H.R. 1492: To provide for the preservation of the historic confinement sites where Japanese Americans were detained during World War II, and for other purposes.

109th Congress · introduced 2005-04-06 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · Latest: Became Public Law No: 109-441.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2005-04-06 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Thomas, William M. [R-CA-22] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Became Public Law No: 109-441. (final step reached)
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

To provide for the preservation of the historic confinement sites where Japanese Americans were detained during World War II, and for other purposes.

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on July 31, 2006. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to create a program within the National Park Service to support and work in partnership with citizens, governmental and tribal organizations, educational institutions, and private nonprofit organizations for the purpose of identifying, protecting, and acquiring historic confinement sites where Japanese Americans were detained during World War II in order to gain inspiration from these sites and to demonstrate the nation's commitment to equal justice. Directs the Secretary, after consultation with state, local, and tribal governments, other public entities, educational institutions, and private nonprofit organizations, to develop criteria for making grants to those entities (and only in accordance with such criteria) to assist in carrying out the actions described above. Permits the use of federal funds made available under this Act for the acquisition of of non-federal property for the purposes of this Act only if that property is within specified areas. Declares that the authority granted in this Act shall not constitute a federal designation or have any effect on private property ownership. Requires a 50% non-federal match for funds provided under this Act. Terminates the force and effect of this Act two years after the disbursement to grantees of the total amount of funds authorized to be appropriated under this Act. Prohibits any federal funds made available to carry out this Act from being used to acquire any real property or an interest in any real property without the owner's written consent. Authorizes appropriations.

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

To provide for the preservation of the historic confinement sites where Japanese Americans were detained during World War II, and for other purposes.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)

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The strongest published arguments

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Thomas, William M. [R-CA-22] · 114 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1492, A bill to provide for the preservation of the historic confinement sites where Japanese Americans were detained during World War II (2005-05-24); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1492, A bill to provide for the preservation of the historic confinement sites where Japanese Americans were detained during World War II (2005-05-24); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1492, An act to provide for the preservation of the historic confinement sites where Japanese Americans were detained during World War II, and for other purposes (2006-05-31); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1492, An act to provide for the preservation of the historic confinement sites where Japanese Americans were detained during World War II, and for other purposes (2006-05-31)

Cosponsors on this site

Doris O. Matsui (D-CA), Ed Case (D-HI), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Darrell Issa (R-CA), Ken Calvert (R-CA), John Boozman (R-AR), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Adam Smith (D-WA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Brad Sherman (D-CA) and 54 more.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-109hr1492.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/109/hr>

Record fed-us-cong109-hr1492 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong109 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong109