To authorize the payment of compensation to members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees of the United States who performed slave labor for Japan during World War II, or the surviving spouses of such members, and for other purposes.

September 5, 2001

Mr. COX (for himself, Mr. LANTOS, and Mr. ROHRABACHER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

To authorize the payment of compensation to members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees of the United States who performed slave labor for Japan during World War II, or the surviving spouses of such members, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. AUTHORITY TO PAY COMPENSATION TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES OF THE UNITED STATES FOR SLAVE LABOR PERFORMED FOR JAPAN DURING WORLD WAR II.

(a) FINDINGS- Congress makes the following findings:

(1) During World War II, members of the United States Armed Forces fought valiantly against Japanese military forces in the Pacific. From December 1941 until May 1942, United States military personnel fought valiantly against overwhelming Japanese military forces on Wake Island, Guam, the Philippine Islands, including the Bataan Peninsula and Corregidor, and the Dutch East Indies, thereby preventing Japan from accomplishing strategic objectives necessary for achieving a preemptive military victory in the Pacific during World War II.

(2) In military action in the Philippines, United States troops were ordered to surrender on April 9, 1942, and were forced to march 65 miles to prison camps at Camp O'Donnell, Cabanatuan, and Bilibid. More than 10,000 Americans died during the march, known as the `Bataan Death March', and during subsequent imprisonment as a result of starvation, disease, and executions.

(3) Beginning in January 1942, the Japanese military began to transport United States prisoners of war to Japan, Taiwan, Manchuria, and Korea to perform slave labor to support their war industries. Many of the unmarked merchant vessels in which the prisoners were transported, called `Hell Ships', were attacked by American naval and air forces, which, according to some estimates, resulted in more than 3,600 American fatalities.

(4) Following the conclusion of World War II, the United States Government agreed to pay compensation to United States ex-prisoners of war amounting to $2.50 per day of imprisonment. This compensation was paid from Japanese assets frozen by the United States Government and does not begin to fully compensate those ex-prisoners of war for the short-term and long-term costs of the slave labor they endured. Neither the Government of Japan nor any Japanese corporations admit any liability for further payment of such compensation.

(5) Other nations, including Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, have authorized payment of compensation to their surviving veterans who were captured by the Japanese during World War II and required to perform slave labor.

(b) PURPOSE- The purpose of this section is to recognize, by the provision of compensation, the heroic contributions of the members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees of the United States who were captured by the Japanese military during World War II and denied their basic human rights by being made to perform slave labor by the Imperial Government of Japan or by Japanese corporations during World War II.

(c) PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION AUTHORIZED- The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may pay compensation to a covered veteran or civilian internee, or to the surviving spouse of a covered veteran or civilian internee, in the amount of $20,000.

(d) COVERED VETERAN OR CIVILIAN INTERNEE DEFINED- In this section, the term `covered veteran or civilian internee' means any individual who--

(1) was a member of the Armed Forces, a civilian employee of the United States, or an employee of a contractor of the United States during World War II;

(2) served in or with United States combat forces during World War II;

(3) was captured and held as a prisoner of war or prisoner by Japan in the course of such service; and

(4) was required by the Imperial Government of Japan, or one or more Japanese corporations, to perform slave labor during World War II.

(e) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PAYMENTS- Any amount paid a person under this section for activity described in subsection (d) is in addition to any other amount paid such person for such activity under any other provision of law.

(f) INAPPLICABILITY OF TAXATION OR ATTACHMENT- Any amount paid a person under this section shall not be subject to any taxation, attachment, execution, levy, tax lien, or detention under any process what-ever.

END