Japanese American Confinement Education Act (HR 1931/S 988)
In 2006, the Japanese American Confinement Sites (JACS) Program was established for the preservation and interpretation of U.S. confinement sites where Japanese Americans were incarcerated during World War II. This original legislation was introduced by then Representative Bill Thomas, Doris Matsui, and Mike Honda.
Since the first year of funded projects in Fiscal Year 2009, 35 million dollars has funded 269 projects in 24 states and the District of Columbia. Funding has ranged from as little as $5,000 to over $800 thousand for a single project. It has supported archeological surveys, site preservation and reconstruction, oral histories, documentary films, educational curricula, museum exhibits, digital resources, and more. The program was originally funded with 38 million dollars, which will soon be exhausted.
The Japanese American Confinement Education Act would permanently reauthorize the Japanese American Confinement Site (JACS) program within the National Park Service (NPS). It would also authorize $38 million in new funding, since the current funding will be completely spent before the end of 2022. This program has been one of the primary resources in the preservation and interpretation of the U.S. Confinement Sites where Japanese Americans were detained during World War II. Since 2009, 247 projects have received over $32.8 million. Funding has gone to 22 states plus the District of Columbia.
Additionally, the legislation establishes a separate, new five year, $2 million per year program to establish and disseminate educational materials about the Japanese American confinement. This grant would require the recipient museum to develop and nationally disseminate accurate, relevant, and accessible resources to improve awareness and understanding of Japanese American Confinement in WWII. This program is modeled after the Holocaust Education Act passed by Congress and signed into law in 2020.
The JACE Act has strong bi-partisan support with Representative Doris Matsui (D-CA)and Representative Rob Bishop (R-UT) as the originators of the bill.
TAKE ACTION NOW!
Send a letter to the House National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands Subcommittee in Support of the JACE Act!
Thursday, May 27th, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands held a hearing on the Japanese American Confinement Education Act! You can watch the hearing on the NPFPL Subcommittee’s Youtube page.
Endorsing Organizations:
Amache Historical Society II
Anti-Defamation League (ADL)
Asian and Pacific Islander Americans in Historic Preservation (APIAHiP)
Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Association
Densho
Friends of Minidoka
Empty Chair Project
Fred T. Korematsu Institute
Friends of Minidoka
Full Spectrum Features
Go For Broke National Education Center
Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation
Historical Museum at Fort Missoula
Japanese American Citizens League
Japanese American Confinement Sites Consortium
Japanese American National Museum
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii
Kizuna Little Tokyo Inc
KSPS Public Broadcasting Service
LA Conservation Corps
Minidoka Pilgrimage Planning Committee
National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA)
National Japanese American Historical Society
National Japanese American Memorial Foundation
National Parks Conservation Association
National Veterans Network
OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates
Poston Community Alliance
Shadows for Peace
The Nikkeijin Kai of Colorado
The University of California, Los Angeles
Visual Communications Media
Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience
REFERENCE MATERIALS
Press Release from Representative Doris Matsui upon introduction of JACE Act
Press Release from Representative Don Young upon introduction of JACE Act
Press Release from Senator Brian Schatz upon introduction of JACE Act
INFORMATION ON THE JACS GRANT PROGRAM
JACS Grants Awarded by State/District – PDF (updated 10/26/2020)
JACS Grants Awarded by State/District – Excel Spreadsheet (updated 10/26/2020)
LINKS TO OTHER SITES