SENIOR SENATE FEDERAL PROPOSAL NO. 5

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR SENATOR LUNDIN

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SFP 5: BATAAN DEATH MARCH.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CREATE A NATIONAL DAY OF APPRECIATION FOR SURVIVORS OF THE BATAAN DEATH MARCH AND MEMORIAM OF THE DECEASED, AS SPECIFIED.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

SFP 5: RELATING TO THE BATAAN DEATH MARCH

WHEREAS, IN 1942, DURING WORLD WAR II, THE JAPANESE ARMY FORCED 72,000 FILIPINO AND AMERICAN SOLDIERS ON A 90-MILE MARCH FROM BATAAN TO CAMP O’DONNELL; AND

WHEREAS, 18,000 SOLDIERS, BOTH FILIPINO AND AMERICAN, LOST THEIR LIVES DURING THE MARCH; AND

WHEREAS, THE REMAINING 54,000 SOLDIERS SUFFERED UNUSUALLY CRUEL TREATMENT, WITH VERY LITTLE FOOD OR MEDICAL ATTENTION, MANY OF THEM LATER DYING IN INTERNMENT; AND

WHEREAS, THESE WERE AMERICAN SOLDIERS, AND FILIPINO SOLDIERS WHO WERE CITIZENS OF AN AMERICAN TERRITORY, WHO WERE ATTACKED BY THE JAPANESE EMPIRE; AND

WHEREAS, THE BATAAN DEATH MARCH WAS THE GREATEST LOSS OF AMERICAN PRISONERS OF WAR DURING WORLD WAR II; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR SENATE AND THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2012 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT A DAY BE SET ASIDE FOR APPRECIATION OF SURVIVORS OF THE BATAAN DEATH MARCH AND MEMORIAM OF THE DECEASED AT VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS AND AMERICAN LEGION LOCATIONS NATIONWIDE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE CHAIRPERSONS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES ON AGING, AND TO EACH SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE FROM CALIFORNIA IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.

- 0 -

RN 12 16592