S384hMAR18

TheWeekInCongress.com

Week Ending March 18, 2005

S.384 to extend the existence of the Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Records Interagency Working Group for 2 years.

BRIEF

The bill amends the Japanese Imperial Government Disclosure Act of 2000 (PL 106-567) to extend the four year “Working Group” for another two years.

The “Working Group” originated in the 1990s and was established in the Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act (105^th Congress). Then, in the 106^th Congress the responsibilities of that group was expanded to include disclosure of Japanese Imperial Government Documents as they relate to war crimes committed between December 18, 1931 and December 31, 1948. The group’s mission has been to locate, identify, inventory, recommend for declassification and make available to the public at the National Archives and Records Administration all classified Japanese Imperial Government records in the US; coordinate with agencies and take such actions as necessary to expedite the release of those records and submit a report to Congress describing all such record, and the disposition of the records.

PL 106-567 describes the records of interest as, “classified records or portions of records that pertain to any person with respect to whom the United States Government, in its sole discretion, has grounds to believe ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise participated in the experimentation on, and persecution of, any person because of race, religion, national origin, or political opinion, during the period beginning September 18, 1931, and ending on December 31, 1948, under the direction of, or in association with—

(A) the Japanese Imperial Government; (B) any government in any area occupied by the military forces of the Japanese Imperial Government; (C) any government established with the assistance or cooperation of the Japanese Imperial Government; or (D) any government which was an ally of the Japanese Imperial Government.”

The “Working Group” will continue for two more years.

Sponsor: Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH)

Vote: Passed Senate by voice vote (Feb.16, 2005) Passed House by voice vote (Mar. 17, 2005)

Cost to the taxpayers: The bill authorizes such sums as may be necessary. Actual funds must be appropriated.