that
recognizes their significant roles in history. The boundaries and
management of these sites will not change.
Pearl Harbor is the only site in Hawaii currently incorporated in the
World War II Valor of the Pacific National Monument, which also
includes sites located in California and Alaska. Although the Valor
Monument consists of multiple sites, National Park Service materials
reference Pearl Harbor as the World War II Valor in the Pacific
National Monument.
H.R. 5706 would separate Pearl Harbor from the Valor Monument and
establish it as the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. Pearl Harbor is a
physical representation of the day that will live in infamy, the
strides made in U.S.-Japan relations, and the U.S. entry into World War
II. This historic site deserves a name to match its separate identity
and significance from the rest of the monument.
Along with the well-known USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor is host
to the USS Missouri and the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park.
Together, these sites attract over 1 million visitors to Hawaii and
Pearl Harbor every year, serving as a significant contributor to
Hawaii's tourist-driven economy.

{time} 1645

H.R. 5706 would also establish the Honouliuli National Monument as
the Honouliuli National Historic Site.
As some of you know, I am the granddaughter of two internees, one of
whom was interned at Honouliuli, which I did not learn about until very
late in his life. In fact, many who grew up in Hawaii did not know
about Honouliuli until it was designated, highlighting the need to
quickly preserve the site and its history.
Although not as well-known as other confinement sites, Honouliuli is
unique in that it provides an important historical perspective for
martial law in the U.S., the treatment of prisoners of war, and the
distinguished history of the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd
Infantry Regiment. In their evaluation of the site, the National Park
Service said Honouliuli appears to offer the greatest potential to
preserve resources and interpret the history of the World War II
internment.
While Japanese Americans on the mainland were interned
indiscriminately, that would have been impossible in Hawaii's
predominantly Japanese American workforce. Unlike the U.S. mainland,
the military imposed martial law in Hawaii for the duration of World
War II and came up with a process to identify those who were perceived
to be a threat. These prisoners, mostly male, were separated from their
families for years. Some were sent to

[[Page H9487]]

the mainland, like my other grandfather; Honouliuli; or other sites in
Hawaii.
Despite these circumstances, more than 10,000 Japanese American men
from Hawaii signed up to serve this country in war. More than 2,000
were accepted and served in what eventually became the 100th/442nd
Regimental Combat Team. This unit, which includes Hawaii's late Senator
Daniel Inouye, is the most decorated of World War II. Their story is
one of incredible patriotism, courage, and service.
The collective stories of Honouliuli, and the context in which it was
built and operated, are invaluable lessons about the decisions made in
the name of war.
H.R. 5706 is supported by our local community, receiving endorsements
from Pacific Historic Parks and the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii.
In addition, this bill has been endorsed by the Go for Broke National
Education Center and AMVETS.
H.R. 5706 will go a long way toward preserving what happened more
than 75 years ago at both Pearl Harbor and Honouliuli--the good and
bad--for future generations and I hope will leave an impressions of the
sacrifices and courage of our Greatest Generation.
I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation.
Congress' affirmation of what these sites symbolize in our history will
mean a great deal to our World War II veterans and their families,
Japanese Americans, and others around the world. I ask for everyone's
support.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 5706.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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