WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) reached agreement on establishing the Amache Internment Camp site in Granada, Colorado as a national historic site. While both Senators had sought to commemorate the horrors of Japanese internment, they haddifferent approaches After debate on the Senate floor, the members agreed to a compromise solution.

Sen. Lee said in the Senate debate, “No person should ever be in prison solely due to their race, that shouldn’t even be a factor in anyone's imprisonment. Certainly not in the United States of America. Japanese internment is one of the very worst examples of our government rejecting its founding principles. It's something that should be remembered so that it can never be repeated. …”

“Regrettably, the United States has failed to meet other, admittedly far less fundamental obligations it has made to individuals and states. One of those obligations is relevant here. … The federal government has neglected commitments made by Congress to western states and the time or their admission is dispose of their large swaths of federal land.”

Lee continued, “I have been wrongfully portrayed by some in the media as being somehow against this historical recognition, and against commemorating, as a warning to future generations and to honor the victims of the past, one of this nations and its government's tragic missteps. I continue to negotiate in good faith to find a way forward with this bill.”

After the floor exchange, the Senate unanimously passed a compromise bill that would allow for the federal acquisition of the site at no cost to taxpayers.

For video of the floor interaction, click HERE.