Congressional Gold Medal Initiative

At the Nisei Veterans Network meeting in Los Angeles, attendees confer on the Congressional Gold Medal.

Earlier this year, Representative Adam Schiff of California introduced H.R. 347 to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Representative Schiff then worked tirelessly to sign up two-thirds of his colleagues as cosponsors, and H.R. 347 was introduced onto the House floor on May 14, 2009 and approved with 411 votes.

On that same day, Senator Barbara Boxer introduced a corresponding Senate bill, S.1055.  As of this writing, seven Senators have signed on as cosponsors, so we still need 59 more Senators (or 60 if the late Senator Edward Kennedy’s seat is filled soon).

Cosponsors thus far are Hawaii Senators Daniel Akaka and Daniel Inouye, California Senators Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein, New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez, West Virginia Senator John Rockefeller, and Illinois Senator Roland Burris.

What about the Military Intelligence Service?

At the second National Nisei Veterans meeting, sponsored by the Go for Broke National Education Center in Los Angeles on August 13 and 14, attendees learned about the legislative process to secure a CGM for the Nisei veterans, and collectively expressed our desire to include the Military Intelligence Service in this recognition.

So what is the first step to securing Congressional Gold Medal recognition for our Nisei veterans?

We must get two-thirds of Senators to cosponsor the current bill, S.1055.  As of this writing, we have seven senators.  For an up-to-date list, logon to http://www.govtrack.us/congress/legislation.xpd

How do we include the MIS?

The National Nisei Veterans Network is working closely with Senator Boxer and Senator Akaka’s offices (see letter to Senator Boxer).  When the sufficient number of Senate cosponsors is obtained, S.1055 will be introduced on the Senate floor, at which time an amendment will be introduced to add the MIS.

What happens next?

With introduction of this amendment, the matter will be assigned to a House-Senate conference committee to iron out the differences.

Is there a risk that the CGM for the 100th and 442nd will be stalled if the amendment to include the MIS is introduced?

Representative Adam Schiff and Senator Barbara Boxer support inclusion of the MIS.  Therefore, when the Senate and House versions meet in conference, both houses are expected to agree to the MIS addition, and the revised bill will be sent back to the respective floors for final approval, after which it will be sent to President Obama for his signature.

So how can I help secure a Congressional Gold Medal for our deserving Nisei veterans?

The critical first step is to convince two thirds of the Senators to cosponsor the bill.  This will not be an easy feat as many other groups, communities, and special interests have introduced bills in support of their nominees for a CGM.

What if my Senators have already signed on?

Many of us live in California and Hawaii – and our Senators are already cosponsors.

So we need to contact relatives and friends in other states and ask them to contact their Senators and voice support for S.1055.  The most effective way to let their sentiments be known (in descending order of effectiveness):

• Call their local Senate offices and simply tell a Senate staffer (who will dutifully log the call)
• Send a fax to their Senators
• Send a letter to their Senators
• Send an email to their Senators

Momentum is building for this CGM award – so we must work quickly and in concert to ensure the Nisei veterans receive the recognition they so justly deserve.