Aleut Restitution Act of 1988 facts for kids
The Aleut Restitution Act of 1988 was a special law passed by the United States Congress in 1988. It was also known as the Aleutian and Pribilof Islands Restitution Act. This law aimed to make up for the harm caused to Aleut people during World War II.
During World War II, the United States government moved about 800 Aleut people from their homes in the Aleutian Islands. This happened before the Japanese invasion of Attu and Kiska in 1942. The Aleuts were forced to live in camps in Southeast Alaska. Sadly, more than 1 in 10 of these people died in the camps.
Why the Act Was Proposed (1987)
A new bill was introduced on January 6, 1987. It was proposed by Representative Thomas S. Foley from Washington State. Many other lawmakers supported it. The bill explained several important points:
- The Aleut people were forced to stay away from their homes for a long time. This was even after the danger from the war had passed.
- The United States did not take good enough care of the Aleuts. This led to sickness and deaths.
- The government also failed to protect the Aleuts' personal belongings and community property.
- The Aleuts had not been fairly paid for the problems they faced.
- The only way to fix these wrongs was through a special law from Congress.
Under this new law, a special fund was created. This fund was meant to help the Aleut people in several ways:
- It helped older people, those with disabilities, or those who were very sick.
- It provided money for students who needed help with scholarships.
- It supported efforts to keep Aleut culture and history alive.
- It helped improve community centers in the affected Aleut villages.
- It also helped with other things to make life better for the Aleut people.
Each Aleut person who qualified received $12,000. This money was to help make up for any personal property they lost during the war.
Changes to the Act (1993)
On September 14, 1993, a change was suggested for the original 1988 Act. This change aimed to increase the money available for payments. The amount went from $1,400,000 to $4,700,000. This extra money was to cover damage or loss to church property during the war. Both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate approved this change. The Act was officially updated on October 5, 1994.
