To direct the Secretary of the Army to carry out without delay a thorough review of the cases of all 28 individuals convicted in the court-martial arising from a disturbance at Fort Lawton, Seattle, Washington, on August 14, 1944, and to require the Secretary to correct the military records (including the record of the court-martial in such case) of any individual as necessary to rectify error or injustice.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jun 30, 2005

Directs the Secretary of the Army to carry out without delay a thorough review of the cases of all 28 individuals convicted in the court-martial arising from a disturbance at Fort Lawton, Seattle, Washington, on August 14, 1944, in order to determine the validity of the original findings and sentences and the extent, if any, to which racial prejudice or other improper factors may have tainted the original investigation and trials. Requires the Secretary: (1) to report to Congress on the review's results; and (2) if it is determined that there was error or an injustice, to correct the individual's military records as necessary.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. McDermott, Jim [D-WA-7] · D–WA

Committees

Armed Services Committee

38 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jul 26, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
Jun 30, 2005
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Jun 30, 2005
Introduced in House
Jun 30, 2005
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Jun 30, 2005 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jun 6, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.3174 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3174, 109th Congress: To direct the Secretary of the Army to carry out without delay a thorough review of the cases of all 28 individuals convicted in the court-martial arising from a disturbance at Fort Lawton, Seattle, Washington, on August 14, 1944, and to require the Secretary to correct the military records (including the record of the court-martial in such case) of any individual as necessary to rectify error or injustice.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-bill/3174

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2005-06-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/hr3174/BILLS-109hr3174ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:18:28Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.3174 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.3174 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3174, 109th Congress: To direct the Secretary of the Army to carry out without delay a thorough review of the cases of all 28 individuals convicted in the court-martial arising from a disturbance at Fort Lawton, Seattle, Washington, on August 14, 1944, and to require the Secretary to correct the military records (including the record of the court-martial in such case) of any individual as necessary to rectify error or injustice.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-bill/3174

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2005-06-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/hr3174/BILLS-109hr3174ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:18:28Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.3174 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.3174 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3174, 109th Congress: To direct the Secretary of the Army to carry out without delay a thorough review of the cases of all 28 individuals convicted in the court-martial arising from a disturbance at Fort Lawton, Seattle, Washington, on August 14, 1944, and to require the Secretary to correct the military records (including the record of the court-martial in such case) of any individual as necessary to rectify error or injustice.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-bill/3174

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2005-06-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/hr3174/BILLS-109hr3174ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:18:28Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.3174 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.3174 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3174, 109th Congress: To direct the Secretary of the Army to carry out without delay a thorough review of the cases of all 28 individuals convicted in the court-martial arising from a disturbance at Fort Lawton, Seattle, Washington, on August 14, 1944, and to require the Secretary to correct the military records (including the record of the court-martial in such case) of any individual as necessary to rectify error or injustice.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-bill/3174

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2005-06-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/hr3174/BILLS-109hr3174ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:18:28Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.3174 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.