HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 12c - Senate Bill S.1050, Chinese-American World War II Veteran Congressional Gold Medal Act
DATE: July 16, 2019
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Dominic Lazzaretto, City Manager
By: Michael Bruckner, Assistant to the City Manager
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. 7270 COMMEMORATING SENATE BILL S.1050,
THE CHINESE-AMERICAN WORLD WAR II VETERAN
CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ACT
Recommendation: Adopt
SUMMARY
At the June 4, 2019, City Council Meeting, Council Member Amundson requested that
the City Council consider a resolution recognizing the Chinese-American World War II
Veteran Congressional Gold Medal Act. A majority of the Council concurred with this
request. The Chinese-American World War II Veteran Congressional Gold Medal Act is
bipartisan legislation that honors Chinese-American veterans who served in our nation’s
Armed Forces during World War II despite significant discrimination at that time.
Therefore, it is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 7270
commemorating Senate Bill S.1050, the Chinese-American World War II Veteran
Congressional Gold Medal Act.
BACKGROUND
On December 20, 2018, President Trump signed into law the Chinese -American World
War II Veteran Congressional Gold Medal Act, which passed unanimously on
September 12, 2018, in the U.S. Senate (“S.1050”), and unanimously on December 12,
2018, in the U.S. House of Representatives (“H.R. 2358”). The Bill passed the House
five days before the 75th anniversary of the 1943 Magnuson Act, which repealed the
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.
The Chinese-American World War II Veteran Congressional Gold Medal Act is
bipartisan legislation that honors Chinese-American veterans who served in our nation’s
Armed Forces during World War II despite significant discrimination at that time. Despite
having fewer than 120,000 Chinese-Americans living in the United States in 1940, over
20,000 Chinese-American veterans answered the call to serve in the United States
military when our nation was attacked at Pearl Harbor, and World War II began for
America.
Resolution No. 7270 Chinese-American Congressional
Gold Medal Act
July 16, 2019
Page 2 of 2
DISCUSSION
Chinese-American men and women served in every theatre of World War II, and
sacrificed their lives defending American values and freedom. Their acts of patriotism,
loyalty, and courage occurred at a time when the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and its
discriminatory practices were still institutionalized in American life. The Chinese
Exclusion Act prevented non-US born Chinese-Americans from obtaining citizenship;
however, as many as 20,000 Chinese -American—40 percent without citizenship—
served in our nation’s Armed Forces.
Like the Congressional Gold Medals for the Tuskegee Airman and the Native American
Code Talkers, Chinese-Americans faced pervasive discrimination in America’s Armed
Forces. Through the Exclusion Act, Congress declared Chinese-Americans unfit to be
citizens, and their acts of heroism, bravery, and sacrifice were largely unrecognized for
decades. The passage of the Congressional Medal Act commemorating Chinese -
American’s contribution to preserving our way of life completes the storyline of
recognizing the last generation directly affected by institutionalized discrimination.
There are an estimated 500-1,000 Chinese-American Veterans of World War II still
living today. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, approximately 3 percent
of all US Armed Forces World War II Veterans are alive today. Each passing year that
number diminishes. With the passage of the Chinese -American Gold Medal Act and
adoption of Resolution No. 7270, the surviving Chinese-American Veterans will have an
opportunity to bear witness to his most notable recognition and their contributions to
American values and freedoms will be forever remembered.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental
Quality Act (“CEQA”), and it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the
environment. Thus, this matter is exempt under CEQA.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 7270 commemorating
Senate Bill S.1050, the Chinese-American World War II Veteran Congressional Gold
Medal Act.
Attachment: Resolution No. 7270