News-Info-Alerts

Re: Pending Legislation of Interest

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Date: March 17, 2002

1. H.AMDT.188 (A022)
Amends: H.R.2500
Sponsor: Rep Rohrabacher, Dana(offered 7/18/2001)

AMENDMENT DESCRIPTION:
Amendment prohibits use of funds for filing a motion in any court opposing a civil action against any Japanese individual or corporation for compensation or reparations in which the plaintiff in the action alleges that as an American prisoner of war during WWII, he or she was used as a slave or forced labor.

AMENDMENT PURPOSE:
An amendment to prohibit use of funds for filing a motion in any court opposing a civil action against any Japanese individual or corporation for compensation or reparations in which the plaintiff in the action alleges that as an American prisoner of war during WWII, he or she was used as a slave or forced labor.

STATUS:

7/18/2001 5:20pm:
Amendment (A022) offered by Mr. Rohrabacher. (consideration: CR H4168-4172, H4195; text: CR H4168)
7/18/2001 5:28pm:
Mr. Wolf raised a point of order against the Rohrabacher amendment (A022). The amendment sought to change existing law and constituted legislation in an appropriations bill. Point of order overruled by the Chair.
7/18/2001 9:09pm:
On agreeing to the Rohrabacher amendment (A022) Agreed to by recorded vote: 395 - 33 (Roll no. 243).

2. S.45
Sponsor: Sen Inouye, Daniel K.(introduced 1/22/2001)
Latest Major Action: 1/22/2001 Referred to Senate committee
Title: A bill to amend title 5, United States Code, to require the issuance of a prisoner-of-war medal to civilian employees of the Federal Government who are forcibly detained or interned by an enemy government or a hostile force under wartime conditions.

TITLE(S):  

* OFFICIAL TITLE AS INTRODUCED:
A bill to amend title 5, United States Code, to require the issuance of a prisoner-of-war medal to civilian employees of the Federal Government who are forcibly detained or interned by an enemy government or a hostile force under wartime conditions.

STATUS:

1/22/2001:
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S319)

COMMITTEE(S):

Committee/Subcommittee: Activity:
Senate Governmental Affairs Referral

RELATED BILL DETAILS:

***NONE***

AMENDMENT(S):

***NONE***

COSPONSORS(1), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]:     

Sen Bingaman, Jeff - 3/13/2001

SUMMARY AS OF:
1/22/2001--Introduced.

Provides for the issuance by the President of a prisoner-of-war medal to civilian employees of the Federal Government who are forcibly detained or interned by an enemy government or a hostile force during war, or by a foreign government or hostile force during periods determined comparable to wartime conditions.

3. S.1154
Sponsor: Sen Smith, Bob(introduced 6/29/2001)
Latest Major Action: 6/29/2001 Referred to Senate committee
Title: A bill to preserve certain actions brought in Federal court against Japanese defendants by members of the United states Armed Forces held by Japan as prisoners of war during World War II.

TITLE(S): 

* POPULAR TITLE(S):
United States Prisoners of War bill (identified by CRS)

* SHORT TITLE(S) AS INTRODUCED:
Justice for United States Prisoners of War Act of 2001
* OFFICIAL TITLE AS INTRODUCED:
A bill to preserve certain actions brought in Federal court against Japanese defendants by members of the United states Armed Forces held by Japan as prisoners of war during World War II.

STATUS:

6/29/2001:
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

COMMITTEE(S):

Committee/Subcommittee: Activity:
Senate Judiciary Referral

RELATED BILL DETAILS:

***NONE***

AMENDMENT(S):

***NONE***

COSPONSORS(1), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: 

Sen Warner, John W. - 6/29/2001

SUMMARY AS OF:
6/29/2001--Introduced.

Justice for United States Prisoners of War Act of 2001 - Requires any Federal court in which an action is brought against a Japanese defendant by a member of the U.S. armed forces seeking compensation for mistreatment or failure to pay wages in connection with labor performed in Japan for such national as a prisoner of war during World War II to: (1) apply the applicable statute of limitations of the State in which the Federal court hearing the case is located; and (2) not construe a specified provision of the Treaty of Peace With Japan as a waiver by the United States of such claims.

States that it is U.S. policy to ensure that any war claims settlement terms between Japan and any other country that are more favorable than terms extended to the United States under the above Treaty will be extended to the United States with respect to claims under this Act.

Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to secure information relating to chemical or biological tests conducted by Japan on members of the U.S. armed forces held as prisoners of war during World War II.

4. S.1226
Sponsor: Sen Campbell, Ben Nighthorse(introduced 7/24/2001)
Latest Major Action: 7/24/2001 Referred to Senate committee
Title: A bill to require the display of the POW/MIA flag at the World War II memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

TITLE(S): 

* SHORT TITLE(S) AS INTRODUCED:
POW/MIA Memorial Flag Act of 2001
* OFFICIAL TITLE AS INTRODUCED:
A bill to require the display of the POW/MIA flag at the World War II memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

STATUS:

7/24/2001:
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8126)

COMMITTEE(S):

Committee/Subcommittee: Activity:
Senate Judiciary Referral

RELATED BILL DETAILS:

***NONE***

AMENDMENT(S):

***NONE***

COSPONSORS(11), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: 

Sen Allard, Wayne - 7/25/2001 Sen Bunning, Jim - 7/31/2001
Sen Collins, Susan M. - 9/21/2001 Sen Craig, Larry E. - 8/3/2001
Sen DeWine, Michael - 9/5/2001 Sen Gregg, Judd - 9/5/2001
Sen Helms, Jesse - 7/31/2001 Sen Hutchinson, Tim - 7/31/2001
Sen McConnell, Mitch - 8/1/2001 Sen Santorum, Rick - 9/4/2001
Sen Smith, Bob - 7/26/2001

SUMMARY AS OF:
7/24/2001--Introduced.

POW/MIA Memorial Flag Act of 2001 - Includes the World War II Memorial among the locations where the National League of Families POW/MIA flag is required to be displayed.

Requires such flag to be displayed at such Memorial, as well as the Korean War Veterans Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, on any day on which the United States flag is displayed.

5. H.R.3177
Sponsor: Rep Hefley, Joel(introduced 10/29/2001)
Latest Major Action: 11/7/2001 Referred to House subcommittee
Title: To require the display of the POW/MIA flag at the World War II memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in the District of Columbia.

TITLE(S):  (italics indicate a title for a portion of a bill)

* SHORT TITLE(S) AS INTRODUCED:
POW/MIA Memorial Flag Act of 2001
* OFFICIAL TITLE AS INTRODUCED:
To require the display of the POW/MIA flag at the World War II memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in the District of Columbia.

STATUS:

10/29/2001:
Referred to the House Committee on Resources.

11/7/2001:
Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands.

COMMITTEE(S):

Committee/Subcommittee: Activity:
House Resources Referral
  Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands Referral

RELATED BILL DETAILS:

***NONE***

AMENDMENT(S):

***NONE***
COSPONSORS(1), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: 

Rep Kennedy, Mark R. - 3/12/2002

SUMMARY AS OF:
10/29/2001--Introduced.

POW/MIA Memorial Flag Act of 2001 - Includes the World War II Memorial among the locations where the National League of Families POW/MIA flag is required to be displayed.

Requires such flag to be displayed at such Memorial, as well as the Korean War Veterans Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, on any day on which the United States flag is displayed.