[JPRT, 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



 
                            Robert T. Matsui

                       LATE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM

                               CALIFORNIA

                                   



                           MEMORIAL ADDRESSES

                           AND OTHER TRIBUTES

                         Hon. Robert T. Matsui

                                   

                                   

                               1941-2005

                         Hon. Robert T. Matsui

                                   

                                   

                               1941-2005



             [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] 97850.001
             

Robert T. Matsui


                               Memorial Addresses and

                                   Other Tributes

                        HELD IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                     AND SENATE

                                OF THE UNITED STATES

                           TOGETHER WITH MEMORIAL SERVICES

                                     IN HONOR OF

                                  ROBERT T. MATSUI

                 Late a Representative from California

                        One Hundred Ninth Congress

                              First Session


                      Compiled under the direction

                                   of the

                       Joint Committee on Printing

                                Trent Lott, Chairman
                                      CONTENTS
             Biography.............................................
                                                                      v
             Memorial Services:
                U.S. Capitol.......................................
                                                                      1
                Sacramento Memorial Auditorium.....................
                                                                     16
                Westminster Presbyterian Church....................
                                                                     34
             Statement from President George W. Bush...............
                                                                     57
             Letter from President William J. Clinton..............
                                                                     58
             Proceedings in the House of Representatives:
                Tributes by Representatives:
                    Abercrombie, Neil, of Hawaii...................
                                                                    110
                    Andrews, Robert E., of New Jersey..............
                                                                    121
                    Baca, Joe, of California.......................
                                                                    105
                    Becerra, Xavier, of California.................
                                                                     85
                    Bono, Mary, of California......................
                                                                    114
                    Bordallo, Madeleine Z., of Guam................
                                                                     99
                    Brady, Kevin, of Texas.........................
                                                                    135
                    Calvert, Ken, of California....................
                                                                     97
                    Capps, Lois, of California.....................
                                                                    107
                    Cardin, Benjamin L., of Maryland...............
                                                                    111
                    Cardoza, Dennis A., of California..............
                                                                    101
                    Cummings, Elijah E., of Maryland...............
                                                                    118
                    Davis, Danny K., of Illinois...................
                                                                    119
                    DeLauro, Rosa L., of Connecticut...............
                                                                    119
                    Doggett, Lloyd, of Texas.......................
                                                                     70
                    Doolittle, John T., of California..............
                                                                     67
                    Dreier, David, of California...................
                                                                     65
                    Emanuel, Rahm, of Illinois 
                     ...............................................

                                                           98, 128, 137
                    Eshoo, Anna G., of California 
                     ...............................................
                     ...
                                                                81, 139
                    Faleomavaega, Eni F.H., of American Samoa......
                                                                    117
                    Farr, Sam, of California.......................
                                                                     79
                    Harman, Jane, of California....................
                                                                     73
                    Hastert, J. Dennis, of Illinois................
                                                                     62
                    Herger, Wally, of California 
                     ...............................................
                     ...
                                                             69, 72, 79
                    Hinojosa, Ruben, of Texas......................
                                                                    109
                    Holt, Rush D., of New Jersey...................
                                                                    115
                    Honda, Michael M., of California 
                     ...................................
                                                          101, 131, 138
                    Israel, Steve, of New York.....................
                                                                    104
                    Jackson-Lee, Sheila, of Texas..................
                                                                     88
                    Johnson, Nancy L., of Connecticut..............
                                                                    134
                    Jones, Stephanie Tubbs, of Ohio 
                     ............................................
                                                               103, 137
                    Kind, Ron, of Wisconsin........................
                                                                    121
                    Lantos, Tom, of California.....................
                                                                     97
                    Lee, Barbara, of California....................
                                                                     76
                    Levin, Sander M., of Michigan 
                     ...............................................
                     .
                                                                78, 136
                    Lewis, Jerry, of California....................
                                                                     90
                    Lewis, John, of Georgia 
                     ...............................................
                     .............
                                                                83, 137
                    Lofgren, Zoe, of California 
                     ...............................................
                     .........
                                                                92, 126
                    Lowey, Nita M., of New York....................
                                                                     89
                    Maloney, Carolyn B., of New York...............
                                                                    124
                    Matsui, Doris O., of California................
                                                                    138
                    McCollum, Betty, of Minnesota..................
                                                                    104
                    McDermott, Jim, of Washington..................
                                                                    136
                    Menendez, Robert, of New Jersey................
                                                                     77
                    Miller, George, of California..................
                                                                     89
                    Moore, Dennis, of Kansas.......................
                                                                     86
                    Moran, James P., of Virginia...................
                                                                    107
                    Napolitano, Grace F., of California............
                                                                    115
                    Norton, Eleanor Holmes, of the District of 
                     Columbia......................................
                                                                     96
                    Oberstar, James L., of Minnesota...............
                                                                    139
                    Ortiz, Solomon P., of Texas....................
                                                                    106
                    Oxley, Michael G., of Ohio.....................
                                                                    113
                    Pelosi, Nancy, of California 
                     ........................................
                                                       59, 93, 126, 142
                    Price, David E., of North Carolina.............
                                                                     87
                    Rangel, Charles B., of New York 
                     .............................................
                                                                74, 135
                    Roybal-Allard, Lucille, of California..........
                                                                    112
                    Ryan, Paul, of Wisconsin.......................
                                                                    132
                    Sabo, Martin Olav, of Minnesota................
                                                                    110
                    Sanchez, Linda T., of California...............
                                                                    125
                    Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr., of Wisconsin.....
                                                                    116
                    Sherman, Brad, of California...................
                                                                    117
                    Shuster, Bill, of Pennsylvania 
                     ........................................
                                                          130, 131, 138
                    Solis, Hilda L., of California.................
                                                                    116
                    Spratt, John M., Jr., of South Carolina........
                                                                     82
                    Stark, Fortney Pete, of California 
                     ...........................................
                                                                63, 134
                    Tanner, John S., of Tennessee..................
                                                                    120
                    Thomas, William M., of California 
                     ..........................................
                                                                72, 141
                    Thompson, Mike, of California 
                     ...............................................
                     ..
                                                                67, 133
                    Waters, Maxine, of California..................
                                                                    122
                    Waxman, Henry A., of California................
                                                                     68
                    Wilson, Joe, of South Carolina.................
                                                                    126
                    Woolsey, Lynn C., of California................
                                                                     99
                    Wu, David, of Oregon...........................
                                                                     75
             Proceedings in the Senate:
                Tributes by Senators:
                    Baucus, Max, of Montana........................
                                                                    147
                    Boxer, Barbara, of California..................
                                                                    149
                    Corzine, Jon S., of New Jersey.................
                                                                    145
                    Feinstein, Dianne, of California 
                     .............................................
                                                               145, 150
                    Frist, William H., of Tennessee................
                                                                    152
                    Sarbanes, Paul S., of Maryland.................
                                                                    148
             Unveiling of the Robert T. Matsui United States 
               Courthouse..........................................
                                                                    155
                    Matsui, Doris O., of California................
                                                                    156
                                      BIOGRAPHY

               Robert T. Matsui first campaigned in 1978 for the 
             congressional seat serving Sacramento, CA, persuading 
             voters that he would bring to office ``a new form of 
             statesmanship.'' Having entered the race as an underdog 
             candidate, then-Vice Mayor Matsui was carried to victory 
             by a team of hundreds of committed volunteers. Through 26 
             years of service in the House of Representatives, Mr. 
             Matsui fulfilled his promise. He received accolades for 
             bringing dedication, competence, innovation, and integrity 
             to public service.
               Mr. Matsui was acknowledged for congressional 
             accomplishment in service both to his district and to the 
             Nation. With special concern for public safety in 
             Sacramento, he drove a two-decade fight for safe levels of 
             area flood control and secured Federal participation in 
             the city's transformation and growth during his 
             congressional tenure. A senior member of the Committee on 
             Ways and Means, Mr. Matsui led the congressional fight to 
             preserve Social Security until his death and also provided 
             policy leadership on trade, tax, and social justice issues 
             during a quarter century on the committee.
               As the Democratic leader in the effort to preserve 
             Social Security, Mr. Matsui provided a strong public face 
             and voice by standing sentry for the program. 
             Congressional Quarterly's Politics in America called him 
             ``one of the few lawmakers in either party with a deep 
             understanding of the complexities of the program.'' As on 
             tax and finance issues, Mr. Matsui frequently traveled 
             with detailed charts and graphs to explain the nuances of 
             Federal budgeting, and he gained a reputation among both 
             his congressional colleagues and his constituents for his 
             thoughtful, intelligent, intellectually honest approach to 
             Federal fiscal policy. He was part of the Ways and Means 
             Committee effort in 1986 that resulted in fundamental 
             fairness reform of the Tax Code.
               For his long-standing commitment to and achievement in 
             free and open international trade, Mr. Matsui was also 
             viewed as an effective, strategic leader and one of the 
             best vote counters in the House. While he served as acting 
             chair of the Trade Subcommittee in 1993, President Clinton 
             turned to him to lead one of the most heated congressional 
             battles of the decade: the fight to pass the North 
             American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Working in concert 
             with Republicans and Democrats, Mr. Matsui was a driver in 
             enacting this keystone of modern American trade policy. He 
             also spearheaded successful bipartisan efforts to gain 
             congressional approval of the Uruguay Round Agreements, 
             which led to the establishment of the World Trade 
             Organization (WTO), and the 2000 approval of permanent 
             normal trade relations (PNTR) with China.
               The first two bills Mr. Matsui introduced in Congress 
             sought to strengthen enforcement of child support 
             payments. He especially believed that all children in the 
             United States should have guaranteed access to health 
             care, and he drafted legislation in 1991 that became the 
             backbone for child welfare reform, with its proposed 
             expansion of the social services available to at-risk 
             children and families in the child welfare, mental health, 
             and juvenile justice systems. In 1994, Mr. Matsui was a 
             leader in the fight over welfare changes. He argued that 
             adequate job training and education programs were 
             essential to helping parents achieve financial self-
             sufficiency without hurting the Nation's disadvantaged 
             children. He was part of a bipartisan team that introduced 
             the CHILD Act in 1997, which ultimately became the basis 
             for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
               A third-generation Japanese American, Mr. Matsui was 6 
             months old when he and his family were taken from 
             Sacramento and interned by the U.S. Government at the Tule 
             Lake Camp in 1942, after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. 
             In 1988, Representative Matsui helped shepherd the 
             Japanese American redress act (Civil Liberties Act of 
             1988, P.L. 100-383) through Congress, by which the United 
             States formally apologized for the World War II internment 
             program and offered token compensation to victims. He was 
             also instrumental in the designation of Manzanar, a 
             wartime relocation center 200 miles northeast of Los 
             Angeles, as a national historic site and in obtaining land 
             near the National Mall in Washington, DC, for the memorial 
             to Japanese American patriotism in World War II.
               Mr. Matsui was a graduate of the University of 
             California, Berkeley (A.B., 1963), and the University of 
             California, Hastings College of Law (J.D., 1966). He was 
             inspired to enter the legal field by reading the 
             autobiography of famed trial lawyer Clarence Darrow and to 
             public service by President John F. Kennedy's speech 
             challenging Americans to ask what they could do for their 
             country. He founded his own Sacramento law practice in 
             1967, won a seat on the Sacramento City Council in 1971, 
             and became vice mayor of the city in 1977. In addition to 
             his congressional service, Mr. Matsui chaired the 
             Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee during the 
             2004 election cycle and had previously served as treasurer 
             and deputy chair of the Democratic National Committee. He 
             was also a regent of the Smithsonian Institution from 1999 
             to 2005.
               In 1966 he married Doris Okada, who served as Deputy 
             Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Public 
             Liaison for President Clinton and who was elected on March 
             8, 2005, to complete Mr. Matsui's 14th term of office and 
             serve California's Fifth Congressional District in the 
             U.S. House of Representatives. He is also survived by his 
             son and daughter-in-law, Brian Robert Matsui and Amy 
             Matsui, and by his granddaughter Anna Matsui.
               Mr. Matsui died on January 1, 2005, and is buried at 
             East Lawn Memorial Park in his hometown of Sacramento, CA.
?

                                           

                                           
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                            A Celebration of the Life of

                                    The Honorable
                                  Robert T. Matsui

                         September 17, 1941-January 1, 2005

                                 Member of Congress

                               Sacramento, California

                                      1979-2005
             We send the message that bigotry and hate will not be 
             tolerated and that we choose to stand together as people 
             who celebrate and embrace our freedom and join with those 
             who would heal our communities when others seek to divide 
             us.

                                      --Representative Robert T. Matsui

                                                          June 29, 1999

             With all that Sacramento has to offer, some like to think 
             of Sacramento as California's best-kept secret. True, it 
             is the ideal place to live and do business. But I like to 
             think of it simply as home.

                                      --Representative Robert T. Matsui

                                                     September 13, 2000

                        United States Capitol, Statuary Hall

                       Wednesday, January 5, 2005, 12:30 p.m.

             Program

                                       Prelude

                       United States Air Force String Quartet

                             Presentation of the Colors

                    United States Capitol Police Ceremonial Unit

                                   National Anthem

                                   David B. Nelson

                     Special Agent, United States Capitol Police

                               Retiring of the Colors

                                     Invocation

                           The Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin

                  Chaplain, United States House of Representatives

                                       Remarks

                            The Honorable Robert E. Rubin

                   Former United States Secretary of the Treasury

                           The Honorable Charles B. Rangel

                            United States Representative

                        The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton

                                United States Senator

                           The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert

                Speaker of the United States House of Representatives

                                      Interlude

                              ``America the Beautiful''

                                       Remarks

                             The Honorable Nancy Pelosi

              Democratic Leader, United States House of Representatives

                       The Honorable William Jefferson Clinton

                        Former President of the United States

                 Presenting of the Colors to Mrs. Matsui and Family

                           The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert

                Speaker of the United States House of Representatives

                             The Honorable Nancy Pelosi

              Democratic Leader, United States House of Representatives

                                     Benediction

                           The Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin

                  Chaplain, United States House of Representatives

               Rev. Daniel P. Coughlin. I am Daniel Coughlin, sworn in 
             just yesterday as Chaplain to the House of 
             Representatives. I wish to extend a word of welcome 
             especially to Mrs. Doris Matsui, wife of the Honorable 
             Robert Matsui, from the Fifth District of California, to 
             the Matsui family, Brian and Amy and their daughter Anna. 
             I want also to acknowledge Members of both Houses of 
             Congress and distinguished guests. I also want to welcome 
             and commend the professional staff of Mr. Matsui's office 
             who have worked to bring us together today to celebrate 
             the life, accomplishments and memory of Bob Matsui. The 
             news of the death of Congressman Matsui stunned so many of 
             us, so I am now pleased that all of you could gather here 
             today in this honored hall where history is preserved, 
             commemorated, and created by singular events such as this.
                Yesterday was a poignant moment. It started for me and 
             others with an interfaith service to which I had invited 
             Bob Matsui to be a part and offer a prayer for the 
             American people. In his heartfelt absence I came to 
             realize Bob not only could compose and offer a prayer for 
             the diverse people of this country; he offered his life.
                Together now, let us reflect on this good and faithful 
             public servant. With profound respect and compassionate 
             hearts in silence now let us remember Bob and pray for 
             those most touched by his love and his loss.
             Almighty and faithful Creator,
                 all things are of Your making,
                 all people are formed in Your image and likeness.
                 Today we commend to You
                 the Honorable Robert Matsui.
                 His goodness, his expansive vision
                 and inclusive concern for others
                 have made a deep impression on us all.
             May his sacrificial love for this country
                 and his genuine concern for others
                 live on in us, that we may be more disciplined
                 in our passionate commitments
                 and express ourselves with the gentleness
                 of his likeness.
             We ask this of You, Lord God,
                 of all our yesterdays,
                 with us now and forever.
             Amen.

               Secretary Robert E. Rubin. To Doris, Bob's family and 
             Bob's colleagues and Bob's many friends. Let me begin by 
             offering my deepest condolences. Bob's passing is an 
             immense loss to all of us and to our country. The phrase a 
             loss to our country is easy to say, but in Bob's case that 
             is true in the most serious and meaningful way. Bob was 
             not only deeply thoughtful on the complicated and hugely 
             consequential issues that our country now faces, but he 
             was also respected and liked by those who disagreed with 
             him and by the members of both parties. This enabled him 
             to work in a way that too few in Washington can to help 
             bring people of different views and different parties 
             together to move our country forward.
               I first met Bob when I was still on Wall Street, when a 
             mutual friend introduced him as an important younger voice 
             for a forward looking approach to our Nation's policy 
             issues and with respect to the future direction of the 
             Democratic Party. And so he was and so he remained and 
             that was the beginning of a personal relationship that 
             lasted up to this very day. Later when I worked on the 
             White House staff and then at Treasury, Bob became an 
             indispensable colleague who kept our confidences on the 
             many occasions when we asked him for advice even on 
             measures he didn't personally agree with where we were. He 
             provided enormous and effective leadership on fiscal, 
             trade and poverty reduction measures that were so 
             critically important to the future of our country.
               It was once said of a great statesman, ``As he could 
             persuade so could he be persuaded.'' Open-minded with a 
             focus on the facts and analysis rather than ideology and 
             politics, and graciousness toward all, that's how I'll 
             always think of Bob. I remember, for example, when 
             President Clinton was working to secure enactment of 
             NAFTA. On the one hand we believed that NAFTA was greatly 
             in our country's interests, on the other hand it was 
             immensely controversial politically, especially in the 
             Democratic Party. Bob got deeply engaged in helping to 
             think through the substantive issues around NAFTA and in 
             working with both Democrats and Republicans to secure the 
             necessary support and at the same time to focus on 
             protecting those who might be adversely affected.
               Later when I was at Treasury we faced enormous currency 
             crises in Mexico, Asia, and Russia that came close to 
             undermining our own economy. Once again Bob worked 
             tirelessly with us both privately and publicly to foster 
             public understanding and to develop support for engagement 
             at a time when engagement was highly controversial.
               Not everyone would agree with all of our policy choices, 
             but I believe all would agree that Bob exemplified the 
             best of public service: It is a deep substantive 
             engagement with critical issues in working to accomplish 
             purposes that he believed in despite political 
             liabilities. And it is a tone of civility and goodwill 
             toward those who disagreed with him. At a time when many 
             feel that life in Washington has become harsher and when 
             policy disagreements too often become personalized and 
             dealt with through ad hominem attack, Bob was a gentleman 
             and public servant in the best sense of those words. To 
             put it very simply I think Bob may well be the most decent 
             human being I ever knew.
               We will miss Bob as a human being, as a legislator and 
             as a man committed to making our democratic political 
             institutions work effectively. Bob had a quiet voice, but 
             it was a powerful voice that will be greatly missed from 
             our national conversation and our public life.

               Congressman Charles B. Rangel. Mr. Speaker, thank you 
             for giving some of us the opportunity to tell Doris and 
             Brian and Amy and Anna how much we loved your husband and 
             your dad. At a time when so many lives are being lost all 
             over the world, in the Middle East and in Asia, you try to 
             find something that you can be thankful for and to thank 
             God for. And those of us who were privileged to attend a 
             dinner recently that our leader had would remember that it 
             gave some of us an opportunity that other survivors of 
             those loved ones that they have lost never had. And that 
             is a chance to say ``we love you, Bob.'' That many of us 
             do not have the burden of wondering, Could we have done 
             more, could we have shown him how much we appreciated him, 
             could we have treated him more kindly? Bob knew how much 
             we loved him and we knew how much he loved the committee 
             that he worked on, Ways and Means, we knew how much he 
             loved the Congress and how much he loved our great 
             country.
               And so in talking with Members on both sides of the 
             aisle, you wondered what could I, or anyone, say that we 
             did not already know or that has not already been said. 
             And so many Members said, You know Bob just should not be 
             remembered as a kind gentleman, and how many people liked 
             him and how he was willing to form partnerships. Charlie, 
             you ought to talk about some of his passion, his lack of 
             tolerance for fools, the fact that he had a concern not 
             just for legislation, but for those he thought were taking 
             away the God-given right and responsibility that we have 
             as a Nation to take care of our disadvantaged. He truly 
             believed we have an obligation to our aged, to our sick, 
             to our youngsters to make this country all that she can 
             ever be. Charlie, do not let them forget that here was a 
             man that knew how unfair a country could be and yet 
             instead of cursing the darkness, sought to be as good as 
             he could be to make this country better. To improve it so 
             what happened to him and his family could never happen to 
             anyone else. Let them remember that the legacy he leaves 
             is that you can be a gentleman and have passion at the 
             same time. You can be loved and cared for and at the same 
             time never give up the principles you believe in. And he 
             set an example for all of us that are privileged to serve 
             in the House: No matter what party label you have, you can 
             be liked for doing the right thing.
               We are so fortunate to have his family here. He was one 
             person that you never asked ``How is the family?'' and 
             didn't expect to find out. He loved you so much, Doris and 
             Brian, and to be able to have a grandchild. We often 
             talked about it because we were blessed with that. And 
             you, like us, were able to talk with him and know how much 
             he loved you, when we lost him.
               And so we can thank God that we knew him, but more 
             important I think, we can say we had the opportunity to 
             thank him for the great contribution that he's made not 
             just to his colleagues but to this great country. And now 
             with him gone, we--all of us--have to stand a little 
             taller because we never thought that God would snatch him 
             away from us the way he did. But since He did, we have to 
             try to fill the shoes and to fill the vacuum. We will be 
             able to replace him in the House and on the Ways and Means 
             Committee, but never will we be able to replace him in our 
             hearts for the high standards that he set for all 
             Americans. God bless you, Bob.

               Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. Mr. Speaker and Leader 
             Pelosi, all of Bob's family and friends, this is such a 
             difficult time for so many, and as we come together to pay 
             tribute to someone who admired this institution so 
             greatly, served with such dedication and in return, was 
             given the love of those who care about the Congress and 
             our country.
               We have lost a public servant and a statesman of a 
             generation of tradition whose talents we are sadly losing. 
             It's impossible for any of us to put into words the loss 
             suffered by Doris, Brian, Amy, and Anna.
               As I think about them I really grieve for Anna--who will 
             not have more time with her grandfather, who will not get 
             to know this extraordinary man and his story, who will not 
             enjoy those moments together that Bob grew to enjoy when 
             he wasn't quite sure what to do with this little person 
             who started her day with the family-authored bathtub song 
             instead of the New York Times and the Washington Post.
               But he found indescribable joy in Anna and I hope all of 
             us will join with Anna's parents and grandmother in 
             sharing stories and memories of Bob in years to come.
               There's so much to be said about Bob as a person and as 
             a Congressman. He did fight for seniors and for children. 
             He fought to protect the basic freedoms guaranteed to all 
             Americans. He exemplified fair play and decency. And he 
             spent a lifetime championing what is best about America. 
             It's not at all clear that it had to turn out that way.
               In 1941, when Bob was an infant, his entire family was 
             shipped to a Japanese internment camp. His parents, 
             second-generation American citizens, lost their produce 
             business in Sacramento. He was 4 years old when his family 
             finally regained its freedom.
               But the shame of internment lasted so much longer. He 
             reported that the experience of being tainted as a spy, as 
             being un-American, as somehow not measuring up, and the 
             dismissal of his parents' loyalty by their country still 
             lived with him as an adult.
               Now, in the face of that experience, Bob might have 
             chosen cynicism or resentment. Instead, he responded to 
             the injustices he personally experienced by seeking to 
             make America a more welcoming and better place, a more 
             tolerant and freer home for all of its citizens.
               He heeded President Kennedy's call to public service. 
             His record of achievement during 26 years in the House is 
             just filled with so many accomplishments. He co-authored 
             and fought tirelessly for the Japanese American redress 
             act. That law provided financial compensation for those 
             ripped from their homes and placed at the camps. But it 
             was also, and perhaps more important, a formal apology to 
             those victims from their government.
               It placed the United States on the right side of history 
             by finally acknowledging the wrongs of four decades 
             earlier. As Bob said at the time, the act demonstrated 
             that we as a Nation do believe in the Constitution and the 
             rights of individuals. That's a timeless lesson and one 
             that I think we heed today as well.
               Bob Matsui's commitment to our Nation's children was 
             unwavering. The very first two bills he introduced were 
             directed to strengthen the enforcement of child support 
             obligations. He drafted the legislation that became the 
             basis for child welfare reform legislation and for what 
             ultimately became the Children's Health Insurance Program, 
             and he fought hard to expand services available to at-risk 
             children.
               Now he is, as we all know, the expert on Social 
             Security. He was passionate about protecting that compact 
             between the generations and we will miss his voice and his 
             leadership on this issue in the 109th Congress.
               During the years of my husband's administration, Bob 
             was, as Secretary Rubin just said, an extraordinarily 
             thoughtful and intelligent counselor.
               And we were so lucky to have Doris in the White House 
             working on behalf of the Clinton administration and its 
             goals.
               The people of California's Fifth District, the Congress, 
             and all Americans have lost a friend and a leader. Our 
             thoughts and prayers not only will stay with Bob's family 
             but also with our country because he was a model of how to 
             get important things done, of how to bridge the gaps that 
             too often divide us. And maybe we should in the months 
             ahead of this new Congress honor his memory by invoking a 
             ``Matsui moment'' from time to time, when people are not 
             even seeking to find common ground or let alone, higher 
             ground.
               Maybe we could call for a Matsui moment and we could 
             spend some time, once again, relating to each other as 
             human beings on a level that recognizes our common 
             interests and hopes for the kind of nation that Bob Matsui 
             gave his life to serve.
               God bless you, Doris, and your family.

               Speaker J. Dennis Hastert. Mr. President, distinguished 
             guests, it is not very often that we gather in this great 
             room in this type of manner, but with Bob's passing, I 
             think that it is only fitting.
               The Scriptures ask the question, ``What manner of man is 
             this?'' What manner of man was Bob Matsui? Now most of my 
             activity was on the other side of the aisle, but Bob would 
             come through almost on a daily basis as I was on the House 
             floor. We would talk and chat for a minute or two, and he 
             would inquire how everything was going, in his usual 
             friendly manner.
               I especially remember his family. The arrival of the 
             Matsui Christmas card every year was a stage upon which 
             the rest of us could catch a glimpse of a true American 
             family and their obvious love for one another. With those 
             cards, we saw the great family life that Bob and Doris 
             had, including the wedding Christmas card and the birth of 
             your granddaughter and even this year, once again there 
             was a wonderful and beautiful card from the Matsui family. 
             It was something that stood out: You waited for it and it 
             came. And it had a message. It was a message that you can 
             be a Member of Congress, you can work on important issues, 
             but yet you are a human being. You love your family. You 
             serve more than just a purpose of coming here and 
             legislating. And Bob was all of those things.
               Bob was such a good person. I remember about a year ago 
             or so, Bob called me up one day. I was in the office when 
             I took the call, and he informed me that he was going to 
             be the Democratic campaign chairman. I said, ``Gee Bob, I 
             wish you wouldn't do that. But I wish you well.'' See, 
             like anything that Bob was ever involved in, he did the 
             very best that he could. Someone earlier mentioned the 
             word passion. Well, he did have passion. And he did 
             everything with this gusto and energy that you do not see 
             very often. And I can tell you as an observer on the other 
             side of the aisle, when Bob Matsui ever got involved with 
             an issue you had better pay attention because he was going 
             to make things happen.
               So again, I ask the question, what manner of man is 
             this? I think each of us reflects in our minds and our own 
             lives how someday we will be snatched away just like Bob. 
             And can we measure up to the same kind of measure that Bob 
             could stand up to? Bob Matsui was well liked. He was a 
             good man. And he did his job with passion. He has left 
             behind many, many great friends. And we will miss him on 
             both sides of the aisle. God bless you.

               Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. Mr. President, Mr. 
             Speaker, Doris, Brian, Amy, and Anna. Listening to the 
             music of ``America the Beautiful''--God truly shed his 
             grace on America with the light and leadership of Bob 
             Matsui. In one of the further verses of ``America the 
             Beautiful,'' it proclaims, ``O beautiful for patriot dream 
             that sees beyond the years.'' That has always been my 
             favorite line. How much it applies to Bob Matsui, a true 
             patriot who had a dream for America, a better America that 
             saw beyond the years.
               He was a true patriot. He loved America. He wanted to be 
             an architect when he was young, and indeed he was an 
             architect for a better America. Others have referenced his 
             efforts to build a better future for America's children, 
             to expand opportunity for them, to have a more secure 
             future for America's seniors, and to protect our precious 
             freedoms for all of us.
               We all know about his work in 1988 on the Japanese 
             American redress act, working with Norm Mineta and with 
             Danny Inouye, who are both here. We know about it, and we 
             hear about it, and we know what the provisions of the bill 
             are. It's hard for some to remember, though, how really 
             necessary it was, and what a struggle it was for a number 
             of years. It's hard to understand how someone as a child 
             who went with his family--he was third generation, they 
             were second--to an internment camp and came out with this 
             spirit, to love America enough to want to make it better.
               And Danny Inouye, of the same Japanese American 
             heritage, was fighting in World War II, defending the 
             country--such a remarkable thing. But to listen to them 
             during the debate--Norm, and Danny, and others; Senator 
             Matsunaga. To listen to Bob during the debate speak from 
             the heart and from the head on this subject was probably 
             the most American thing we'd ever be involved in. It was 
             saying: ``We made a mistake. We'll make it right. We'll 
             make the future better.''
               Can you imagine when his family was in an internment 
             camp that they would ever have dreamed that their son 
             would have a memorial service in the Capitol? That over 
             the Capitol of the United States flags would fly at half-
             mast in his honor speaks to how special he is. Thank you, 
             Mr. Speaker, for making that possible.
               Bob was so proud of his Japanese American heritage, and 
             I was proud to appoint him as the first Asian American in 
             leadership in the House of Representatives. He loved his 
             parents. He talked about them a lot lately. Maybe it was 
             in relationship to the Social Security bill that was 
             coming up. But whatever it was, he spoke with great pride, 
             and we knew they had to be great people to have produced 
             such a wonderful son.
               We all know how much he loved Doris. They were a team. 
             They worked together in public service, for awhile, in two 
             branches of government. And I know he loved Doris so much. 
             She was a source of strength to him, an inspiration to 
             him. And Brian, as the Speaker said, we saw him grow up on 
             the Christmas cards, and now we see him with Amy, so 
             happy.
               Yesterday we had the swearing-in, and Bob was going to 
             bring Anna for the first time. She's 17 months old. The 
             swearing-in was going to be a happy day for him and for 
             all of us. When Anna is old enough to read about her 
             grandfather--and according to Bob, that won't be long, 
             this magnificent child and source of so much happiness to 
             him--she will read of how respected he was, how talented 
             he was, how kind he was to people, this beautiful, 
             gracious man. I hope it is a comfort to you, Doris, Brian, 
             Amy, and Anna, that so many people mourn your loss and are 
             praying for you at this sad time.
               I just want to recall for some of you who may not have 
             known Bob at the time when he ran for Congress 27 years 
             ago. It was a really tough race. This was no easy thing. 
             There were stiff competitors running in that race. He went 
             into the race, and I remember being with him at an event 
             in Chinatown in San Francisco where the Asian American 
             community embraced him with such great pride. He was in 
             his thirties. He had an aura about him of such grace. 
             Perhaps it was from his parents, this self-confidence, 
             grace, an aura of kindness and graciousness, which was 
             lovely, but in a campaign it was very tough. It was a 
             wonder to behold that he would be so gracious to his 
             opponent, and that was before he won.
               He had an aura of inevitability about him in that race, 
             and he came to Congress to represent the people of 
             Sacramento, whom he loved. And every day, he worked so 
             hard for them, and bragged about them, and Doris was by 
             his side all the time. They shared their love for the 
             people of Sacramento, and they gave their all for them.
               It might interest you to know that when he leaves here 
             today, he will go home to California, to Sacramento, to a 
             triumphant welcome. He will lie in state in Sacramento, 
             the State capital, for a day and a half. He will be 
             visited by so many people who knew him or respected him, 
             and he will then have ceremonies, all kinds, to honor his 
             memory. It will be very fitting. And he will be laid to 
             rest in the manner of one who is revered. The love he had 
             for his constituents was certainly returned.
               The poet Longfellow wrote,

             Were a star quenched on high,
             For ages would its light,
             Still traveling downward from the sky,
             Shine on our mortal sight.
             So when a great man dies,
             For years beyond our ken,
             The light he leaves behind him lies
             Upon the paths of men.

               Bob Matsui's words, his deeds, his intellect, and his 
             passion will serve as a light, one that will guide us to a 
             better America that was his dream. He lived up to the 
             words of the scripture, ``I have fought the good fight. I 
             have finished the race. I have kept the faith.''

               President William Jefferson Clinton. Doris, Brian, Amy, 
             Anna, Mr. Speaker, Leader Pelosi, ladies and gentlemen. 
             The people who have spoken before so eloquently about our 
             friend, Bob Matsui, have told us things we all need to 
             remember about him, and in the process about public life 
             and about personal life.
               Bob Rubin reminded us that in an era when politics is 
             dominated by ideology and attack, he favored evidence and 
             argument. Even when ideology and attack work better in 
             elections, only evidence and argument produce good policy. 
             And Bob Matsui played an essential role in many of the 
             policies produced when I was President, that I believe 
             made America a better place. Certainly those policies were 
             better than they would have been had it not been for him.
               Charlie Rangel reminded us that for all of his kind 
             demeanor and courtesy he was a passionate man who fought 
             for what he believed. And my Senator from New York had the 
             best line of the day when she said we'd all be better off 
             if we had a Matsui moment now and again. And I hope we can 
             remember that.
               Speaker Hastert showed us something that is all too rare 
             in Washington these days. First of all, Mr. Speaker, thank 
             you for making these facilities available, thank you for 
             honoring our friend. But I would like to thank all the 
             Republicans who have come here to honor Bob Matsui and the 
             common endeavors in which you engaged. He was, like me, a 
             Democrat who was for free trade, but thought we ought to 
             do more for working families hurt by it, and thereby lift 
             labor and environmental standards around the world. His 
             position was clear, and yet the head of the AFL-CIO is 
             here today out of respect for Bob Matsui, and I thank him 
             for coming. I thank everybody who is here who ever 
             disagreed with Bob Matsui on anything for coming, for 
             reminding us that our common humanity counts for a lot 
             more than the fleeting differences of politics, and that 
             none of us is smart enough to know what is right to do all 
             of the time.
               I thank Nancy Pelosi for her heartfelt, emotional 
             memories of young Mr. Matsui, and for reminding us of his 
             California roots and that he is going home to be honored 
             by his people, whom he served so faithfully.
               I would just add a couple of things. I'm probably one of 
             the few people here who knew about Bob Matsui before he 
             knew about me. Because I was profoundly affected as a boy 
             growing up in Arkansas by the fact that we had a Japanese 
             American internment camp in my home State. It was a source 
             of great pain and regret to many of us. I have walked down 
             the dusty long-forgotten lanes of that camp. I have 
             imagined what it was like for patriotic Americans like 
             Senator Inouye, who finally got the Medal of Honor he 
             deserved over 50 years later. I saw not only their 
             patriotism questioned but their freedom constrained and 
             their children humiliated. I lived with it my whole 
             childhood and adulthood. And I loved knowing Bob Matsui, 
             knowing a man who could have given in to bitterness but 
             instead overcame it.
               I spoke out in front of this great building almost 
             exactly 12 years ago that there is nothing wrong with this 
             country that cannot be fixed by what is right with it. Bob 
             Matsui represented everything that is right with America. 
             And whether he was right on every issue or not, and 
             whether every battle we fought together was the right 
             position or not, he was the right sort of person. His 
             attitude toward himself, his work, and his fellow human 
             beings, toward his beloved wife, his son, and his 
             daughter-in-law and grandchild--toward all of us--was the 
             right attitude.
               He even forgave me for asking Doris to come to work in 
             the White House, so finally she had to work as long as he 
             did. Maybe it's just because we are all affected by this 
             recent tsunami in Asia, maybe it's because I don't have to 
             run for anything anymore; nonetheless, I believe that 
             there's a reason we all showed up here today, across all 
             the lines that otherwise divide us. Down deep in our 
             hearts, we know that the way Bob Matsui chose to live, 
             chose to work, chose to relate to us, chose to pursue 
             public service, is the right way. He gave so much to all 
             of us, as well as to his constituents back home. I only 
             hope that in the days and years ahead, we will never 
             forget him. We will never forget that he was what is right 
             with America, and that by following him we can best do him 
             honor. God bless you, Bob.

               Rev. Daniel P. Coughlin. God of holiness and power, 
             accept our words, our prayers, and sentiments of affection 
             for your servant, Robert Matsui. Do not count any misdeeds 
             against him, for in his heart he desired to create only 
             goodness for your people, and lasting justice for this 
             Nation. Lord, comfort our sisters and brothers who now 
             mourn; may your revealed word and promises of eternal life 
             and love strengthen them. May aching hearts soon find 
             solace in faith, family, and friends, and come to lasting 
             peace. May your spirit descend upon all who have gathered 
             here today so that they may walk in peace. One day, may we 
             come again together to celebrate a lasting feast of 
             compassion, unity, and peace, for that is where you live, 
             now and forever, Amen.

                           Sacramento Memorial Auditorium

                               Sacramento, California

                        Saturday, January 8, 2005, 10:00 a.m.

             Program

                                       Prelude

                                     Peggy Brown

                                       Harpist

                             Presentation of the Colors

                   Governor and Adjutant General's Own Color Guard

                                   National Anthem

                                     Beth Miller

                         Staff Sergeant, 561st Airforce Band

                               Retiring of the Colors

                                       Welcome

                             The Honorable Heather Fargo

                              Mayor, City of Sacramento

                                       Remarks

                                  Betty Riley Perry

                            McClatchy High School Teacher

                                 Angelo Tsakopoulos

                           CEO, AKT Development and Friend

                           The Honorable Grantland Johnson

               Former Secretary, California Department of Health and 
                                   Human Services

                           The Honorable Genevieve Shiroma

                 Board Member, Sacramento Municipal Utility District

                                      Interlude

                             Sacramento Children's Choir

                                       Remarks

                             The Honorable Phil Isenberg

                  Former Assemblyman, California State Legislature

                           The Honorable Emily E. Vasquez

                 Superior Court Judge, Sacramento County, California

                            The Honorable John Doolittle

                            United States Representative

                            The Honorable Phil Angelides

                           Treasurer, State of California

               Mayor Heather Fargo. Thank you all for joining us today. 
             I am Heather Fargo, mayor of the city of Sacramento. I 
             want to welcome you to the memorial service for 
             Congressman Robert T. Matsui. It is my honor to begin this 
             memorial service for our Congressman and our friend Bob 
             Matsui, who unexpectedly passed away last Saturday after 
             serving us for 26 years in the House of Representatives 
             following his 7 in the Sacramento City Council. We will 
             miss his leadership, we will miss his guidance, we will 
             miss his advocacy, we will miss his friendship, and we 
             will miss him--this person we came to know.
               This morning you will hear from a number of speakers who 
             will share their remembrances, their memories, as they 
             honor him. I know that each person has a memory, has 
             something which has connected them to Congressman Bob 
             Matsui and that is why we are here today. And while we are 
             here on a somber occasion, to remember and to grieve the 
             loss of Congressman Matsui, we are here also to celebrate 
             his life and legacy. It's OK to cry today and it's also OK 
             to smile as we remember our friend. We were lucky to know 
             him. He was a good man. He made a difference to this 
             Nation and to the community and to each and every one of 
             us here today.
               We are also here to show our love and support for Bob 
             Matsui's family--for his wife Doris, his son Brian, his 
             daughter-in-law Amy and his granddaughter Anna. I would 
             like to thank you for your years of support that you gave 
             Bob, allowing him to do what he needed to do, and allowing 
             him to do what he needed to do for us. We really 
             appreciate your sacrifice and our hearts go out especially 
             to you today. I hope that the love and compassion in this 
             room today helps comfort you at this time.
               I'd like to close by expressing my personal sadness, my 
             respect, and my gratitude for everything he did for me and 
             everything he did for Sacramento. Thank you.

               Betty Riley Perry. Like everyone here, I face you with 
             very mixed feelings. I am honored to be asked to speak. I 
             am almost overcome with sadness as I realize that Bob 
             Matsui will not be here.
               I have observed Bob for many years. I was a teacher at 
             McClatchy High School when he was a student there. 
             Although he was not in one of my classes, my good friend 
             and fellow teacher, the late Esther Caldwell, a staunch 
             Republican, was a strong admirer of Bob's and I heard 
             about him often from her. His sister, Barbara Matsui came 
             to our school as an intern in the counseling center. Bob 
             was the kind of student every teacher loved and as co-
             rally committee sponsor, I found he was the kind of 
             committee member we could trust.
               After 36 years of teaching and counseling at McClatchy, 
             I renewed my acquaintance with Bob when I became a 
             volunteer advocate for the Older Women's League, a 
             national education and advocacy group for midlife and 
             older women. We also supported good causes for older men. 
             But it is the older woman who most often has a very hard 
             time dealing with the health and financial problems of 
             aging. Congressman Matsui has been the principal supporter 
             of legislation that has made life better for us.
               We honor the strong stand Bob made to secure the 
             reparations for the Japanese Americans who had been in 
             internment camps. It provided important acknowledgment to 
             people who had lost their honor and their worldly 
             possessions. This was of great value to the recipients, 
             but it has also been very important to those of us who had 
             stood by and let this injustice happen.
               Bob's work did not stop with the reparation payments. It 
             was the sign of much good to come.
               A few years ago Ruth Kletzing and I went to Washington 
             for an Older Women's League conference on Social Security, 
             and it is no surprise to you that Bob Matsui was the 
             featured speaker. When he acknowledged Ruth and me, we 
             were really pleased and our friends were impressed. Ruth's 
             husband was a lawyer with Bob in the Department of Water 
             Resources when Bob had worked there.
               Congressman Matsui had been the leader for a number of 
             years, working to maintain the benefits of Social Security 
             that Americans have today. And you well know those 
             benefits are not just pensions for senior citizens. They 
             make the life of a widow with children tolerable. They 
             provide income to men and women who must take an early 
             disability retirement. The benefits go on and on.
               In 2003, when he tackled the Medicare prescription drug 
             issue head on, Bob came back to Sacramento to explain it 
             to all who came to a townhall meeting. We learned from the 
             beginning that the government would not be able to bargain 
             for lower drug prices because of the terms of the bill. He 
             pointed out that the payment plan was unfair and the cost 
             to the government was damaging.
               Those flaws still exist in a law which was passed in the 
             dark of the night. Social Security and Medicare have been 
             key issues for Bob and for all Americans. He did not 
             adulterate his support of these issues by becoming 
             beholden to financial institutions or pharmaceutical 
             companies. The benefits from these programs he supported 
             went to all eligible Americans.
               Another issue he worked on continually was flood 
             control. As a native Sacramentan whose uncle worked for 
             the American River Flood Control District, I have always 
             been aware of the damages of flooding from the two rivers 
             that skirt our city. We all must be grateful for Bob's 
             persistent efforts to improve those levees.
               As you look back on Bob's work, you know why McClatchy 
             High School can have a no more outstanding alumnus than 
             Bob Matsui. He was not a flamboyant student nor was he a 
             flamboyant Congressman. He became a conscientious man who 
             did what Congressmen should do. He worked for the good of 
             the country and the good of his district. He listened to 
             ordinary people.
               This is the Robert Matsui that many of us knew, a noble 
             man who continued to make the world a better place until 
             the end of his life. We are unbelievably grateful for his 
             work. Mrs. Matsui, we hope that remembering what Bob's 
             accomplishments mean to so many people, you and your 
             family will be comforted as you deal with these sad days.

               Angelo Tsakopoulos. My name is Angelo Tsakopoulos, and I 
             have the pleasure and distinct privilege to be Bob's 
             friend.
               Doris, Brian, and the rest of his family, I cannot 
             express how sad we are that Bob left us so soon. We are 
             all mortals, all of us will die, but he left us too soon 
             and we will miss his wisdom.
               Over the years, over 30 years, I had the privilege of 
             knowing Bob. Quite often we would get together and 
             philosophize about events that affected our community, our 
             Nation, and the world. And Bob always cared about the 
             people most at risk--whether they live in Sacramento, in 
             America, in Asia, or in Africa or the other Americas. He 
             always cared for the senior citizens especially, and the 
             young people who should get an education so that they 
             could achieve the American dream.
               Along the lines with his care for the senior citizens, I 
             would like to tell you a story that took place over 30 
             years ago when Bob and I were having breakfast at a coffee 
             shop over at Broadway. We were discussing the classical 
             Greek heritage and the Japanese heritage, their 
             development which were parallel, they were far apart but 
             very similar. We were discussing the importance of taking 
             care of our seniors--our parents, our grandparents. I 
             remember at that time Bob was a 30-year-old councilman and 
             I was about 40.
               Bob went on to describe for me some experiences he had 
             at that time with seniors who had emigrated from Asia, and 
             they had gotten quite old and ended up in convalescent 
             hospitals. And he said that it is so difficult for them, 
             and the most difficult part of it is the food. He said, 
             ``You white people eat potatoes three times a day, and 
             that's not what the Asians like to eat. They like to eat 
             rice and they like to have their vegetables cooked in a 
             wok.''
               The culture is quite different. The Asian culture--the 
             Japanese like to visit their sick parents, grandparents 
             quite often, and they like to take the whole family 
             there--the kids, the grandkids, the nieces and the 
             nephews. And most like to have a get-together, a party 
             together. And they like to take the sick people home, if 
             they can, for a weekend or a holiday. They could not do 
             that in then-present day convalescent hospitals while 
             being assured that the tenants would not lose their beds. 
             I'm talking about convalescent hospitals 30, 40 years ago. 
             They are not quite what they are today.
               And he said that it would be so great if we could build 
             a convalescent hospital for the Asian community. He said 
             that there was this fellow with a great idea, and we're 
             looking for a place, a piece of land that is near a 
             hospital, that had to be zoned commercial--because at that 
             time, it had to be zoned commercial--or nearby, someplace 
             that we could build a hospital. Here is a 30-year-old 
             person, a young man, describing so clearly, with such 
             pathos, the plight of seniors. He said that unless these 
             seniors leave the hospital, they don't do very well. They 
             don't survive for very long.
               Because of that conversation and because of Bob's idea, 
             the hospital was built. It is existing now. The Asian 
             community convalescent hospital was built primarily by the 
             Chinese and Japanese communities and all the other Asians. 
             And it is a beacon for how all other convalescent 
             hospitals should be run in California. It has received 
             many awards. However, at the annual dinners that the 
             hospital has to raise money, all the speakers have tried 
             to give Bob the credit, but he would never accept it. He 
             never said, ``Yes, I had a lot to do with it,'' or even 
             something to do with it. He said, ``No, no, others did 
             it.'' He gave credit to other people. That was Bob's way 
             of doing things, and this is only one small event out of a 
             myriad of good things Bob did for us.
               We will miss Bob very much. His wisdom will be with us 
             because he shared it with all of us. And we pray to God to 
             give him rest and to give the family strength at this very 
             difficult time.

               Secretary Grantland Johnson. Good morning. My name is 
             Grantland Johnson, and I am greatly humbled and honored to 
             be here today. I am also greatly conflicted, like all of 
             you. I am both sad and proud. This is not merely the loss 
             and passing of a great public servant. For those of us who 
             live in Sacramento and really knew him, we not only lost a 
             great public servant but we lost a friend, a counselor, 
             and in the case of a number of us, a brother--sort of the 
             head of a family.
               And so if I can respectfully suggest, we're not only to 
             mourn his passing but I would also like to spend a few 
             minutes celebrating his life and to say a final goodbye. 
             Because we have lost an incredible person, a spirit who 
             never let us despair, a spirit who never let us lapse into 
             cynicism, a spirit who never allowed us to lose hope and 
             to lose a sense of optimism. Because he believed that 
             ultimately the arc of history bends toward justice.
               My grandmother, who is 91, hails from the State of 
             Mississippi. Mississippi was not a nice place when she was 
             growing up. But she said, ``Grantland, you cannot pick and 
             choose your country's heritage and its history. You cannot 
             just focus on the good and forget about the bad, nor 
             should you focus solely on the beautiful and forget about 
             the ugly. It's all a part of our collective legacy.''
               At the same time, she told me you can't allow our 
             legacy, as conflicted and checkered as it perhaps can be, 
             to be a source of a barrier in terms of hope and optimism 
             for the future. Because while we cannot change what 
             happened in the past, we can certainly shape what happens 
             today and tomorrow. When I think about Bob Matsui, I think 
             about the fact that he taught us that, as profoundly as 
             any other person could have.
               I think about the fact that in 1978 he got elected to 
             the Congress, the House of Representatives. Now I don't 
             know about other communities, but that was a profound feat 
             in Sacramento. But besides being a political feat, it was 
             a very important political statement because we still have 
             a difficult time in this country dealing with our past and 
             figuring out how to deal with our future. We tend to 
             process information based on assumptions and stereotypes 
             and information that is oftentimes faulty and not based on 
             anything concrete or material but sort of what pops in our 
             head or what someone has told us. Watching Robert Matsui 
             for over 30 years, as a member of the city council and as 
             a Member of Congress, I think this community really began 
             to understand the fact that no matter where you come from, 
             no matter what your background, no matter what your 
             capacity is, no matter what you have been taught about 
             others, we had a chance to witness in real life a public 
             servant who really fought for our collective interests in 
             this community and in this country.
               He really appealed to the best of us and not to our base 
             instincts. He really believed in the possibility of hope 
             and prosperity for the least of us in this country and 
             this community. I can't tell you how many times I used to 
             see him patiently talking to everyday people. Whether he 
             was in the grocery store or whether he was in a movie 
             line, he would take time to talk to that everyday person 
             and listen to their concerns.
               I remember during the welfare debate in 1996 when he 
             maintained his principles against the stream of 
             conventional wisdom because he felt passionately that we 
             ought not to unravel the safety net for those who are most 
             vulnerable. People oftentimes are dealt a bad hand and 
             it's not any fault of theirs. They are not immoral, they 
             are not somehow less than us, it's just that the 
             circumstances are stacked against them. And it's our job 
             as a country, as a community, as a national family, to 
             extend a hand in order to assist them. They play by the 
             rules and work hard to carve out a bit of life for 
             themselves and for their families and to make a really 
             important contribution, no matter how simple, no matter 
             how plain and modest, to our collective benefit. That's 
             how I think about Bob Matsui and the kind of courage he 
             exhibited.
               You don't have to demonize people who have different 
             ideas from you or people with different ideological or 
             philosophical notions. The fact is that we are all 
             Americans, we are all human beings, and we are all 
             children under God's own sight. And that means that we are 
             here to do the people's business and we are not here to 
             demonize other people and to somehow trivialize their 
             significance. When it's all said and done and we talk 
             about all the contributions and accomplishments in his 
             political life, I think that at the end of the day, it is 
             important for us to be able to say, and we can say it with 
             pride and with a great deal of joy, that this was a person 
             who walked among us that we actually knew, that we 
             actually drew inspiration from, that we could actually see 
             what it meant to be a good person, to be a good American, 
             to be a good human being, to be a good neighbor. This was 
             a person with strong convictions, a person with great 
             enthusiasm but who also understood, tempered by soberness 
             and responsibility, the importance of being a good person, 
             of being a good neighbor and citizen.
               We may have lost his body, but we have not lost his 
             memory, and we have not lost the opportunity to pay homage 
             to his memory in the future--by not lapsing into cynicism, 
             by not lapsing into fatalism, by not giving up, and by 
             promoting hope, and understanding, that one person can 
             indeed make a difference. One person can indeed change a 
             collective culture.
               The contributions of Robert Matsui were profound. I am 
             deeply honored to be able to say today that he was not 
             only my Congressman, he was also my friend, and he was 
             also my brother. And I will always wear that as a badge of 
             honor.
               And Doris and Brian, thank you very much for being his 
             wife and his son. And thank you very much for being 
             supportive. God bless you all.

               Hon. Genevieve Shiroma. Good morning everyone. My name 
             is Genevieve Shiroma. I serve on the Sacramento Municipal 
             Utility District Board of Directors. Congressman Bob 
             Matsui was a good friend and role model.
               On his passing, my deepest condolences to Mrs. Matsui 
             and his entire family. He will be sorely missed in our 
             Sacramento community, but his legacy of lifelong public 
             service, not only locally, but nationally, will sustain us 
             through the ages.
               I join all of you in memorializing, honoring, and 
             celebrating Bob Matsui's life. A Sacramentan, a grandson 
             of Asian immigrants, a third-generation Japanese American, 
             a sansei who was interned at Tule Lake 62 years ago with 
             his parents and thousands of other Sacramentans, simply 
             because of being of Japanese heritage.
               Congressman Matsui's story is remarkable--one of early 
             adversity--he and his family uprooted, forced to leave 
             behind a thriving way of life, a home, a business, to live 
             in a far away desolate place, in cold barracks, for years 
             not knowing what the future would hold. Then returning to 
             Sacramento, rebuilding a life, drawing from the strength 
             within, and going on with dignity and pride. He worked 
             hard, studied hard, went to the university, became a 
             lawyer, stepped forward for public service to run for the 
             city council, and then for Congress. He made the community 
             very proud.
               He never forgot his roots. In Congress he championed 
             what we call redress, the apology by the United States of 
             America for violating his rights and the other 120,000 
             Japanese Americans' constitutional rights by putting them 
             in camp when they had done nothing wrong. I had the 
             privilege of hearing him tell his story a number of times, 
             always with dignity, with verve, and sometimes with tears.
               I think this early adversity steeled him to become the 
             great leader he was for Sacramentans, for the country, for 
             those without a voice. As a man of color, he was 
             inspirational, a role model, proof positive of the 
             American dream--out of humble immigrant roots to rise to 
             the House of Representatives--and then through dedicated, 
             selfless work, sustaining that lifelong commitment to 
             public service as we returned him to office resoundingly 
             over and over again.
               Congressman Bob Matsui was our senior statesman, and 
             specifically too for the Asian Pacific Islander 
             community--he helped so many of us, mentored us, and 
             advised us with that straightforward style of his.
               I will always remember that style--articulate, smart, 
             direct, strong, the firm handshake, the direct look in the 
             eye. A man who wasn't afraid to get into it, whether on 
             flood control, redevelopment of closed military bases, or 
             Social Security and civil rights. During his 26-year 
             tenure, he also consistently advocated for increased 
             energy efficient tax incentives, electricity reliability, 
             and development of renewable energy. At the Sacramento 
             Municipal Utility Department (SMUD), we deeply appreciated 
             his commitment.
               He was a very strong man who could make his way 
             gracefully and effectively through the tough politics and 
             policies of Washington, DC, and rise out of over 400 other 
             Representatives into top leadership for Sacramento and the 
             country.
               I am honored and privileged to have known Congressman 
             Bob Matsui. His passing is an enormous loss of a good 
             friend, but his legacy of selfless public service is 
             timeless and inspirational. Thank you.

               Assemblyman Phil Isenberg. Bob and I were elected to the 
             Sacramento City Council in 1971. Later I served as mayor, 
             a member of the Assembly, and I was a friend of Bob's for 
             34 years. My purpose in political life was to make Bob 
             nervous, which I liked to do, and sometimes he even liked 
             to be made nervous. I've been asked to talk a bit about 
             the early Bob Matsui, the Bob Matsui before he became a 
             heavyweight congressional type, turned to public policy 
             issues on the national level; became respected and loved 
             and admired, and, by his political opponents, occasionally 
             feared. I want to tell you a little about how Bob started 
             in politics and what he was like way back then.
               Imagine a Sacramento kid, one of the McClatchy High 
             School mafia whose tentacles go throughout the community 
             even today. He became a successful lawyer and president of 
             the 20-30 Club--think e campus vitas for aging high school 
             students. He married a gorgeous lady, Doris, and they had 
             a smart son, Brian. These were all ingredients for a 
             successful local politician in 1971.
               I thought I would tell you four stories about Bob: ``Bob 
             and Cookies,'' ``Bob and the Sutter Club,'' ``Bob and the 
             Streetwalkers,'' and ``Bob and Earl Warren.''
               First, ``Bob and Cookies.'' It should come as no 
             surprise that the young Bob Matsui had difficulty 
             adjusting to politics and campaigning. In his first 
             political race in 1971, 34 years ago, we were all forced 
             to attend candidates' nights, where 40 candidates in 
             various council district races appeared jointly. The 
             interest groups asked us whatever they were concerned 
             about, and we were expected to pledge undying loyalty to 
             their causes.
               In 1971 there were no women on the council although 
             women were running for a position on the council, and Ann 
             Rudin was soon to be elected. We were told how terrible 
             this was and asked whether we thought women deserved to be 
             on the council. Bob, for reasons that remain unknown, 
             answered, ``Well I think there ought to be women on the 
             city council. After all, who else is going to make the 
             cookies?''
               This would not have been a terrible disaster if the 
             press had been absent, but they were there. In later 
             years, as Bob moved up the ladder of power in Washington, 
             and Doris became a senior advisor to President Bill 
             Clinton, I visualized the two of them sitting down at the 
             table and saying, ``Hillary, let us tell you about the 
             role of women and cookies.''
               Second, ``Bob and the Sutter Club.'' Bob was elected 
             with four other new council members: Ann Rudin, Burnett 
             Miller, Robby Robertson from North Sacramento, and me. Bob 
             was shocked to find himself identified with us in a 
             newspaper article where a prominent local attorney said, 
             ``The election of this new team has raised the red flag of 
             rebellion over City Hall.''
               This was not how Bob saw himself since he was close to 
             the business community. He immediately tried to civilize 
             the rest of us. A local tradition was that the Chamber of 
             Commerce would host a reception for the new members 
             elected to the city council. Bob called to say, ``Phil, I 
             know you don't like the business community, and they don't 
             like you, and you have said hard things about them and 
             vice versa, but it would really be good for you and good 
             for the council, and I really urge you to go to this 
             reception.''
               I grumbled a bit, but he finally convinced me that I 
             should go to the reception, which was held at the Sutter 
             Club--not an institution, then or now, that I attend 
             comfortably. But the event never came off. The Chamber of 
             Commerce called Ann Rudin, the newly elected council 
             member, and said, ``Well, Council Member Rudin, we really 
             appreciate you're going to join us at the reception, but 
             you know the Sutter Club does not allow women to attend 
             events in the evening, and so you just can't come.'' To 
             his credit, Bob declared, ``That's terrible. I'm going to 
             call them and say I can't come.'' For a man who had just 
             announced that a woman's role in politics was to bring 
             cookies, it was a useful experience.
               The third story is ``Bob and the Streetwalkers.'' Bob 
             eventually purchased a historic house on 13th and H 
             Streets for his law office. At one time in 1976 or 1977, 
             the indignities of all indignities were occurring. 
             Streetwalkers--young women, prostitutes--were actually 
             soliciting their clients outside Bob's law office. Bob 
             announced with great solemnity that something must be 
             done. The Sacramento Bee City Hall reporter, an innocent-
             looking guy named Steve Gibson, who looked like a cocker 
             spaniel, acted as if every elected official was required 
             to answer his questions--a fundamental mistake in 
             politics. Steve asked Councilman Matsui, ``Well, 
             Councilman, this is a very serious charge you've made. You 
             said something should be done. Well, what should be 
             done?''
               Bob was quoted as saying: ``Well, I think we ought to 
             send them to West Sacramento!'' That may come as a 
             surprise to the West Sacramento mayor, Chris Cabaldon, who 
             is sitting in the audience. To Bob's credit, when he got 
             called on the statement and began beating a hasty retreat, 
             he never denied making the statement, but did blame the 
             reporter for misusing the quote.
               And then last, ``Bob and Earl Warren.'' One of the gut-
             wrenching political issues for new Councilmember Bob 
             Matsui was the fight over naming the Sacramento Convention 
             Center as it was called when we were elected. As the story 
             goes, Eleanor McClatchy, then alive and the owner of the 
             Sacramento Bee, called Councilmember Burnett Miller and 
             said, ``It would be nice if you named the convention 
             center after Earl Warren, our beloved former Governor and 
             Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.'' So 
             Burnett prepared the resolution.
               It will come as no surprise to you that for many, 
             especially to Americans of Japanese ancestry, Earl 
             Warren's legacy is not as an advocate of civil rights. He 
             was a defender, supporter, and urger of the relocation of 
             Americans of Japanese ancestry in World War II. The 
             political fight was intense. Over many council meetings we 
             would hear from the John Birch Society, followed by the 
             NAACP or the Republican or Democratic Party, and all the 
             struggles of the 1960s and the early 1970s came to a head. 
             Under great pressure, Bob ultimately agreed to vote for 
             the renaming of the community center, even though it gave 
             him considerable pause. You learn ironies and you learn 
             lessons in politics, one of which is that fights sometimes 
             get resolved on their own. Not long thereafter the voters 
             of Sacramento, by referendum, removed Earl Warren's name 
             from the convention center.
               Let me close with a reflection. When Bob Matsui started 
             his public career he was not a politician, nor was he 
             familiar with politics, although he had been on the 
             fringes of it. He learned his politics during his 
             campaign--all the good, all the bad, all the fun, and all 
             the pain. His tenure in Washington made him partisan, but 
             it also made him a public official of substance. 
             Throughout it all, he remained a little shy, respectful of 
             others, and oddly vulnerable. You looked at Bob and he's 
             like Doris and Brian. They're skinny, and you wonder if 
             they eat anything at all. And you just think he is too 
             nice for this business. Politics is usually for people 
             with leather skins, not the Bob Matsuis of the world. Bob 
             was never full of himself, but found his way in public 
             life, educated himself to the issues, particularly Social 
             Security and reparations, and he became a national figure 
             and a national leader, which grew out of his early years. 
             He was at the beginning, and he remained to the end, 
             intelligent, hardworking, honest, and practical. I don't 
             know how you can get much better than that.
               Thank you.

               Judge Emily E. Vasquez. Dearest family, friends of 
             Congressman Matsui, and, in particular, Doris, Brian, and 
             the rest of the Matsui family: good morning to all. My 
             name is Emily Vasquez and I am a judge of the Superior 
             Court here in Sacramento. Congressman Matsui was my friend 
             and my neighbor. I am privileged to be asked to provide a 
             tribute to him. It is with great sadness and remorse that 
             I convey my deeply felt loss at the passing of Congressman 
             Matsui. I was fortunate to have known him for a little 
             over 20 years. But first, before I get started, I just 
             want to say that it's not fair that I have to follow Phil 
             Isenberg with all his witty stories.
               Little did I know when my husband Ralph and I bought our 
             home in a modest Sacramento neighborhood that Bob would be 
             one of our neighbors. Our neighborhood is a very diverse 
             community with single-family houses and rental duplexes 
             and neighbors of every ethnic background, style, and 
             persuasion. And Bob was one of our neighbors down the 
             street. What better way to keep track of the ebb and flow 
             of Congress? When Congress was in recess, Bob would come 
             jogging past our kitchen window early in the morning. I 
             would call out to my husband, ``Ralph--Congressman Matsui 
             is in town--Congress is in recess.''
               The Nation, the State, and the Sacramento community have 
             lost a great leader and a great American. He was an 
             extraordinary Congressman. He was an unassuming man with a 
             powerful intellect and a strong commitment to making 
             things better in this world. Congressman Matsui was a 
             trailblazer, a leader, an intellect, a role model, and a 
             compassionate man. He dedicated his life to making life 
             better for the rest of us. As an infant, we all know that 
             he and his U.S.-born parents were sent to an internment 
             camp for Japanese Americans during World War II. The 
             experience never left him or his family. His mother had 
             nightmares about it for the rest of her life. And it took 
             his father 40 years to finally be able to talk about it. 
             Many, many years later, Bob would state that many 
             internees simply could not believe that their country 
             could to do this to them. But Bob did not let this 
             injustice stop him. Adversity made Congressman Matsui 
             stronger, and along the way he helped countless others 
             find strength as well. In 1988, he helped pass legislation 
             that apologized for the internment policy and provided 
             modest financial compensation for the survivors. He served 
             our district very well for 26 years in Congress.
               In the mid 1980s, when I was on the Sacramento Regional 
             Transit Board of Directors, we sought help from 
             Congressman Matsui to help secure Federal funding for the 
             first legs of our light rail project. He fought very hard 
             in Congress for that funding, and he was successful. And 
             as we all know now, our light rail system is a huge 
             success, and it is the envy of cities throughout the 
             Nation. It would not be here without Bob Matsui's help.
               Throughout his career, he worked with civil rights 
             groups to create opportunities for women and minorities. 
             He reached out to the Hispanic community, as he did with 
             all of the other diverse communities that make up our 
             Sacramento area. His door was always open to all of us. He 
             was interested in our views and he would listen to us. He 
             was a champion for civil rights for all Americans. He 
             demonstrated that the struggle for equality and justice is 
             best waged when people, both men and women, from all walks 
             of life, racial, religious, cultural, and economic status, 
             work together for the common good. Time and time again I 
             witnessed firsthand his ability to bring us all together. 
             We were all a part of his family, and that is what makes 
             him so special to us.
               Growing up in a farm labor camp as a child--my parents 
             were farm workers--I never dreamed that I would someday be 
             a lawyer, much less a judge. It was inspiring for me to 
             meet Congressman Matsui and know that his early setback, 
             due to the internment, did not stop him, and that he grew 
             up to be one of the most successful Congressmen in our 
             history.
               We must never forget that we stand on the shoulders of 
             those who came before us. I have been privileged to stand 
             on the shoulders of others who went before me such as 
             Congressman Matsui and Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, who 
             also died on New Year's Day. I have had the good fortune 
             to know such courageous and inspirational people. Without 
             these wonderful people I would not be where I am today. 
             Yes, Congressman Matsui was a trailblazer, a leader, an 
             intellect, a role model, and a compassionate man, but he 
             was so much more. He leaves a powerful legacy. We wish him 
             Godspeed, and to invoke the words of Shakespeare's Hamlet, 
             we say: ``Goodbye, dear Bob, and flights of angels sing 
             thee to thy rest.''
               We love you and we always will. Thank you.

               Congressman John T. Doolittle. I'm John Doolittle, and I 
             was elected to the California State Senate in 1980 and the 
             U.S. House of Representatives in 1990. I must say that 
             Julie and I feel deeply honored to be included here, 
             today, as a part of this very fitting tribute to a truly 
             great son of Sacramento, Congressman Bob Matsui. It has 
             been observed that we are not merely human beings having 
             occasionally a spiritual experience, but rather that we 
             are spiritual beings having a human experience. Sadly, Bob 
             Matsui's time in mortality has now concluded.
               I remember the first time that Julie and I met Bob and 
             Doris Matsui. It was at a social function at the Sutter 
             Club, I believe, and we were not yet serving with Bob in 
             the House. We were in the State senate, but you couldn't 
             be in Sacramento and not know the name of Bob Matsui--
             first as a city councilman and then later as a 
             Congressman. Both Julie and I were impressed, and have 
             often talked about this first impression over the years, 
             with the incredible charm, warmth, and graciousness of 
             these two great people, Bob and Doris Matsui. And that's 
             something that has stayed with us through time.
               In the media-dominated culture in which we live, you 
             often find great distortions in these public personalities 
             that we've all heard of. We become caricatures of 
             ourselves in the media. One of the greatest pleasures for 
             me was to come to know Bob Matsui as a friend. Now, of 
             course you've all heard about his fine contributions to 
             flood control and the many other things of significance 
             which he accomplished within this community, but the 
             battle over water management in Sacramento has gone on for 
             decades. Bob and I were very much at odds publicly over 
             that for a long time. I just want you all to know that 
             although the battle was very heated and raged for years, 
             we never personally ever exchanged a cross word.
               I look with fondness upon the occasions when the two of 
             us would sit toward the back of the House Chamber and 
             chat. We would either talk about what we were working on 
             with regard to flood control, or, as time went on and that 
             controversy was behind us, we would just visit about our 
             families. I realized how deeply Bob cared about his 
             family, and it is truly one of the great inspirational 
             things that I remember about him.
               He would always greet me warmly in the tunnels between 
             Rayburn and the Capitol Building or when I would see him 
             in the elevator. That is actually the last memory I have 
             of him. We had one such greeting on an elevator near the 
             final day of session in early December, and we wished each 
             other a Merry Christmas. I left, and I'm sure he did too, 
             fully expecting to see one another on opening day in 
             January 2005, when we would be sworn in as Members of the 
             109th Congress.
               Sadly, that expectation was not to be fulfilled. Doris 
             shared something with me that is truly illustrative of how 
             Bob was. He and his closest friends, of course, had known 
             that he had something that he would not recover from. I 
             think we were all terribly shocked when this event 
             occurred much sooner than anyone thought it would. I don't 
             want to imply to you that I knew that he was ill. I 
             didn't. But when it became clear and the doctors informed 
             the family that Bob didn't have long, Doris shared with me 
             that Brian, Amy and little Anna, I believe, were all 
             present. Bob had a chance personally to talk with each 
             one--to tell each one that he loved him and to say goodbye 
             to each. After that, it wasn't long before he peacefully 
             passed from this life.
               I think on a bipartisan basis it is safe to say that 
             Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are not 
             overly fond of our sister institution, the U.S. Senate. 
             And so for my fellow Representatives here, I apologize for 
             quoting someone from the Senate. The Chaplain of the 
             Senate, Edward Everett Hale, in a time long past, offered 
             an inspirational thought that I'd like to share with you.

               I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do 
             everything, but still I can do something. And because I 
             can not do everything, I will not refuse to do the 
             something that I can do.

               Bob Matsui fulfilled this injunction in his personal as 
             well as in his public life. On this day, when we honor his 
             memory, one of the greatest things that we can do is to 
             take that inspirational thought into our hearts and each 
             of us do what we can to make a difference. Thank you.

               State Treasurer Phil Angelides. Good morning. I'm Phil 
             Angelides. I am proud to be Treasurer of this State, and 
             privileged to be Bob Matsui's friend. For my family and 
             me, for our community, and for our Nation, this is a 
             moment of deep sorrow. Today we gather to bid farewell to 
             Bob Matsui, our friend, our Representative, and a moral 
             leader of our generation. Doris and Brian, we share your 
             grief and we offer our prayers. And I thank you for the 
             extraordinary honor to allow me to say a few words in the 
             remembrance of my dear friend.
               Every 2 years we choose a leader from our midst to 
             represent us in the halls of Congress. As a free people, 
             it is easy to take this defining and wonderful act of 
             democracy for granted. We too readily forget, until 
             moments like this, the magnitude of the responsibility we 
             place in the person we elect: to stand, to speak, and to 
             fight for our hopes and our dreams. Every 2 years for the 
             past quarter-century, we placed our faith and trust in Bob 
             Matsui. He honored that trust with his extraordinary 
             commitment to public service and his undying devotion to 
             our Nation. And he stood and he spoke and he fought for us 
             and the best ideals of America. Four months ago, Bob and I 
             shared the sad task of eulogizing our good friend Steve 
             Thompson, who, like Bob, was part of a generation who 
             answered President Kennedy's call to service and Dr. 
             Martin Luther King's call to justice. Our shared loss drew 
             us closer together, and we talked often during the weeks 
             that followed Steve's death. In those conversations I was 
             lucky to have the chance to tell Bob how I felt about him. 
             I told him how much I respected him for his public service 
             and integrity. I told him how much I admired him for his 
             willingness to fight for civil liberties, for opportunity, 
             for fairness, and to stand up without reservation for 
             those without power and without voice. And I told him how 
             proud I was to tell people all over the State and Nation 
             that he was my Congressman and my friend. But what 
             inspired me most about Bob was this: the longer he spent 
             in public life, the more passionate he became about 
             protecting the things he believed in. While others grew 
             weary and even cynical, Bob got stronger and more 
             resolute. And in the last year of his life Bob criss-
             crossed the country, pushing himself endlessly, working to 
             take back the House of Representatives for his best vision 
             of what we could be. He fought for us until the end.
               Now I confess I was not smart enough to have been a Bob 
             Matsui man from the beginning. I supported another guy 
             named Phil over Bob in 1978 when Bob first won election to 
             the House. But Bob never held my keenly astute political 
             judgment against me. In fact, he became a political mentor 
             to me. He was always gracious and generous in spirit to a 
             younger man interested in public life, putting up with a 
             lot along the way. The first time he honored me by 
             inviting me to lunch in the Members' Dining Room in the 
             Capitol, I returned the honor by being late and keeping 
             him waiting alone at a table for a half hour. I remember 
             the day as if it were yesterday because Bob, a man of 
             impeccable decorum, never let me forget it. Despite my bad 
             manners, he was always there to give me a hand up. And 
             when I ran for State Treasurer, he was by my side, when I 
             lost and when I won.
               Tonight Sacramentans will gather at the annual dinner to 
             honor the legacy of Dr. King, a dinner inspired by Bob's 
             commitment to equality and civil liberty. Now you all 
             know, Bob was a modest man and he would have strenuously 
             resisted any effort to mention him in the same paragraph 
             as Dr. King. But in one way we cannot miss the parallel 
             between these two men. Like Dr. King, Bob saw and 
             experienced the worst of America, but he never stopped 
             believing in the best of it. He lived his life's early 
             years behind barbed wire, his family and community in 
             prison simply because they were of Japanese ancestry. He 
             saw his family and neighbors lose their jobs and their 
             businesses and their homes to greed and hysteria. But just 
             as Dr. King could see the promised land, Bob Matsui could 
             see the day when America would understand how wrong it was 
             to have locked up the Japanese American community, and 
             would recognize its duty to make amends to those who have 
             been hurt and for the soul of our Nation.
               Bob's passing grieves us deeply, yet we take solace in 
             knowing that we have been blessed by his leadership and 
             humanity, and that we have been inspired by the life he 
             led. He has left us, but our love and respect for him fill 
             this hall and our hearts.

                           Westminster Presbyterian Church

                               Sacramento, California

                         Saturday, January 8, 2005, 12 noon

             Program

                                       Welcome

                            The Reverend Dexter McNamara

                    Executive Director, Interfaith Service Bureau

                                     Invocation

                               The Reverend Bob Oshita

                    Rinban of Sacramento Betsuin Buddhist Church

                                       Remarks

                              The Honorable David Levi

                 Chief Judge, United States District Court, Eastern 
                                      District

                           The Honorable Charles B. Rangel

                            United States Representative

                                  Words and Prayers

                         The Reverend Canon James Richardson

                            Trinity Episcopal Cathedral,

                          Chaplain, California State Senate

                                       Remarks

                             The Honorable Nancy Pelosi

              Democratic Leader, United States House of Representatives

                                       Eulogy

                                    David Murphy

                                       Friend

                                       Remarks

                                 Brian Robert Matsui

                                         Son

                                     Benediction

                                  Rabbi Brad Bloom

                              Congregation B'nai Israel

               Rev. Dexter McNamara. Grace to you and peace. Please be 
             seated. Grace to you and peace in the name of that Holy 
             God, through whom we were created, and through whom we are 
             sustained in life, and in whom we trust about that holy 
             unknown beyond life as we know it now, and into whose 
             loving arms we entrust our dear friend Robert Matsui. 
             Grace and peace. Amen.
               On behalf of the people of many different faiths in the 
             Sacramento area, I welcome you to this service of 
             remembrance and of hope. As Mr. Matsui was genuinely 
             concerned about the safety and well-being of people of all 
             backgrounds, so people of all backgrounds join in being 
             thankful for his life, and in mourning his death, and 
             extending love to his family. And on behalf of the senior 
             pastor and the session of Westminster Presbyterian Church, 
             I extend their gracious welcome to all of you to this 
             place of worship. They regret that they could not be 
             present today, but their prayers and their love are here 
             with all of us.
               And on behalf of all of us gathered here, I want to 
             express our appreciation and thanks to this congregation 
             and its staff for so graciously and helpfully welcoming us 
             here. Thank you, Westminster Presbyterian Church.
               As those who feel a deep loss, and as those who would 
             also hold on to hope and to love, let us join together in 
             this time of worship.

               Rev. Bob Oshita. Twenty years ago, when my wife Patti 
             and I came to Sacramento, she became a part of Congressman 
             Matsui's district congressional staff. We knew even then 
             that working for Bob enhanced our acceptance by the 
             greater Sacramento community and we quickly began to forge 
             friendships that we knew would be lifelong. Over the 
             years, Patti and I have been honored to help with his 
             campaigns and to have had Bob and Doris as a part of our 
             lives.
               There's a cloud of sadness that seems to just hang over 
             our hearts, and our thoughts are filled with so many 
             memories of what Bob Matsui has meant to us.
               Each of us will always remember exactly where we were 
             when we heard that we had lost Bob. Since the morning of 
             January 2 when we awoke, only to learn of his passing, it 
             has been a week of disbelief for each of us whom Bob has 
             touched with his life.
               In the past days I've encountered so many members of his 
             extensive family of friends, all of us unable to accept 
             the reality that he is gone, feeling, ``How can this be 
             so?'' Asking ``Was there nothing more that could have been 
             done?'' We have all moved numbly through the days, feeling 
             this is just a terrible dream from which we cannot awaken.
               How much more so for Doris and Brian, and for Amy. How 
             much more so for you.
               So young, at only 63, we cannot help but feel that he 
             should have had many more years of life yet to fill; so 
             much yet for him to do. It just doesn't seem fair.
               We tend to feel that youth is synonymous with life. And 
             the younger we are, the more we have a right to live. But 
             as we are taught in Buddhism, from the time we are born 
             there is no guarantee of even 1 day of life. Each day is a 
             gift not to be taken for granted. We know this.
               In our minds we all know this. Yet in our hearts, always 
             we will wish it did not have to be so.
               These past few months, as we all enjoyed the wonderful 
             winter holiday season from Thanksgiving to Christmas and 
             New Year's, Bob and Doris were facing the greatest 
             adversity of their lives with the same unassuming dignity 
             with which they have always lived, with the same gracious 
             courage with which they have together accomplished so 
             much. I know they held onto each other for as long as life 
             would allow.
               And on the late evening of New Year's Day, all of our 
             lives were diminished when Bob Matsui was made to let go 
             of this life that he lived so very well.
               Today we come together and miss him together, to help 
             each other and hold each other, and together honor him 
             with our tears of love and appreciation.
               Within our sadness is a deep awareness that we must not 
             take for granted even one opportunity to appreciate the 
             people we love while we have them.
               In knowing loss, our eyes of enlightenment are opened 
             and we realize again that if someone has shown us kindness 
             let us thank them now. If there is someone we care for let 
             us love and appreciate them now.
               Although born into a time that was not welcoming to 
             those of Japanese ancestry, Bob Matsui learned one of the 
             great secrets of life. He knew that each of us was born 
             with a wonderful and unique life, in a time not of our 
             choosing. He knew that we must learn to accept our unique 
             circumstances and do the best that we can. To live as best 
             we can, doing always the best we can.
               It is said that the greatness of a man can be measured 
             by how much his life has touched the lives of others. When 
             a baby is born, amid the joy, only the baby cries. But if 
             one has lived his life well and truly touched the lives of 
             others, when such a person dies there will be many tears 
             for many will cry.
               The tears that we cry, the tears our Nation cries in 
             losing Bob Matsui, are loving testimony to the 
             irreplaceable life of a remarkable man.
               To Doris, I know there are no words to truly ease the 
             pain of losing your best friend and lifetime companion. 
             You were a mighty team together, and with Brian, Amy and 
             Anna in his life, we know that Bob was never lacking for 
             love.
               I am honored today to be a voice, representing so many, 
             expressing our gratitude for his life and our appreciation 
             for all that he has done. I'd like to begin our service 
             for Bob Matsui today with a simple expression of gratitude 
             beyond words that we call in Buddhism: O-Nembutsu.

               Judge David Levi. Doris, Brian, Amy and Anna; esteemed 
             leaders and Members of Congress; distinguished State and 
             local government officials; fellow judges; friends and 
             admirers of Robert Matsui.
               I speak for myself, for my court, and if I may, for the 
             legal community in Sacramento. We have lost a friend, a 
             colleague, and a statesman.
               It has been such a wonderful privilege to come to know 
             Bob Matsui. His son Brian clerked for me for 1 year. But I 
             really became part of the Matsui family when Brian and Amy 
             asked me to officiate at their beautiful wedding in June 
             2002. And I know that I endeared myself to Bob and Doris 
             when I dispensed some career advice to Amy, a talented 
             young lawyer, about what she might do in Washington when 
             Brian clerked for Justice Kennedy. I told her that my wife 
             and I had a baby at a similar point in our lives and that 
             it was a great time for a baby. And wonder of wonders, the 
             following year they had a baby! Anna. Would that all 
             officious intermeddling had such productive outcomes. 
             Forever after, Bob playfully insisted that I was 
             responsible for his granddaughter, and I would like to 
             believe that, for all the joy she gave to him.
               Bob was very proud of his family, and justifiably so. In 
             Doris he was blessed with a wife who was not only a loving 
             and supportive spouse but also a friend and an advisor. 
             They had a true partnership. And Bob realized, as I did, 
             that through Brian we had a special tie, one that was 
             important and worth nurturing. Like his Dad, Brian has a 
             seriousness of purpose and a gentle manner. They shared a 
             wonderful and sometimes even boisterous sense of humor and 
             a love of life that is so attractive to others.
               After my own father died, Bob wrote to me enclosing his 
             copy of my father's book. He wrote:

               It appears that your Father had made more of an 
             impression on me than I realized. He was inspirational as 
             Attorney General and that had influenced me about public 
             service; but I had no memory that he influenced me about 
             the law. I was cleaning out my collection of books and 
             discovered ``An Introduction to Legal Reasoning.'' I 
             immediately recalled I read it while still an 
             undergraduate at Berkeley.

               And now Bob wanted me to have it because, as he put it,

               Your Father had a great influence on the father of one 
             of your clerks.

               It was so lovely of Bob to put us together in a chain of 
             generations of interwoven families and influences reaching 
             out over time and place and background.
               Bob graduated from U.C. Hastings in 1966 and immediately 
             came to Sacramento to hang out his shingle. This was a 
             brave thing for a young lawyer to do. He started out at 
             4th and J in the old Hong Kong Bank building, just across 
             from where the Federal courthouse now stands where he 
             later had his congressional office. He had a general 
             practice, handling whatever came in the door: criminal 
             matters, civil cases, wills, the day-to-day business of 
             the law.
               I have talked to some of our lawyers and judges who 
             remember Bob from those days. One of my colleagues, who 
             was then a county prosecutor, may have captured Bob the 
             best. He said that when Bob appeared to defend a drunk 
             driver the prosecutors would agree to plead the case out 
             because Bob was just so darned nice and also because he 
             was just so tenacious.
               I have an image of Bob from that period that puts him in 
             the great tradition of American lawyers who cut their 
             teeth by practicing in the seats of local and State 
             government and then went on to do great things on the 
             national stage.
               Justice Robert Jackson, who was such a one himself, 
             described these lawyers in a lyrical piece about the 
             county seat lawyer. He said:

               The county seat lawyer knows that in this country the 
             administration of justice is based on law practice. Once 
             enlisted for a client, he [takes] his obligation 
             seriously. He ha[s] a real sense of dedication to the 
             administration of justice. He render[s] and exact[s] 
             courtesy, honor, and straightforwardness at the Bar. It 
             [is] from [these ranks] that America has drawn its 
             statesmen and its judges.

               Bob could well have been a judge and a fine one, but he 
             preferred politics and daily contact with people and so he 
             became one of our great statesmen, rendering courtesy and 
             honor in the halls of Congress. He brought to this 
             important work the same two qualities of kindness and 
             firmness that were his hallmark as a lawyer and as a 
             person. He also brought an understanding and respect for 
             our different branches of government, their different 
             roles, responsibilities and limitations. And he had the 
             personal qualities and the deep understanding of our 
             system to work through problems and to find solutions. How 
             fitting, that it was through Congressman Matsui's efforts 
             Sacramento was able to build a beautiful Federal 
             courthouse, just two blocks from where he first started in 
             law practice, one that symbolizes the dignity and 
             importance of the rule of law to a society in which 
             kindness and firmness must each have their say.
               Officiating at a wedding in 1931, Justice Benjamin 
             Cardozo, my distant relation, spoke of the

               [T]hree great mysteries in the lives of mortal beings: 
             the mystery of birth at the beginning; the mystery of 
             death at the end; and, greater than either, the mystery of 
             love. Everything that is most precious in life is a form 
             of love. Art is a form of love, if it be noble; labor is a 
             form of love, if it be worthy; thought is a form of love, 
             if it be inspired.

               Bob Matsui's life and work were noble, worthy, and 
             inspired--other names for love. And this was the source of 
             his great influence on all of us. He loved his country, 
             his community, his profession, his many friends, and his 
             family. And so we loved him.
               Here in the Central Valley, in the bed of the ancient 
             inland sea, we live between the mountains and the ocean, 
             on the banks of two mighty rivers that merge at our core, 
             amidst the awesome forces of nature and the works of man. 
             As my old English teacher has written: ``Eventually, all 
             things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The 
             river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over 
             rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are 
             timeless raindrops.'' Under the rocks are the words, and 
             some of the words are Robert Matsui's.

               Congressman Charles B. Rangel. I started my trip from 
             Washington to California, rather Sacramento, at 3 a.m., 
             and I was trying to figure out what could be said about 
             Bob that hasn't already been said. I remember my mother, a 
             Protestant converted to Catholicism, would always use the 
             expression that ``God is good.'' I never understood why, 
             during the most difficult times in our lives, she would 
             see fit to praise God. But as I got to know her and got 
             older, I guess the idea was that it's times like these 
             that we have to thank God for what we have.
               God is good because as we go through this emotional 
             feeling, He gave us Doris, Brian, and Amy and Anna. Strong 
             people who loved him. It makes our job so much easier as 
             we cannot afford to talk about the pain that we feel, 
             knowing what you are going through.
               God is good because after a rough campaign for which Bob 
             was director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign 
             Committee, Nancy Pelosi saw fit to bring us together to 
             have a dinner where we had a chance to talk about how much 
             we loved and appreciated Bob's work. God is good because 
             He gave Doris and the family an opportunity to say ``so 
             long,'' which is very unusual, but God did make that 
             possible at a time where human life almost appears to be 
             worth almost nothing in the Middle East and in Asia.
               Losing a friend makes you more aware of how good God 
             really is. We had a chance on the Ways and Means Committee 
             to talk with Bob about what he wanted to do with Social 
             Security. Sandy Levin, Pete Stark, and I knew one thing: 
             Whatever he wanted to do he had earned the right to do it.
               And God is good because He gave us a chance to tell Bob 
             how much we loved him. It's times like these you sometimes 
             wonder why all the good guys are the ones that are 
             snatched away.
               And really what made Bob so very, very special? Could it 
             have been that he suffered indignities when he was a 
             child, an internment, and he wanted to make sure that no 
             other American would have to go through that humiliation? 
             His feeling about the Congress, could it be that he wanted 
             the Social Security system not only to be there for him 
             and Doris, but he wanted it to be there for generations to 
             follow because he wanted the commitment, a covenant 
             between the Congress and the American people. And when it 
             comes to taking care of the aged, why is it that we would 
             never have to worry about what Bob's position on Medicare 
             would be and that we knew that he wouldn't be just 
             speaking on the issue, but that he would be leading the 
             debate on the issue?
               God is good because you look at the faces and people 
             that came from all over the country, just to say hello and 
             to remind ourselves how fortunate we were to know someone 
             like Bob Matsui. What makes him so unique? One thing is 
             abundantly clear--You don't ask how his family is unless 
             you've got time. His love for the family was an 
             encouragement for all of us; there was no political issue 
             that was so important that he didn't feel compelled to say 
             how much he loved his family. And it just seems to me that 
             if God is as good as my mother thought, then we have a 
             special obligation to God, not just to complain about him 
             snatching away that prince of peace, Bob Matsui, but also 
             to thank him for really making a difference in all of our 
             lives and it is so very, very difficult to do that, but 
             God blessed us all by letting us know and love Bob Matsui.

               Rev. James Richardson. Please let me extend my sympathy 
             to Doris and your family in this difficult time. I am 
             deeply honored to be asked to share a few words and a 
             prayer today, and I will be brief.
               Every time I ever had occasion to meet Congressman 
             Matsui, he was always a gentleman to me and my wife Lori. 
             He leaves a deep hole in the hearts of each of us, and a 
             deep hole in the soul of our community, our State, and our 
             Nation.
               The last time I saw Congressman Matsui was at another 
             sad occasion for our community and State, at Steve 
             Thompson's memorial service at my church, Trinity 
             Cathedral. The Congressman was so eloquent and touching 
             that day. I shall never forget it.
               Mrs. Matsui asked that this service be ecumenical; that 
             we honor her husband by honoring the many faith traditions 
             that make Sacramento so richly strong and diverse.
               I would like to offer a few words from the Christian 
             tradition and then end with a prayer. Please take these 
             words in the spirit of an offering from the best--and not 
             the worst--of the Christian tradition.
               In the Christian faith that Robert shared, we know that 
             death is not the end of the story; that our God is a 
             loving God who breathes into us new life even when our 
             bodies fail.
               Death is another phase of life; in death, we pass beyond 
             the horizon of this world into the next. We believe in a 
             God who embraces all people--all people--with love and 
             compassion, and we honor our God when we embrace those 
             gentle values, the value Robert Matsui so exemplified in 
             his life and work.
               We also know that we live in a broken world, where 
             people get sick and die--but somehow God heals all who are 
             sick, and sometimes that healing takes place in the next 
             phase of life. In my own experience with the dying, I've 
             found that there really isn't a firm dividing line between 
             this world and the next, and those we love who have died 
             are really not that far away from us.
               That said, it is OK to cry and feel sad today because 
             Robert is gone from us. But it also all right to laugh 
             because Robert's sickness is no more and he has been made 
             whole.
               The good news is that the Creator has healed Robert and 
             will also heal us. All of us share in the promise of God's 
             creation, no matter what our station in life or our 
             politics. Death will never, never be more powerful than 
             God.
               Robert Matsui believed in a Supreme Being, and if you 
             read the remarks he made in 1987, which are reprinted in 
             today's issue of the Bee, you also know that Robert Matsui 
             believed that the Supreme Being, God, calls us to reach 
             beyond ourselves, and rise above our petty prejudices and 
             work for peace and justice for all people, and that this 
             call is timeless through every generation.
               In that spirit, I would like to end with the prayer 
             attributed to St. Francis, whose own life of service led 
             him on a journey bringing peace and love toward all living 
             things:
               Let us pray:

Lord, make us instruments of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let us sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is discord, union;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

Where there is sadness, joy;

Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

To be understood as to understand;

To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

               Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. Doris, Brian, Amy, Anna, 
             thank you for the privilege to join with you in honoring 
             and celebrating the life of our dear friend, Bob Matsui.
               Words are inadequate to explain our loss, or to 
             appreciate his enormous contribution to our country. But 
             as often is the case, scripture gives us a guide. An 
             Ecclesiastes hymn proceeds:
             Now let us praise great men, outstanding in their era,
             who gave council because they were wise,
             who lead people by their knowledge,
             who were honored in their generation,
             and were the pride of their times;
             whose offspring will continue,
             whose righteous deeds will not be forgotten,
             they will be buried in peace and their names will live on.

               This hymn is familiar to many, but it is uniquely 
             fitting for Bob Matsui.
               I join our distinguished colleague Mr. Rangel in asking, 
             What was the source of the strength of this great man whom 
             we praise today? First of all, we all know it was his 
             immediate family--his close knit family. Doris, Brian, 
             Amy, and Anna brought joy and inspiration to him. It was 
             the family he was raised in--in the past his parents, 
             whose fortitude and grace helped shape him. And its 
             future--he always was thinking about the future; Anna is 
             Bob's and Doris's messenger to the future. It is a future 
             most of us in this room will not see, but to which she 
             will bring the values and the traditions of the Matsui 
             family.
               As others have mentioned, his family's experience in the 
             internment camps had a profound impact on his public 
             service. He spoke about it beautifully himself, about the 
             spirit of faith that came from the camp. In his own words, 
             Bob said, ``What is most striking about all of these 
             internment camp stories is the faith and the hope that 
             remained; faith in the law of the land, pride in this 
             country, and most of all a sincere desire to prove loyalty 
             to this great Nation and to be allowed to serve its ideals 
             and principles.''
               When Bob's parents were interned, they could never have 
             imagined their little baby boy would one day be eulogized 
             by Presidents, that flags would fly at half-staff over the 
             Capitol in D.C. and in Sacramento, that the Speaker of the 
             House and scores of Members of Congress--Senate and 
             House--would attend Bob's memorial services. President 
             Bush, in his statement the day after we lost Bob, said 
             that ``Bob Matsui was a dedicated public servant and a 
             good and decent man who served our nation with distinction 
             and integrity.'' I am certain that [Transportation 
             Secretary] Norm Mineta let the President know immediately 
             upon our losing--thank you Norm--losing Bob. President 
             Clinton, who spoke at Bob's memorial service in the U.S. 
             Capitol, said that ``Bob Matsui leaves behind a rich 
             legacy of service that improves the lives of his own 
             constituents, all Americans and people throughout the 
             world.'' And in his statement, Senator Harry Reid--the 
             democratic leader of the Senate who is weathering the 
             snows of Las Vegas to get here, and he may be here before 
             the ceremony is over--spoke beautifully and touchingly of 
             their friendship, and proudly of Bob's leadership. I know 
             that I speak for all of my colleagues, scores of whom are 
             here today, led again by Mr. Rangel--3 o'clock in the 
             morning to get here--when I say that for all of those of 
             us who served with Bob Matsui, it was an honor to call him 
             ``colleague.'' Bob Matsui served our country with intense 
             pride in his Asian American heritage and great patriotism 
             for our country. In addition to family and heritage, a 
             great source of strength and inspiration to Bob were the 
             people of Sacramento. He loved you all so much, he bragged 
             about you all the time, he sang your praises, and worked 
             proudly for you every day. Now we all think that we 
             represent the best district in the country. Is that not 
             right, my colleagues? Bob Matsui was certain of it. He 
             loved it here; a few years ago he said, ``with all that 
             Sacramento has to offer, some like to think of Sacramento 
             as California's best kept secret. True, it is an ideal 
             place to live and to do business, but I like to think of 
             it simply as home.''
               And what a welcome home Bob received. So many people 
             again weathering the elements--the wind and the rain--to 
             pay their respects to him in the Rotunda of the Capitol of 
             California. It is a very unusual honor. Bob deserved it. 
             People came to the civic ceremony this morning to hear 
             such eloquent speeches of praise, no words are adequate, 
             but so many great statements about Bob Matsui's service. 
             Again, when Anna is old enough to read--she's what, 16, 17 
             months old now, and according to Bob that reading should 
             be any day now for this magnificently brilliant child--
             when she's able to read about her grandfather and his 
             passion and his intellect, the contribution he made to our 
             country, how proud she will be.
               Bob Matsui's life, though we're sad today, is proof and 
             hope that one person can make a difference. And what a 
             difference he made. Many people have spoken to it. I would 
             just like to say that in the earliest days of navigation, 
             sailors charted their course by the stars. Later, they 
             also used compasses. Bob was both for us. He was a moral 
             compass to the Congress of the United States, grounded in 
             his great values, and with his excellence for his work, 
             for children and for families, for seniors, to preserve 
             the Constitution of the United States. He was a star--a 
             compass and a star. That makes him a great navigator. When 
             a star is snuffed out in the sky, the poet Longfellow 
             wrote,

               For ages its light, still burning, traveling downward 
             from the sky, would shine on our mortal sight. So when a 
             great man dies, for years beyond our ken, the life he 
             leaves behind leaves a light upon the path of men.

               Bob Matsui's light will always shine, one that will lead 
             us to a better America that was his dream.
               Doris, Brian, Amy, sleeping Anna, I hope it is a comfort 
             to you that so many people mourn your loss so deeply, and 
             are praying for you at this sad time. In Bob's leaving us 
             I believe he would identify with the words of Timothy in 
             the scripture: ``I have fought the good fight, I have 
             finished the race, I have kept the faith.''
               God truly blessed America with the life and leadership 
             of Bob Matsui.

               David Murphy. We are here to celebrate the life of 
             Robert T. Matsui, our Representative in Congress for 26 
             years and our friend, and to offer our love and comfort to 
             Doris, Brian, Amy and Anna.
               Bob was a very good friend of mine, as he was to many of 
             you here today who shared his life. We shared his life in 
             different ways.
               There are those of you who made that journey with his 
             family in 1942 to the internment camp in Tule Lake. There 
             are those of you who went to school with Bob. There are 
             those of you who grew up with him, those of us who got to 
             know the young lawyer as we started our careers together 
             in Sacramento before he went to Congress. And there are 
             those of you who were touched by him as he served you as 
             your Congressman.
               This is a very hard thing to do because Bob was so young 
             and in all the years that I knew him, he seemed 
             invincible. As a small child, I thought, as I am sure many 
             of you did, that my parents were also invincible and Bob 
             shared some of those qualities that we recognize in 
             parents.
               He was someone who took care of us, someone upon whom we 
             could depend. He was someone we could trust, someone who 
             always looked out for our well-being. We knew Bob was 
             always there for us and that child part of me thought he 
             would be here for many more years. He was supposed to do 
             this for me, not the other way around.
               Robert Takeo Matsui was born on September 17, 1941, 
             right here in Sacramento, when the United States was on 
             the brink of World War II. After the attack on Pearl 
             Harbor, Bob; his father, Yas; and his mother, Alice; along 
             with all of our Japanese community were sent to an 
             internment camp in Tule Lake. In all of the years that I 
             knew Bob, and I met Bob when we were in our early 
             twenties, I never heard him speak of this in anger or 
             resentment, but this was an experience that he carried 
             deep inside of him, as did many Japanese Americans.
               As you know, many years later, Bob was responsible for 
             shepherding the Japanese American redress act through 
             Congress, which offered a token compensation to the 
             victims. In so doing, many Japanese Americans, especially 
             those of Bob's parents' generation, were finally publicly 
             able to validate the pain of this injustice, and in so 
             doing, ease some of the grief that had haunted them for so 
             long.
               Bob's family came back to Sacramento when Bob was 4 
             years old and Bob led a life typical of young boys growing 
             up in the 1950s. He sported a crew cut and played Little 
             League which was the beginning of a lifelong love of 
             baseball. He attended local schools, graduating from 
             California Junior High and McClatchy High School. I have 
             heard stories from his classmates that there was a rite of 
             passage at his junior high school and that rite of passage 
             took place behind the baseball backstop. There were fights 
             and Bob was often in them. Maybe because of his size and 
             quiet demeanor Bob was often underestimated. It is told 
             that Bob didn't always win, but he never gave up.
               There was one person who Bob took on who was much bigger 
             than he was in size. Bob was knocked down over and over 
             but just kept on getting up. Finally the other guy was so 
             tired that he just walked away and said, ``you win.'' Bob 
             just wouldn't quit.
               To give you a better understanding of Bob's grit, I have 
             been told that one of his opponents was a young man by the 
             name of James Moore who later received a scholarship to 
             Oklahoma State University where he played tackle! This 
             must have been the beginning of his preparation for the 
             way he would lead his life before and during his political 
             days--not with his fists, of course, but with that strong 
             determination.
               Bob went on to the University of California at Berkeley 
             where he met the beautiful Doris Okada. He could not have 
             known when he married Doris that she would play such a 
             major part in every one of his successes in life. During 
             this time, he was inspired to the legal field by reading 
             the autobiography of the famed trial lawyer, Clarence 
             Darrow, and to public service by President John F. 
             Kennedy's speech challenging Americans to ask what they 
             could do for their country.
               Bob and Doris married on Bob's 25th birthday in 
             September 1966 after Bob graduated from Hastings Law 
             School. The young couple moved back to his hometown where 
             Bob founded his own Sacramento law practice in 1967. I got 
             to know Bob at this time.
               Bob and I, and many of his old friends who are here 
             today, were members of the active 20-30 Club. The 20-30 
             Club is a club of young men between the ages of 20 and 39 
             whose motto is ``A man never stands so tall as when he 
             kneels to help a child.'' Strong friendships were forged 
             during those days when we worked side by side to help the 
             youth of our community. In later years, when Bob was not 
             in Sacramento any more, whenever he would come back to 
             Sacramento it would be as if no time had passed because 
             those strong bonds were there forever. Bob did not forget 
             his friends.
               During this last week I have heard many stories about 
             Bob and one thing that touched me was the fact that when 
             one of his friends from that old 20-30 group, Conley 
             MacDonald, who had preceded Bob as president of 20-30, was 
             stricken with leukemia 2 years ago, Bob took time out of 
             his busy schedule and called Conley every day of the last 
             week of his life.
               Two big events happened in Bob's life in 1972. As I 
             mentioned, Bob was president of the 20-30 Club and more 
             important, his son Brian Robert Matsui was born. I want to 
             digress a little here. Bob was so proud of Brian and he 
             has turned out to be a fine young man. This is just a cute 
             story that I remember from way back in the old days when 
             Brian was pretty young, maybe 5 or 6 years old. Bob took 
             Brian to the movies one day. Bob loved taking Brian to the 
             show and on one occasion Brian wanted some candy and for 
             whatever reason, Bob said, ``No, we are just going in to 
             watch the movie.'' After the show was on, and they were 
             all settled, Brian whispered to his dad and Bob said, 
             ``Yes, Brian?'' Brian whispered back, ``Dad, I want that 
             candy and if you don't get it for me right now, I am going 
             to scream out loud at the top of my lungs.'' Well, Bob did 
             buy him the candy and it was then that we realized that 
             Brian was going to be a successful negotiator when he grew 
             up.
               When Bob was elected to the Sacramento City Council, the 
             friends that he had made in 20-30, along with the Japanese 
             community, played a large role in getting him elected. As 
             a matter of fact there is a funny story about this time 
             when two of his childhood friends, Jerry Miyamoto and Alan 
             Oshima, who were also members of 20-30, were out there, 
             along with all of us, walking the district going from 
             house to house. No one really knew Bob in those days. Now 
             Bob didn't ask them to do this, but Jerry and Alan never 
             corrected anyone who thought they were THE candidate. The 
             other candidates were just amazed at how much territory 
             Bob covered personally knocking on all those doors.
               I would like to reminisce a little and share a few more 
             memories from those early days. Bob was a perfectionist. 
             One day Bob called us and asked us to come over as he had 
             just purchased a very nice car and he was upset because he 
             said he had a big scratch on it. We got over to his house 
             and he took me out to the garage and I thought the car 
             looked pretty good. Bob did very well in his career a lot 
             sooner than most of us and was the first one to have such 
             a nice car. Pretty soon we were down on our hands and 
             knees, Bob with a flashlight and he pointed out a dent 
             under the car's front fender! Bob was not just a 
             perfectionist, he was THE perfectionist!
               Bob was a practical joker. There was a big gathering 
             over at the Weinberg's house when we were young. Steve 
             Weinberg collected baseball cards before it became really 
             popular and at that time had every card set from 1954 on. 
             Bob took about 50 of his cards at that party and proceeded 
             to mail them back to Steve, one at a time, from different 
             post offices in Sacramento so he would not have a clue who 
             had done it.
               I was not immune from Bob's pranks either. On one 
             occasion Susan and I went to Carmel with Bob and Doris and 
             I don't know why we couldn't just enjoy Carmel, but Bob 
             wanted to see a movie and picked out Andy Warhol's 
             ``Frankenstein.'' NOT a good choice. The movie was in 3-D 
             and was very gory and scary. When we got back to the hotel 
             we decided to unwind and have a nightcap. I actually was 
             feeling kind of scared from the movie and I told Bob, 
             ``You go get the ice,'' and I thought Bob was also scared 
             as he said ``No, you go get the ice and I'll get the 
             glasses from my room.'' So I went down to the ice machine 
             and just as I turned around to go back to our room Bob 
             jumped out of the bushes and let out a blood curdling 
             scream at the top of his lungs! I would have had a heart 
             attack if I hadn't been so young! Bob took great pleasure 
             in this. I used to tell him he used to be fun until he was 
             elected to Congress, but I do hope he was a little 
             mischievous occasionally back in Washington.
               Bob represented his city council district well and 
             became vice mayor in 1977. In that same year, our 
             Congressman, John Moss, who had represented Sacramento for 
             almost 26 years, decided to retire. Bob and John had a 
             special relationship and John encouraged him to run and 
             gave him a 2-day head start. Bob immediately threw his hat 
             in the ring and got organized quickly. This race was going 
             to be won in the primary and most people did not give Bob 
             a chance. Again, he was underestimated. He ran against the 
             then-mayor of Sacramento, Phil Isenberg, and county 
             supervisor, Gene Gualco, both very capable and 
             experienced. Bob ran a distant third in the beginning but 
             ended up winning. He would tell his opponents all during 
             the campaign that they were so fortunate that they were 
             doing so well and that he knew he didn't have a chance, 
             all the time running a quiet and effective campaign and 
             knowing that his standings were improving daily. I asked 
             Bob one time why he always told his opponents that and he 
             said, ``Well, if they think that they are going to win 
             easily, maybe they won't work as hard.'' I don't know if 
             that is what happened but I do know that Bob won with a 
             pretty good margin.
               After that first election, Bob won 13 more times, always 
             by large margins. I remember around the third election 
             when Bob got 80 percent of the vote, one of the highest 
             percentages in the Nation that year, we were all ecstatic. 
             Bob, on the other hand, was happy, but the only thing he 
             could talk about was ``who were those 20 percent who voted 
             against me and could we find out their names?''
               Many people today have talked about Bob's work in 
             Congress. They have spoken eloquently and I will not 
             recite the long list of his accomplishments.
               I would like to mention how his congressional role 
             affected the lives of people back here at home. Susan and 
             I have a friend in our lives named Zora Balaban who came 
             to this country from Serbia 10 years ago. When she heard 
             of Bob's death, she called us in tears because of the 
             profound effect that Bob has had in her life. After 
             working for 2 years in Sacramento with a visa Zora applied 
             for her green card and went back to Serbia to visit her 
             family. Somehow her paperwork was lost and she was not 
             allowed to come back into the United States. She remained 
             in Serbia for 1 year, unable to untangle the redtape. Bob 
             interceded for her and Zora was finally able to return in 
             1996 and became a proud citizen of the United States last 
             year. Zora's story is not unusual. In her words, ``What a 
             good person he must have been to do so much good for 
             someone he didn't even know. Even my parents couldn't have 
             done more for me.'' She told us that she wished that 
             someone could express her feelings for Bob. And so I am 
             telling you her story.
               Doris told us that there is a gardener who takes care of 
             the home that the Matsuis maintain in Sacramento who was 
             similarly helped by Bob. Bob and Doris have never met him 
             but when Doris arrived at their home this week, she found 
             her gardens were full of freshly planted beautiful 
             flowers. It was his gift to Bob and Doris. It was how he 
             could express his gratefulness to Bob and so I am telling 
             you his story.
               These stories reflect the profound effect that kindness 
             can make on the world. Senator Clinton coined a new phrase 
             in her memorial to Bob this week. She said we should all 
             practice the ``Matsui moment'' in situations of choice. 
             First, take the road of kindness.
               About Bob's time in Congress back in Washington, DC--let 
             me just say that in all that he did, Bob was a man of 
             quiet dignity who was respected by his colleagues on both 
             sides of the aisle. Bob was a man of integrity who always 
             did what he thought was right for America. Bob was kind 
             and gracious in his interpersonal relationships. Bob was a 
             gentleman in all things and always there resided within 
             him that underestimated strength to stay the course and 
             accomplish goals to benefit his country and the home 
             community that he represented so well. Bob was always 
             accessible. He greeted you like a friend, with a warm 
             handshake and a welcoming smile, and if you were not his 
             friend before you met him, you were when you walked away 
             from him.
               And so we stand here today to say goodbye to our dear 
             friend. He comes home to remain with us in Sacramento. 
             Bob, we were always so proud of you, our native son, and 
             we celebrate all of the roles of your life: Bob the loving 
             husband, the affectionate father, the doting grandfather, 
             our respected statesman, and our cherished friend. We 
             thank God for the gift that your life was to all of us. As 
             President Clinton noted, ``He was what was right with 
             America.'' As Senator Clinton observed, ``He bridged the 
             gaps that so often divide us.'' And, as his hometown 
             paper, the Sacramento Bee, proclaimed, ``He was a good and 
             decent man.''
               Godspeed dear friend.

               Brian Robert Matsui. On behalf of my Mom, my wife Amy, 
             and my daughter Anna, and of course myself, I want to 
             thank you all for coming here today. My father would be 
             truly touched to see so many of you here, for sharing all 
             these memories of his time in Washington, and of course 
             here, at his home.
               He would also want us to thank you for the welcome you 
             gave him when we brought him home. Thank you.
               Of course he never believed he left; and I don't think 
             he ever really did. He was born here, in the old Sutter 
             General Hospital. He rooted for the Solons as a kid. He 
             went to William Land Elementary School, Cal Junior High, 
             and C.K. McClatchy High School. Some of his classmates are 
             here today, and we want to thank them for being with us.
               When you think of it, he only left this city twice in 
             his life. He left when the government took him away from 
             his community and placed him in an internment camp, just a 
             few months after he had been born. But he, and our family, 
             returned as soon as our inalienable rights were restored.
               He left again to go to college, as the first to do so in 
             his family, and to law school. But he and my mom returned 
             to this city in 1966, just after they had graduated, just 
             after having been married, to begin their life of 38 years 
             in the only place that they would ever know as their home. 
             And he would say, and I would have to agree, that he never 
             left again.
               Because being a Member of Congress he felt never took 
             him away from the city that he loved. He was just your one 
             voice in that Chamber of the people. Had being your voice 
             required him to lose touch with his home, he would not 
             have done it. Because he loved this city; loved all of his 
             friends here, and wanted to be no place else. And he knew 
             he only could be effective so long as he remained close 
             here, at his home. It was only because he felt so close to 
             this community, to all of you, that he felt that he could 
             speak for it for so long.
               And I see that here today. Even as this city has grown, 
             it has remained a tight community of friends, both old and 
             new. My father always felt that this city represented the 
             very best in America. This is the only place he ever 
             wanted to live.
               So, this morning, on the day that we lay my father to 
             rest, too soon, it is fitting that I woke up in the house 
             where he was raised. I woke up in the room where he slept, 
             where he studied, where he dreamed of baseball, law, and 
             placing his own mark on the world, his own contribution. I 
             woke up wondering what I could possibly say to communicate 
             to him how much he was appreciated by everyone here; how 
             much I love him, and how much I will miss him.
               But looking around, I don't think words need to 
             communicate it. Seeing everyone here today, I think my 
             father would be satisfied with what he had accomplished. 
             To know that he had so many friends. To see his family. 
             And know that we all love him very much, and always will. 
             Nonetheless, I am sad, not only because he is gone, but 
             because my daughter Anna may never know him as we do.
               He had planned to take Anna to the floor of the House of 
             Representatives for the swearing-in ceremony this past 
             Tuesday. He had hoped to have her in his arms, as he swore 
             to serve this county and this community as he had so many 
             times in the past. He enjoyed the symmetry, having taken 
             me on the floor 26 years and 4 days ago, for the first 
             time. But most of all, he wanted to watch her grow up, 
             just as I had grown up. And I hope that the time he spent 
             with her is enough, so that she knows, as I know, that he 
             was a decent man who loved so many people, this city, and 
             this country. And most of all her.
               And I think back, just 16 days ago, to December 23, on 
             the day before he was admitted to the hospital. On that 
             day we went to the Capitol, so that he could take Anna 
             there, a few days before the swearing-in, so as to get 
             her, just 16 months old, familiar with the office.
               And I think of the two of them playing on the floor. Of 
             her sitting on his lap behind his desk, him singing their 
             favorite song, their smiling together. There are so many 
             things my father had hoped to do with Anna that he, my 
             mom, and I had done before.
               I can recall the lunches at Vic's, where he would order 
             the hot dog sandwich and root beer float. I remember going 
             to Land Park on the weekends to feed the ducks and having 
             to be carried home in his arms because I was too tired to 
             walk. I remember the pony rides in the park. I remember 
             going through Fairytale Town.
               There were lost golf balls, missed foul balls, and the 
             hope that this year would be the year the Kings win it 
             all. I realize now that these are all things we will have 
             to do with Anna without him. But I know that my mom, my 
             wife, and all of you here will be able to tell her what 
             kind of man he was. And maybe, hopefully, that will be 
             enough to allow him to continue to live in her eyes a 
             little longer. Thank you all, thank you Dad.

               Rabbi Brad Bloom. Birth is a beginning, and death a 
             destination, and life is a journey. From childhood to 
             maturity, and youth to age; from innocence to awareness, 
             and ignorance to knowing; from foolishness to discretion 
             and then perhaps to wisdom; from weakness to strength, or 
             strength to weakness and often back again; from health to 
             sickness, and back we pray to health again; from offense 
             to forgiveness; from loneliness to love; from joy to 
             gratitude; from pain to compassion, and grief to 
             understanding; from fear to faith; from defeat to defeat 
             to defeat, until looking backward or ahead we see that 
             victory lies not at some high place along the way, but in 
             having made the journey--stage by stage, the sacred 
             pilgrimage. Birth is a beginning, and death a destination, 
             and life is a journey, a sacred pilgrimage to life 
             everlasting. On this day of the Sabbath on behalf of 
             Congregation B'nai Israel, I bring to you, the Matsui 
             family, our condolences, for you know that your beloved 
             husband and father was a great friend to our community.
               I want to share in this benediction a personal story. 
             Back in 1999, in a journey that I made from Sacramento to 
             Washington after the terrible arsons that impacted and 
             burned three synagogues in this community, I had the 
             chance to be in the White House, and have breakfast with 
             President Clinton. After that meeting, an appointment was 
             arranged for me to meet with Bob. We sat down and we 
             chatted--visited with each other--and I saw the view from 
             his office, and we just got a chance to talk with each 
             other. He suggested to me, because I had some free time, 
             that it would be interesting for me to go visit the 
             exhibition at the Smithsonian on the internment of the 
             Japanese American citizens. Now, having grown up as a 
             native of Baltimore, MD, this was not an issue, and only 
             being in California 3 or 4 years I was not entirely 
             understanding of its impact. So I took him up on his 
             suggestion, and I went to that exhibition. And I saw the 
             artifacts and the pictures, and saw familiar kinds of 
             scenes from my own history. Afterward I met up with him 
             again, and tried to communicate that I understood. And 
             there was a moment between us of appreciation from me, and 
             of acknowledgment from him, that he taught me a lesson 
             about himself and the history of Japanese Americans in 
             this country that, growing up on the east coast, you don't 
             often understand. But now I do. I thank him for that 
             lesson of life, and want to say to you how sorry we are on 
             his passing. Having enjoyed dinner with him and speaking 
             from my pulpit on several occasions, I want you to know 
             what an honor it was for me and our community to know your 
             husband and your father.
               And so I ask all of us, in this benediction: God--full 
             of compassion, sacred presence in this universe--protect 
             the soul of Robert Matsui. Bring us all closer to his 
             memory, and may his life be bound up in the bonds of 
             eternal life, for the Lord is his portion. Zichrono 
             l'vracha--may his memory forever be a blessing to us in 
             our lives, an inspiration and a light for our pathway--ein 
             tikun olam--to repair the world and make it the place that 
             we aspire it to be.
               I hope that you'll join me as we all say, ``Amen.''
?

                                           

                                 MEMORIAL ADDRESSES

                                         AND

                                   OTHER TRIBUTES

                                         FOR

                                  ROBERT T. MATSUI
?

                 
             Statement by President George W. Bush

             January 2, 2005

             Laura and I are saddened by the passing of Bob Matsui. Bob 
             Matsui was a dedicated public servant and a good and 
             decent man who served with distinction and integrity in 
             the U.S. House of Representatives for more than 25 years. 
             In the Congress, he was a leader of his party admired by 
             colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Through long-time 
             service on the House Ways and Means Committee, he helped 
             pass important legislation on issues ranging from trade to 
             small business to child welfare to mass transit. He was 
             always devoted to California and his native Sacramento, 
             where he served on the City Council and as Vice Mayor in 
             the 1970's. A third-generation Japanese-American, Bob was 
             interned along with his family during World War II. Four 
             decades later, he played a leading role in Congress in 
             securing passage of the landmark Japanese-American Redress 
             Act. Laura and I send our prayers and condolences to 
             Doris, their son Brian, and the entire Matsui family.
             From the Office of William J. Clinton

             January 2, 2005
             New York, NY

             Hillary and I are profoundly saddened by the sudden 
             passing of our friend Congressman Bob Matsui, one of the 
             most decent and honorable public servants we have ever 
             known.

             From living in an internment camp at six months of age to 
             becoming a senior member of the United States House of 
             Representatives, Bob Matsui's life demonstrated both the 
             promise of America and the responsibility to fight for the 
             powerless in America, including older Americans who need a 
             secure Social Security system and children who need health 
             care.

             When I served as President, I depended on Bob Matsui's 
             leadership to help create jobs, improve education and 
             balance the budget. I especially appreciate his tremendous 
             work on trade. He played a pivotal role in passing NAFTA, 
             establishing the World Trade Organization and achieving 
             Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China.

             Our hearts and prayers go out to Bob's son and daughter-
             in-law, Brian and Amy, his granddaughter, Anna, and his 
             wife, Doris, also a dedicated public servant who helped 
             lead the public liaison office in the White House during 
             my Administration.

             Bob Matsui leaves behind a rich legacy of service that 
             improved the lives of his own constituents, all Americans, 
             and people throughout the world. He also leaves a loving 
             family and a legions of friends who were touched by his 
             grace and goodness.
                     Proceedings in the House of Representatives
                                               Tuesday, January 4, 2005
               Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues, first may I 
             thank my Democratic colleagues. What an honor it is to 
             have my name placed in nomination as your leader to be 
             Speaker of the House as the first woman and as the first 
             Italian American. I was honored by the kind remarks of the 
             gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez).
               It is a privilege, as the gentleman from New Jersey 
             knows and as the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) knows 
             for us to represent this magnificently diverse caucus. 
             Thank you for the honor of being your leader. It is a 
             privilege to represent one of the greatest forces, in my 
             view, for idealism, integrity and innovation in our 
             country.
               My thanks to the members of the Democratic Caucus.
               I want to thank and acknowledge my husband, Paul. Thank 
             you, Paul. In acknowledging Paul, I want to acknowledge 
             all of the spouses who are here today for the 
             contributions they make. I know Members all share my view 
             when I say our husbands and wives, our spouses, and in my 
             case my five children and five grandchildren, represented 
             by Ryan and Madelaine here today, are the source of our 
             strength and inspiration. Our children and grandchildren 
             are the future. Many children are here today. We want them 
             to know that we know and think it is our responsibility to 
             make the future better for them.
               To my constituents, I am grateful for the privilege of 
             representing them.
               I know Members all want to join me and the Speaker in 
             acknowledging our courageous men and women in uniform.
               As we end this holiday season, we know it is their 
             service that makes it possible for us to strive for peace 
             on Earth and good will to mankind every day of the year.
               A special congratulations and welcome to the Capitol to 
             our newest Members of Congress, to our freshmen Members. 
             You as freshmen are the fresh recruits. You are here to 
             reinvigorate the Congress with your fresh ideas, straight 
             from campaigns. We are all straight from campaigns. Our 
             Founding Fathers planned it so that every 2 years Congress 
             would be reinvigorated with new membership to bring new 
             ideas and new energy to the debate. As you take your oath 
             of office today, you not only enter the Congress, you 
             enter the annals of history. You are colleagues not only 
             with each other, you are colleagues with all those who 
             have served before you.
               Sadly, this weekend, we lost two of our most pioneering 
             and courageous colleagues. Shirley Chisholm was the first 
             African American woman elected to Congress. Imagine the 
             courage. She said of her service that it demonstrated the 
             sheer will and refusal to accept the status quo. We must 
             make that legacy part of ours. When Shirley Chisholm came 
             to Congress as the first African American woman, it was 
             not only a breakthrough for African Americans, it was not 
             only a breakthrough for women, it was a breakthrough for 
             America.
               And we mourn the passing of someone who was a dear 
             friend to so many of us here. Bob Matsui would have been 
             sworn in today. Bob was the living combination of 
             intellect and passion, someone who understood the 
             complexities, for example, of the Social Security system 
             but never forgot what it meant simply to the lives of 
             America's seniors. President Bush rightly called Bob a 
             dedicated public servant and a good and decent man who 
             served with distinction and integrity. Thank you, 
             President Bush, for that acknowledgment.
               As a small child, Bob Matsui was in a Japanese 
             internment camp. He was a third-generation American but 
             nonetheless he was in an internment camp. But that never 
             dampened his spirit about America or his family's spirit. 
             He went on in his words and his deeds with a commitment to 
             guide us to the better America that was his dream. Let 
             that be our legacy as well.
               And we cannot gather here today without talking about 
             the unspeakable devastation the world has witnessed in 
             South Asia. It presents a special challenge to us, not 
             only for the millions of people who are struggling to 
             recover and rebuild but for all of us who are called by 
             our faith and by our common humanity to help those in 
             need. When the victims of disasters in Asia see our 
             soldiers bringing food and supplies, they see the best of 
             America, an America that is compassionate. We need to work 
             even harder, not only to present that America to the world 
             but also to create that America here at home by staying 
             true to our core American values. We do that by widening 
             the circle of prosperity, because it is unacceptable that 
             one in five children in America live in poverty.
               Our sense of fairness demands that we expand access to 
             health care because health care is a right, not a 
             privilege. We must promote opportunity with a vibrant 
             public education system and by making college education 
             affordable to all Americans. We need to strengthen 
             community, working to build safe communities free of crime 
             and drugs and with a clean and healthy environment. And we 
             must do this in a fiscally sound way by promoting 
             accountability, by restoring fiscal discipline and paying 
             as we go.
               Above all, we must guarantee our national security with 
             a military that is second to none, a strong commitment to 
             homeland security, and a resolve to stop the spread of 
             weapons of mass destruction. How we respond to times of 
             difficulty is what will define us as leaders and the 
             ability to draw hope from times of challenge is what 
             defines us as Americans. Each generation of Americans has 
             made our country stronger and better for the next. I do 
             not want anyone because we are talking about losing our 
             colleagues and our former colleagues and the devastation 
             in South Asia, to have any of that diminish the cause for 
             celebration here today for our new Members, their 
             families, their friends, indeed for all of us. The lives 
             of Shirley Chisholm and Bob Matsui should be cause for 
             celebration and they give us hope and proof that each one 
             of us can make a difference.
               A better America is our inheritance. I believe that for 
             all of us serving in the 109th Congress, it can also be 
             our legacy. Though we are divided by party and this aisle, 
             we are joined by our common oath to protect and defend the 
             Constitution and to form a more perfect union.
               To our freshmen, again welcome to Congress. On this day 
             of celebration, I join the Speaker and all of our 
             colleagues in congratulating you and your families. Again 
             I will say that our Founding Fathers made special 
             provision for this House to be constantly reinvigorated 
             and every person here must be elected. We cannot let again 
             the sadness in the past weeks diminish this cause for 
             celebration.
               The lives of Shirley and Bob offer us hope and proof, as 
             I said. The tragedy in South Asia and its ramifications 
             raises the expectations for leadership. How we respond to 
             times of difficulty will define us.
               When I was a young girl, a college student here in 
             Washington, DC, I had the privilege of hearing President 
             Kennedy's inaugural address. In his inaugural address, he 
             ended his remarks in the following way, and I think it was 
             appropriate then and it is appropriate now. He said, 
             ``With a good conscience our only sure reward, with 
             history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to 
             lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, 
             but knowing that here on earth, God's work must truly be 
             our own.''
               Again I have the privilege to present the gavel, this is 
             getting tiresome, Mr. Speaker. And it is not about you. 
             Two years ago when I had the privilege of presenting the 
             gavel, I said of the Speaker that all of us are called 
             honorable because of the title we hold as Members of 
             Congress. But Dennis Hastert is honorable because he is a 
             man of great character and dignity and he deserves the 
             title. It is now my privilege to present the gavel to a 
             man, a gentleman of character, integrity and skill who 
             brings the values of heartland America to this highest 
             position in the Congress of the United States, and I speak 
             on behalf of all of our House Democrats, Mr. Speaker, in 
             saying we look forward to working with you in the days 
             ahead to create a better America, the gentleman from 
             Illinois, the Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert.

               Mr. HASTERT. Thank you, Nancy, for those gracious 
             remarks. You have been an able leader for the Democratic 
             Caucus in this House and you have helped lead this 
             Congress with honor and distinction. We have disagreed on 
             policy matters in the past, and I suspect we will disagree 
             again in the future, but we both love this House of 
             Representatives and the great democratic process of 
             representative government.
               Nancy, we have some serious issues to confront in this 
             new Congress and I look forward to a vigorous debate in 
             the months ahead, for it is through debate that we arrive 
             at the policy decisions that will keep this Nation safe 
             and make it stronger. This House is where we fight the 
             battle of ideas and at the end of the day we make the laws 
             that govern this Nation, and so it is a great honor to 
             serve in this institution. It is a special honor to sit in 
             this chair.
               I thank each of you for allowing me once again to serve 
             as your Speaker.
               The new year confronted us with two sad tragedies. First 
             came the images from the tsunami that ravaged countries 
             bordering the Indian Ocean. Our deepest condolences go to 
             all those who lost loved ones in this terrible event. Just 
             as former Presidents Clinton and Bush will join together 
             to coordinate private relief efforts here in the United 
             States, we in the Congress will work together on a 
             bipartisan basis to get the necessary relief to those in 
             need.
               Second, we lost one of our own on New Year's Day. I too 
             want to pay tribute to our fallen colleague, Bob Matsui. 
             Bob holds a special place in the hearts of Members on both 
             sides of the aisle. He was a man of strong principle but a 
             kind and gentle spirit. He was a proud Democrat, but he 
             also knew how to reach across the aisle when the interests 
             of his country demanded it. He will be greatly missed in 
             this House and we are a better House of Representatives 
             because he served here.
                 EXPRESSING SORROW OF THE HOUSE AT THE DEATH OF THE 
               HONORABLE ROBERT T. MATSUI MEMBER OF CONGRESS FROM THE 
                                 STATE OF CALIFORNIA
               Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I offer a privileged resolution 
             (H. Res. 11) and ask for its immediate consideration.
               The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:
                                     H. Res. 11
               Resolved, That the House has heard with profound sorrow 
             of the death of the Honorable Robert T. Matsui, a 
             Representative from the State of California.
               Resolved, That a committee of such Members of the House 
             as the Speaker may designate, together with such Members 
             of the Senate as may be joined, be appointed to attend the 
             funeral.
               Resolved, That the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House be 
             authorized and directed to take such steps as may be 
             necessary for carrying out the provisions of these 
             resolutions and that the necessary expenses in connection 
             therewith be paid out of applicable accounts of the House.
               Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions 
             to the Senate and transmit a copy thereof to the family of 
             the deceased.
               Resolved, That when the House adjourns today, it adjourn 
             as a further mark of respect to the memory of the 
             deceased.

               Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, as the dean of the California 
             delegation, I offer this privileged resolution expressing 
             the profound sorrow of all of us within the House of 
             Representatives at Bob Matsui's passing. I am honored to 
             sponsor this resolution in an attempt to memorialize Bob's 
             contributions to Congress and to our Nation.
               Like all of us, I was shocked to hear the news that 
             someone as vibrant as Bob Matsui is no longer with us. He 
             has been a forceful leader in Congress, and he will be 
             missed. I will miss his counsel and his friendship, having 
             been honored to serve with him during his time in Congress 
             as a fellow Californian and on the Committee on Ways and 
             Means.
               But first of all, my thoughts and condolences go to his 
             family, Bob's wife Doris, his son Brian, daughter-in-law 
             Amy, and granddaughter Anna.
               I opened his Christmas card a day or so before the sad 
             news came and was reminded of a night early on when Brian, 
             who is now an adult with an adult life, and he could not 
             have been more than 5 or 6 at the time, and he was at a 
             reception with Bob and Doris and myself and choked on a 
             chicken bone, and the consternation we all had, patting 
             Brian on the back and getting him through the chicken bone 
             incident. So as I say to Brian and to Doris, Bob's memory 
             will live with them and give them great support as they 
             move ahead in their lives.
               In his time here, Bob demonstrated and embodied the 
             utmost integrity. He knew and understood the purpose, the 
             greater purpose, really, which we in the House are 
             entrusted with. He lived by and set high standards in 
             public service. In a word, he was a statesman. He went 
             through the experience of being interned during World War 
             II, and it never made him bitter. He never lost his 
             spirit. Rather, it gave him resolve for his own 
             convictions and his sense of public service.
               He began in Sacramento after a brief career in law, and 
             then he came to Congress in 1979, starting out with the 
             Committee on the Judiciary and then with the Committee on 
             Government Operations, and then later joining the 
             Committee on Ways and Means where he really became our 
             resident expert on Social Security and was active in trade 
             and tax policy issues as well. He tackled those issues, as 
             I am sure any of my colleagues who have discussed Social 
             Security with him know, with sharp intellect, deep 
             convictions, and compassion for what was right. But he was 
             fair. He had a sense of humility and one of respect I 
             think of his colleagues on both sides of the aisle.
               I do know one thing, that Bob Matsui would have wanted 
             to be here to lead the Democrats in the fight to protect 
             Social Security in this coming session of Congress. He was 
             prepared for it. He was geared up for it. He had been 
             spending his time over the last several weeks before his 
             sad passing to lead us in the effort to protect Social 
             Security. His convictions of compassion mark his work on 
             behalf of disadvantaged children and families in our 
             country as well.
               Bob championed expanded health care coverage for 
             children and was a tireless advocate for child welfare. 
             Indeed, he joined many of us in opposing our own 
             administration during the welfare reform issues in 1996, 
             and he introduced key legislation to expand job training 
             and education programs to help people in poverty. We lost 
             that battle in 1996, but he remained steadfast in his 
             commitment to ensure that people got lifted out of 
             poverty, not just kicked off the welfare rolls.
               So as the new year began, I had looked forward to his 
             counsel and working with him side by side as it were on 
             our committee on important issues.
               His spirit will continue to inspire us in the days ahead 
             and with gratitude for all he has done, we will carry on 
             his work and do all we can to honor his life and his 
             contributions to the American people. I know that the 
             House tonight will adjourn in his honor, and on New Year's 
             he adjourned sine die. We say so long, old friend.

               Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, let me begin by expressing my 
             appreciation to my California colleague (Mr. Stark). We 
             have worked jointly on this resolution, and it is with a 
             great deal of sadness obviously that we are here at this 
             moment.
               We just completed the debate on the resolution that had 
             to do with the loss of now it appears about 150,000 lives 
             from the tsunami that has taken place in South and 
             Southeast Asia. And then we come to the next resolution, 
             talking about one man, an individual who has made a great 
             contribution. And when you juxtapose the resolution with 
             the loss of 150,000 lives and now we are talking about Bob 
             Matsui, we cannot help but think about the fragility of 
             life.
               Bob Matsui is an individual who offered so much to this 
             institution, but he offered so much to me personally, just 
             as I know he did to others of my colleagues who are going 
             to be speaking tonight and many of those who are not going 
             to be able to be here this evening.
               The gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) in her 
             statement when she was turning the gavel over to the 
             gentleman from Illinois (Speaker Hastert) this morning I 
             think said it very well when she talked about the 
             combination of intellect and passion that Bob Matsui 
             demonstrated in his life.
               We all know that Bob was a tremendous intellect, very 
             thoughtful, very deliberative on issues that he tackled, 
             but he also at the same time had a deeply felt passion in 
             the pursuit of his agenda, and I will tell my colleagues 
             that I shared that agenda in some areas and I shared his 
             passion. I do not know that I have quite the intellect 
             that Bob had, but I shared his passion.
               We worked together through the 1980s and the 1990s in 
             pursuit of the global trade agenda, and I know there is a 
             lot of controversy in this House on that issue, but Bob 
             and I worked arm in arm to try and get Bill Clinton trade 
             promotion authority. I remember the kind of energy and the 
             thought that Bob put into this, and he had boundless 
             energy when it came to this. He was a slight person, but 
             boy, I will tell my colleagues, when he put his mind to an 
             issue, he really was very diligent in pursuit of that.
               We worked together on a wide range of individual trade 
             agreements, going back to the North American Free Trade 
             Agreement. Every single year, Bob Matsui and I worked 
             together to try and grant what we used to call most-
             favored-nation trading status for the People's Republic of 
             China, and then ultimately we worked together on the 
             granting of permanent normal trade relations.
               I happen to believe that the vision Bob had was a very 
             positive one and has played a big role in improving the 
             quality of life and the standard of living for people all 
             over the world, and I think that when we look at this 
             institution it is a tragic irony, I mean, that this has 
             come. We are not only sad but we are very shocked.
               The gentleman from California (Mr. Stark) and I, Mr. 
             Speaker, were just talking about the news and what Bob 
             went through at the end because it did come as a great 
             surprise to him and to Doris and to Brian and Amy and 
             little Anna that he was going in for a checkup, and then 
             it ended up, of course, that because of this infection he 
             was not going to survive. So when this news came out it 
             was a shock to all of us.
               I heard it just as I was getting on the airplane to fly 
             back here on Sunday, and I was just taken and I could not 
             help but think about immediately all of the great 
             experiences that I had traveling, working on joint 
             California issues, working, as I said, on the trade agenda 
             and realizing how dedicated this guy was and what a 
             horrible loss this will be for this institution and for us 
             as individuals.
               So I join, as the gentleman from California (Mr. Stark) 
             has just said, in extending personally my thoughts and 
             prayers to Doris and Brian and his family as well. We all 
             got that picture of their family that was just sent to us, 
             and we could not help but be moved seeing that photograph 
             of them, knowing what a wonderful family they are.
               I just have to say that I am very saddened, and my 
             thoughts and prayers go to those family members. We have 
             learned how fragile life truly is.

               Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I am both 
             saddened and honored to rise today in memory of our friend 
             Bob Matsui. We can barely glimpse a man's greatness in a 
             single floor statement, but I will try.
               American heroes have customarily run toward towering 
             figures of many words, but today, our Chamber and our 
             Nation honors a man whose contribution was not the 
             quantity and volume of words but, rather, the quality and 
             the effectiveness of both his spirit and his skill.
               Many will speak from the floor tonight of the landmark, 
             legislative achievements of this extraordinary man. Many 
             more will honor his lifetime of legislative victories and 
             how they directly improved the lives of millions of 
             Americans spanning several generations. Single mothers 
             with infants. Civil rights. Our Nation's most vulnerable 
             seniors. Bob provided more than a voice for those who 
             could not speak for themselves. He provided victory. He 
             provided results. He won monumental battles, not by being 
             the loudest but by being the smartest and the most 
             informed person in the debate.
               The Greeks have told us that death is hardest on those 
             it leaves behind. This House has lost a rare statesman. 
             Doris, Brian, Amy and Anna have lost a devoted and loving 
             husband, father and grandfather. I have lost a mentor and 
             my best friend in this Congress, and our Nation has lost a 
             tireless, compassionate and brilliant leader. To the 
             Members I say, in the year that lies ahead of us, let us 
             make sure that this Chamber is worthy of his grace and his 
             legacy.

               Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, while I, like our other 
             colleagues, was really shocked to learn of this sad news, 
             I think it was exactly a month ago today on the final day 
             of the 108th Congress that Bob and I exchanged a warm 
             greeting in the elevator, wished each other happy holidays 
             and I fully expected to see him back here with all the 
             rest of us starting out today in the 109th Congress.
               I had the privilege of representing the adjoining region 
             to Bob Matsui, who represented the city of Sacramento and 
             certain surrounding areas. He and I got to know each other 
             pretty well. We had some real contentious issues, one 
             specific contentious issue that the Chamber is aware of 
             dealing with water supply and flood control in our region, 
             and we battled over that for a long time.
               Bob was a fearless advocate for his constituency, and it 
             always impressed me as we went through this process of 
             advocating our points of view and coming to the 
             realization that we would be best served by trying to find 
             some common ground and putting that into law. We got to 
             know each other on a personal basis, and it was really a 
             delightful experience. I think our constituents assumed we 
             were bitter enemies, but that was not the case. The 
             disagreements were never personal, and we actually became 
             friends, and I always enjoyed seeing him.
               I knew he was a good family man. He cared a great deal 
             about that, and from time to time we would sit back there 
             in the back rows and visit with each other a little bit 
             about that. He was very proud of his son Brian, first love 
             Doris a great deal, and proud of his daughter-in-law and 
             of his new granddaughter, relatively new, 16 months old I 
             believe.
               Like the gentleman from California (Mr. Stark), I was 
             opening that Christmas card myself just last week in 
             Rocklin. That was one of the ones I saw, big beautiful 
             card and filled with pictures of his family, and he was a 
             very committed man, a very effective Representative.
               Sacramento has a lot today because of work that he did, 
             a lot of fine accomplishments from improving the airport 
             to light rail taking off, getting started with him, and 
             developing and extending the lines and so forth, the 
             massive amount of flood control work on the levees and so 
             forth that is going on, a lot. He has left quite a legacy.
               I shall miss him and I am truly sorry that this has 
             happened. It is a shocking event, and my prayers are with 
             Doris and Brian and Amy, his daughter-in-law, and Anna, 
             the granddaughter. I thank my colleagues for this 
             opportunity to offer my thoughts.

               Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, it is very difficult to come to 
             terms with Bob's loss. It was a shock and so tragic. He 
             was kind and decent beyond measure. He put a human face on 
             the all too often theoretical debates on health care, 
             Social Security, child welfare and tax policy, and he was 
             always a voice of reason.
               Bob cared about the challenges real people faced, 
             children in foster care, workers struggling for a fair 
             shot and seniors whose Social Security checks make the 
             difference between life in or out of poverty.
               In 1988, Bob helped the Nation come to terms with the 
             terrible wrong our government committed against Japanese 
             Americans during World War II. Bob and his family were 
             forced into an internment camp when he was 6 months old. 
             His parents were both U.S.-born citizens, but they lost 
             their home and family business during the 3\1/2\ years 
             their family was interned.
               Bob became the first Japanese American elected to the 
             Sacramento City Council and one of the first Japanese 
             Americans in Congress. He spent his career fighting 
             injustice. Among his many efforts, he established a task 
             force I was privileged to co-chair with him to give 
             Members of Congress with diverse backgrounds a better 
             understanding of the grave threats that Israel and the 
             Israeli people face.
               On a personal level, I considered Bob one of my closest 
             friends in this institution. We spent time together, often 
             when I took advantage of the fact that our Bethesda homes 
             were close by each other and hitched a ride with him.
               I know Bob's center of gravity was his family, his wife 
             Doris, his son Brian, his daughter-in-law Amy and what he 
             made clear was the most adorable granddaughter in the 
             whole world, Anna. He was so proud of Brian and his 
             accomplishments, his clerking for the Supreme Court of the 
             United States and making more money in his first year in a 
             law firm than even Members of the U.S. Congress.
               He cared deeply about his efforts to make a difference 
             through public service and the principles and values of 
             the Democratic Party, and this took him to the position of 
             sacrifice as chairman of the Democratic Congressional 
             Campaign Committee.
               Janet and I were so grateful for our friendships over 
             the decade with Bob and Doris. We want to extend our deep 
             condolences to the family, the entire family during this 
             sorrowful time. This is an enormous loss for his family, 
             for his friends and for this entire country.

               Mr. HERGER. Mr. Speaker, today we mourn a friend and 
             able colleague. It is a tremendous loss to each of us and 
             to our country.
               Bob Matsui was someone who virtually everyone in the 
             Sacramento area knew and respected. Indeed, I was not 
             elected to Congress until 1986, almost 10 years into Bob's 
             service in the House, but my wife Pam and I already knew 
             Bob and his wife Doris. One really could not be from the 
             Sacramento area and not know and have tremendous respect 
             and admiration for the Matsuis and for their work in the 
             community.
               As a representative of a congressional district to the 
             north of Sacramento, I worked frequently with Bob on 
             issues of regional importance to northern California. He 
             was a passionate and effective advocate for his 
             constituents on a myriad of issues, particularly on flood 
             control, one of the most critically important issues for 
             those of us who live in flood-prone northern California.
               He will certainly be remembered by all of us as a leader 
             on these and many other issues important to the region and 
             as an able and dedicated voice for his constituents.
               I also had the pleasure of serving with Bob for many 
             years on the House Committee on Ways and Means. A long-
             time supporter of free trade, Bob was willing and 
             determined to reach across the aisle and work together on 
             the challenging issue of trade policy.
               He worked hard for policies that expanded trade, but 
             that also ensured that it was fair and that the playing 
             field was level for American companies and agricultural 
             producers. Those efforts went a long way to helping expand 
             economic opportunities for our northern California region 
             as well as the Nation.
               In all his dealings, both public and private, Bob Matsui 
             personified integrity. It was an honor to have called him 
             a friend. On behalf of my wife, Pam, and me, I would like 
             to extend our personal, heartfelt condolences to the 
             Matsui family: his wife Doris; his son and daughter-in-
             law, Brian and Amy; and his granddaughter Anna, for their 
             tremendous loss. They can be proud knowing that their 
             husband, father, and grandfather worked incredibly hard to 
             serve the people he represented, always with the noblest 
             of intentions and always with the level of intellectual 
             honesty, ability and skill that commanded enormous respect 
             from everyone who knew and worked with him. He will be 
             greatly missed by all.

               Mr. DOGGETT. I rise to join my colleagues in paying 
             tribute to an extraordinary human being, Bob Matsui. Like 
             so many others across this country, the celebration of 
             this new year was for me shaken by the incredibly sad news 
             of Bob's demise. I awoke this Sunday expecting to be 
             consumed with the challenges and work of the new year, 
             only to be stunned to learn of the passing of an old 
             friend.
               Libby and I had only a couple of days before shared the 
             beauty of Bob's family that he and Doris send out each 
             year at this time, reflecting on the last time we shared a 
             meal with them, only a couple of weeks before at a dinner 
             table here in Washington, knowing of the pride that Bob 
             felt in Doris's professional accomplishments and how often 
             he mentioned Doris and Brian and his family in 
             conversations on subjects here in Washington.
               There is a Greek proverb: ``The measure of man is what 
             he does with power.'' By this measure, or really by any 
             measure, Bob was indeed a great human being. Although he 
             had significant power here in Washington as a senior 
             Member of this House, he was viewed as a soft-spoken 
             advocate for the things that he believed in and the people 
             he represented. And yet on more than one occasion I have 
             seen his temper flare at injustice.
               Bob was a great and principled policymaker. He gave a 
             great deal of thought to the issues and the decisions 
             before he spoke, and often took positions that were not 
             popular but that represented his principles. He also was 
             willing to grow and adjust those principles, certainly 
             being committed to more trade, and yet over time he 
             recognized that trade was more than just counting how many 
             widgets crossed country lines, but how that trade affects 
             people.
               He was committed to not only Social Security but to 
             retirement security, and took a very forceful stance in 
             this House about the concern that we do more to help those 
             who have no retirement, not just to add to the retirement 
             of those who already have much.
               It was my good fortune to serve with him on the 
             Committee on Ways and Means, to come on that committee as 
             a new member and find Bob as someone who I could turn to 
             when I had a problem for personal advice and always get a 
             thoughtful hearing and sound advice.
               While his passing is most premature, we can only seek to 
             renew our strength inspired by his very strong example, to 
             remember the causes that he championed and how he 
             championed them, and to be strengthened in our efforts by 
             his spirit and his fight for fairness, to stand up for 
             what is right for the American people.
               It is fitting for us to honor Bob with our words, but 
             certainly we must honor him in this Congress with our 
             actions, to continue to champion the causes that he would 
             champion and had so often, from this very microphone. 
             Certainly that is true with regard to Social Security, as 
             he stood up to those who would destabilize, privatize and 
             piratize it. Without our ally, our work will be harder, 
             our burden will be greater, and our responsibility will 
             also be greater.
               As the Los Angeles Times editorialized about Bob 
             recently, ``He epitomized an ideal of public service that 
             has largely vanished in a partisan Congress.''
               Mr. Speaker, we salute Bob by our deeds as well as our 
             words tonight.

               Mr. HERGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
             consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas), the 
             chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, a committee 
             that Bob Matsui served on for many years.

               Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, it is true that Bob and I were 
             on the Committee on Ways and Means together; but, frankly, 
             Bob and I go back a long way.
               This is especially difficult since just a very short 
             time ago I was going through the Members' Christmas cards. 
             If you have been around a long time one tends to see the 
             march of time in the cards. You get a very formal card 
             from a new Member. Maybe he is not married. Or if married, 
             it is just a very bright, young couple. Over the years, 
             the family grows, not just in stature but in numbers. We 
             just received one from the Matsuis with a grandbaby 
             prominently displayed.
               In 1978 in November in Sacramento, Members who had been 
             elected to Congress in that election got together as 
             Members-elect in Sacramento. I had known Bob by virtue of 
             his being on the Sacramento City Council. I was an 
             assemblyman at the time and of course spent some time in 
             Sacramento. There were three other Democrats, colleagues 
             in the assembly, Vic Fazio, Julian Dixon, and Tony Coelho 
             who had been an aide to a Congressman and been elected in 
             that same election. To show Members how much things do not 
             change, one of the freshmen in that class was the 
             gentleman from California (Mr. Lungren) who has joined us 
             once again as a Member. Another member from the State 
             assembly who joined us that year, was the gentleman from 
             California (Mr. Lewis).
               All of us got together as newly elected Members from 
             California. We stayed together because when you are in the 
             same class, even if you are of a different party, you have 
             common ties, notwithstanding the differences of policy 
             positions that you take or oftentimes the different 
             committee directions that you take. It was my privilege 
             and pleasure to serve not only at the same time as Bob, 
             but for a significant number of years on the same 
             committee.
               He was, as we now know even more so than we thought, in 
             many ways a very private person. It was, I think, 
             personality as well as culture. But if one could get 
             inside there, all of the comments that Members have made 
             in a very public way were also true of the private person. 
             You often wonder, as is the case with some Members, how 
             Bob would get elected if he had to go out and be 
             gregarious among people. But when one meets Doris, you 
             figure out how he did it easily: he just kept her in front 
             of him. As some people have said with my wife, Sharon, 
             they understand better once they have met the spouse how 
             you get elected. But the most important thing was the 
             couple and the union they formed.
               One of the things that some of the newer Members need to 
             realize is that what occurs in committee and on the floor 
             is business, and people go about their business in 
             different ways. The reason we are going to hear a number 
             of Members talk about Bob in the way that we will talk 
             about Bob is because if you spend a little time getting to 
             know the other businessmen, you cannot help but get to 
             know them as people. All of us are lamenting the passing 
             of Congressman Bob Matsui, but those of us who knew the 
             person of Bob Matsui are perhaps lamenting even more.

               Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in tribute to a 
             gentleman and a gentle man, Bob Matsui.
               I will sorely miss my good friend and colleague. 
             California and America have lost a champion for justice, 
             Social Security, fair trade and opportunity for all.
               Bob's courage was remarkable. Imprisoned in an 
             internment camp as a young child, he worked to give 
             freedom and dignity to others.
               Serving more than 25 years in the U.S. House of 
             Representatives, most recently as a senior member of the 
             powerful Ways and Means Committee, and ranking member of 
             its Social Security Subcommittee, as well as chairman of 
             the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Bob was 
             an unfailing gentleman and a loyal friend.
               I met him early in his House career. Long before I 
             thought of running for Congress I consulted him, and he 
             offered his support.
               Shortly thereafter, my key advisor and law firm 
             colleague Vic Raiser died in a plane crash. Bob knew our 
             relationship and called me. He said, ``I cannot take Vic's 
             place, but I'll sure try.'' He made my race his top 
             priority and personally contacted his donor base on my 
             behalf. His efforts were critical to my victory and I 
             referred to him thereafter as my ``mother.''
               At this time of sadness, my thoughts and prayers are 
             with Bob's extraordinary wife, Doris, son Brian and 
             beautiful granddaughter, Anna. Bob leaves a huge void in 
             this Nation and a big hole in my heart.

               Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank all Members for 
             participating in this tribute to someone whom we all 
             believe was our best friend. This is so very unusual in a 
             Congress that does not allow us to meet often or travel 
             very much together that each one of us treasures so much 
             those special personal relationships that we have.
               At a time when hundreds of thousands of lives are being 
             lost in Asia and in the Middle East, God has a way of 
             reducing all of this and making it a lot more personal 
             when it appears in the middle of the night. He just 
             snatches away someone who you may have just taken for 
             granted. Certainly the loss of Bob had everyone startled. 
             How could a person with such fierce commitment to 
             legislation and to the Congress who was so involved, and 
             appeared to be looking so hard toward the next challenge, 
             how could God have just snatched him away without any 
             warning? But I have found over the years that it eases the 
             pain, it does not remove it, but it eases the pain if 
             during times like this you can think of how fortunate you 
             were that in your lifetime you came across a person like 
             Bob Matsui.
               It also helps if you can thank God that you do not have 
             to say I wish I had spent more time with him or I wish I 
             had gotten to know him better or I wish I had told him how 
             fond I was of him, or how much I appreciated his 
             dedication to the committee, to the Congress, to the 
             causes that he so truly believed in. And then it makes you 
             feel a little better that you had a chance to say Bob 
             Matsui, we love you.
               It is hard for me to think of anyone who felt so 
             strongly about his beliefs, and at the same time we hear 
             over and over tonight that he was indeed a gentle man, how 
             we can hear Members from both sides of the aisle saying we 
             are human beings, we are dedicated, we do have different 
             beliefs, but here was a guy who was able to take all of 
             this and still manage to have friends on both sides of the 
             aisle.
               Yes, the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means is 
             so correct, because we always felt that we had two Members 
             as being friends, because Doris was a partner, she was a 
             friend, she was a supporter and, of course, Brian and Amy, 
             they all had an opportunity to share their love and 
             dedication to their father, to her husband, before he 
             left. He did not just walk away from our lives but in his 
             classy way he said goodbye to the family and left us here 
             in the Congress and especially us in the Democratic Caucus 
             with such a sense of pride and feeling how proud we were 
             to be able to have a person of his caliber, not only 
             politically being our leader but on the Committee on Ways 
             and Means. So often we hear that he was an expert in 
             Social Security legislation, but those of us who were 
             privileged to serve on the committee knew that he was an 
             expert in anything that came before the committee. He was 
             an expert in trade, he was an expert in pensions, he was 
             an expert in welfare issues. And not because he was just a 
             good lawyer and a good lawmaker but because he was 
             compassionate and understood where he came from and his 
             commitment was trying to improve the quality of life of 
             Americans and human beings all over. He never forgot the 
             struggles that he and his family had gone through and he 
             always led us to believe that we could achieve even things 
             beyond our expectations in working with him.
               And so with all of this loss and in searching for 
             something to thank God for doing, I can say I thank Him 
             for sharing Bob with us and I thank Him for giving me the 
             opportunity of having told Bob Matsui how much I loved 
             him.

               Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I am happy at this point to 
             yield 3 minutes on behalf of the Congressional Asian and 
             Pacific Islanders Caucus to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. 
             Wu).

               Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, today we stand together here in the 
             people's house to honor and mourn the loss of one of its 
             true servants, Bob Matsui. I am filled with sadness as we 
             remember an outstanding Member of Congress, an inspiration 
             to a generation of Asian Americans, a leader and a good 
             friend. It is not only a loss for those of us who had the 
             privilege to serve with him, not just a loss for Asian 
             Americans but a loss for this Congress and all Americans. 
             His wisdom and counsel will certainly be missed. Our 
             thoughts and prayers are with his family during this time, 
             with Doris, with Brian and Amy.
               Bob Matsui believed in the value of public service. As a 
             Congressman for 26 years and as a city councilman and vice 
             mayor of his beloved Sacramento before that, he understood 
             that government had a positive role to play in people's 
             lives. Inspired by the calling of President Kennedy's 
             speech challenging Americans to ask what they could do for 
             their country, Bob Matsui dedicated his life to that 
             challenge.
               Bob Matsui was a mentor, a statesman and a role model. 
             As a founding member of the Asian Pacific American Caucus, 
             he was able to provide his insight and experience about 
             the importance of public service and how to get the job 
             done to many of us junior members. Several members of that 
             caucus join me today in honoring Bob Matsui's life and 
             selfless service.
               As a senior member of the Committee on Ways and Means, 
             Bob Matsui was intricately involved in that committee's 
             complex portfolio and important public policy issues, 
             including tax policy, international law and trade, Social 
             Security, health care and welfare reform. Most notably in 
             recent years, Bob fought to preserve Social Security 
             because he believed that the elderly and the disabled are 
             entitled to the stability of a guaranteed income that 
             allows them to live in dignity. Many of us will miss his 
             voice in the coming debates on the future of Social 
             Security.
               Those of us who had the privilege to know Bob Matsui and 
             to serve with him will be forever in his debt. His 
             intellect, his passion for justice, his dedication to the 
             value of public service will continue to be guideposts for 
             us all. Bob, wherever you are, it is a far, far better 
             place now that you are there. Thank you for all the sound 
             advice that I received from you over the years. My only 
             regret is that I did not take a little bit more of it. 
             Today we mourn the loss of a great man and a friend. He 
             will be missed.

               Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to pay tribute 
             to a great leader, to an extraordinary human being, our 
             beloved Bob Matsui. I rise with a heavy heart tonight as 
             we remember Bob. I remember him as a fighter for justice, 
             for our senior citizens, and for all those who have yet to 
             realize the American dream. Bob's quiet strength always 
             amazed me. He was brilliant, yet he always listened and 
             valued ideas and input from others.
               When I first ran for Congress, I remember that Bob came 
             to my district and he helped me with my campaign with a 
             variety of constituencies. Of course, my colleagues know I 
             have a very vibrant port in my district and trade is such 
             a critical issue. Bob taught me a lot about trade and 
             helped me tremendously as we debated our trade policy in 
             this body. Like myself, my constituents were inspired by 
             Bob's life as they got to know him, knowing that he spent 
             his first formative years in an internment camp. But 
             rather than turn bitter, Bob worked to ensure that those 
             interned during those dark moments of American history 
             were granted reparations for such a shameless act. Bob 
             Matsui used his personal experiences not in a selfish way 
             but to heal the wounds of so many Japanese Americans and 
             our entire country. For that, we owe him a debt of 
             gratitude.
               Several years ago, Bob asked me to come to Sacramento to 
             keynote the Sacramento NAACP's annual Martin Luther King 
             dinner. The respect and the love that Bob's multiracial 
             constituency had for him and for Doris was something to 
             behold. He was the epitome of a public servant and his 
             constituents knew it, year after year after year.
               As we move into this very critical debate to save Social 
             Security, let us remember Bob's commitment to save Social 
             Security and to ensure that our seniors in their golden 
             years live the life that they deserve. We will have to 
             fight, of course, twice as hard now that we do not have 
             Bob with us, but Bob would want us to do just that. May 
             the insights and the inspiration that Bob Matsui brought 
             to this and so many of our debates guide us to do the 
             right thing and to uphold his extraordinary legacy. To 
             Bob's loving family, to Doris, to Brian, Amy and Anna, my 
             thoughts and my prayers are with you. Thank you for 
             sharing this giant of a human being with all of us. Our 
             country and the world is a better place. May his soul rest 
             in peace.

               Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, as the chairman of the 
             Democratic Caucus, I rise to pay tribute to a great 
             American, a dear colleague, a good friend, one of our own, 
             the late Congressman Bob Matsui.
               I would like to offer my condolences to Doris, to Brian, 
             to Amy, to Anna, and to his staff, both in California and 
             in Washington, for the wonderful job they have done for 
             him and the people of his State over the past 26 years. It 
             is unique when a colleague of ours dies because we are 
             called to look back at their accomplishments over the 
             years and we begin to realize what a great human being 
             they really were. We see our colleagues on the floor every 
             day and we obviously know them, we like them, we have 
             friendships but unfortunately not until they leave us do 
             we have an opportunity to think back on their careers. 
             Looking at Bob's career, it is easy to see that his 
             passing is a great loss for America, a great loss to his 
             constituents, a great loss to the U.S. Congress. He was 
             and will be remembered for his work in the House of 
             Representatives, for being a leading opponent of Social 
             Security privatization, a supporter of free and then fair 
             international trade, and a fair-minded tax writer who was 
             a strong proponent of fiscal responsibility. These 
             contributions as a public servant over the past decades 
             helped move our Nation toward a better and brighter future 
             and that will be his lasting legacy. Bob Matsui was held 
             in the highest regard by all who knew him for his 
             unquestionable honor, his keen intelligence and his 
             heartfelt kindness.
               All of us in this institution are referred to as the 
             gentlelady or gentleman from the day we are sworn in as a 
             Member of this body. However, Bob Matsui truly deserved 
             that title since he was truly the gentleman from 
             California.
               On a different level, Bob was a loving husband, father 
             and grandfather. To ascribe so many positive qualities to 
             one individual might be seen as the usual gilding of the 
             lily. In case of Bob Matsui, it was simply the truth. My 
             life, this House, and our country are better off thanks to 
             his life here on Earth with us. God bless you, Bob.

               Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 4 
             minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin), who 
             does not realize that among the other things that he has 
             to thank Bob for is the fact that he will learn now he 
             will have to sit next to me on the committee and he has 
             been spared that all these years.

               Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to that but I 
             must say I loved sitting next to Bob Matsui.
               When I came here Monday morning, having heard the news a 
             few hours before, here is what I said to myself: This 
             place is truly a different place without Bob Matsui. There 
             is for us a large hole in our ranks and in our hearts. He 
             added so much to this institution that he loved. He added 
             his exceptional vitality to the notion we often say, this 
             is the people's house. Bob underlined, this was the house 
             of all the people. He identified with the underdog, with 
             those trying to climb up the ladder of life more than 
             those who were already at the top. Opportunity meant 
             everything to Bob. Tax policy, his interest in the earned 
             income tax credit, to help those working lift themselves 
             up, his interest in child care and health care for those 
             who were leaving welfare for work. He fought also, we 
             know, for the seniors of this Nation. And how hard he was 
             fighting as illness overtook them, trying to make sure 
             that there was opportunity for elder citizens and not 
             deprivation.
               In trade policy, as has been mentioned, my brother the 
             gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) is here, I think I 
             would describe it this way about Bob. He saw opportunities 
             in expansion of trade, but more and more he came to 
             believe that as globalization expanded it was critical 
             that expanded trade leveled up and not leveled down. Where 
             all of his ardor came from, I am not sure. Some no doubt 
             from his family's life experience and some of my 
             colleagues knew more about that than I did. From him, he 
             did not talk very much about it. I read in some of the 
             reports that Bob was described as low key and quiet and I 
             see some of my colleagues shaking their heads. Those press 
             reports did not quite capture Bob Matsui.
               He was gentle, that is true. And he was very dignified 
             and in a way quiet. But he was a gentle person, focused, 
             dedicated, tenacious, and tough. He did not claim to know 
             all of the answers; but when witnesses came before the 
             committee, he was insistent that they give straight 
             answers to his questions. And the mightier they were, the 
             witness, the mightier was Bob Matsui's determination. I 
             will not mention the members of administrations who 
             learned that firsthand.
               There has been reference to this Christmas card and I 
             wish everybody who may be viewing this could see this 
             picture, how it moved us. And let me close by reading just 
             the last paragraph of this card: ``As we look at this 
             special season through Anna's eyes,'' the granddaughter, 
             ``we feel a renewal of our family's traditions. Let us 
             cherish these special moments and be thankful for what is 
             most important in our lives, our family, our friends, and 
             the blessings of everyday life. Bob, Doris, Brian, Amy, 
             and Anna Matsui.''
               Our condolences to the family, to Doris, Brian, Amy, and 
             Anna. Bob Matsui was always looking to the future. Now it 
             is up to us to look to the future on behalf of Bob Matsui. 
             Bob, we love you.

               Mr. HERGER. It has really been a great honor and 
             privilege for me to be able to at least control part of 
             the time on our side on someone who is one of the most 
             respected and most honorable and outstanding individuals 
             that I have known in my lifetime, my friend Bob Matsui.

               Mr. FARR. I remember Bob Matsui from younger days. We 
             were all Sacramentans. I was newly married. Shary and I 
             went to Sacramento to work in California State politics. 
             And there in Sacramento was this new enthusiastic 
             political community rising because California had just 
             amended its constitution to set the legislature to hire 
             full-time staff, and so it was a can-do city.
               And in the midst of this was this young graduate from 
             the University of California who was a big champion of 
             Berkeley and the Cal Bears, and he chose to run for city 
             council. And a wonderful staff member named Steve Thompson 
             introduced Bob to everybody, and Steve was a staff member 
             and active in Democratic clubs and political social life. 
             My wife, Shary, was working for John Moss, who was the 
             predecessor to Bob Matsui. He was the Congressman at the 
             time; and when John Moss retired, the city Democrats were 
             split over who to support for that seat: the mayor, Phil 
             Isenberg, a great popular person in Sacramento; or the 
             young Bob Matsui. And it was a raucous grass roots primary 
             battle. Bob won and, as they say, the rest is history.
               It is a shock that Bob is gone. He was too young, too 
             talented, too much going for him as a new grandfather to 
             have been taken from us. As chair of the Democratic 
             Congressional Campaign Committee, he raised a record 
             amount of money for the congressional Democrats. We 
             counted on him to lead us into battle against the 
             President's proposals to privatize Social Security.
               When one is speaking about Bob, one has to talk about 
             Doris, who conquered Washington politics in her own right 
             and ended up in the Clinton White House. She and Bob were 
             a classic political couple, really well-known in DC, as 
             well as Sacramento. My heart goes out to Doris and the 
             family, to Brian, Amy, and little Anna.
               Bob's congressional district is one of the most 
             significant in the United States because he represents the 
             best staffed, most productive, best known political 
             celebrities in the Nation's biggest State capital, 
             Sacramento. He was the Congressman for the Federal tax 
             issues relating to California's tax needs. I remember that 
             Bob Matsui had to carry the tax exemption for State 
             legislators' per diem. Can my colleagues imagine the likes 
             of Jess Unruh, Willie Brown, Jerry Brown, and the entire 
             120 members of the Senate and assembly counting on his 
             ability to convince Chairman Rostenkowski that the 
             California State legislators should have something that no 
             Member of Congress had, a tax-exempt per diem 7 days a 
             week for the entire legislative session? Bob had every 
             legislator in California breathing down his throat. Their 
             power in Sacramento meant absolutely nothing here in 
             Washington. They needed Bob to do it for them. No one 
             thought he could pull it off, not against Rosty. But he 
             did.
               California Democrats had a lot of political sorrow this 
             last year. They lost the governorship in a recall 
             election, lost many seasoned politicians like John Burton 
             and Willie Brown and John Vasconcellos and Bryon Sher, 
             just to name a few notables, to term limits. They lost in 
             the unexpected death of former State senator Henry Mello 
             and even lost their long beloved staffer, Steve Thompson. 
             And now Congressman Bob Matsui is lost to us all, the 
             biggest loss of all.
               Bob was a Member's Member. His death has sent the State 
             capital into a frenzy trying to decide who will run in the 
             special election to replace him. Congress is abuzz with 
             who will take his seat on the Committee on Ways and Means. 
             The political world is wondering who will succeed him as 
             chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
               But the fact of the matter is that no one can take his 
             place. The son of Japanese immigrants, whom our own 
             government interred, he rose to be one of our Nation's 
             most respected Congressmen. When the Nation is 
             experiencing what most people will certainly remember as a 
             horrible year in the annals of modern history, a year that 
             encompasses war, pestilence, and disease, thank God we had 
             the goodwill of Bob Matsui, a real American role model.

               Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight with a broken 
             heart. And the way I would like to formulate my remarks 
             tonight is having a conversation with Bob, because it is 
             the best way I know how. I would say to him almost every 
             time we were on the floor together, Bob, I want to tell 
             you something. So, Bob, tonight I want to tell you some 
             more things.
               We are brokenhearted that you are gone and we cannot 
             believe it. We have a hole in our hearts, and we have a 
             hole in our caucus; and everywhere we have turned, we have 
             seen you on the floor today. Our joy in being sworn in as 
             new Members of Congress has been diminished because you 
             are not standing here physically next to us. Thank you for 
             being the kind of friend that you were. Just the best. 
             Loyal, fun, serious, aggressive on all the right things. 
             Thank you for never being embittered by the experience 
             that your family, American citizens, third-generation 
             Americans, were subjected to by their own government. And 
             you grew and you rose, and you were an example to our 
             country of what one can become because of the opportunity 
             of America.
               You understood, Bob, thank you, that America is the best 
             idea that was ever born. But you went beyond that because 
             you reached deep inside of yourself and brought out the 
             best in everyone, in the ideas that you brought here, in 
             the ideas that you fought for.
               Remember how grateful we are to you that you carried us 
             in the last 2 years, that you believed and we were so 
             proud that you were a Democrat, and you were the kind of 
             Democrat who understood that if it was only good for the 
             Democratic Party that that was not good enough, that we 
             needed to be great for our country; and you believed that.
               Thank you for believing in Social Security. Thank you 
             for the countless times that you said we are going to win 
             that battle. Thank you for what you said to me the last 
             time we were together: You know, Anna, that corporations 
             by the law of the Congress cannot dip into their pension 
             funds and borrow from them. Now why would it stand to 
             reason that the American Government, the Congress, the 
             administration continues to dip into Social Security? That 
             is not the right way to go.
               So all of your dignity, Bob, that magnificent face of 
             yours that took on age with wisdom, thank you for laughing 
             when I said to you how proud I am, Bob, that your 
             granddaughter bears the name Anna. He really laughed when 
             I said, ``I did not realize that you loved me so much.''
               Bob, we all loved you. You showed us what it is to be a 
             Member of the Congress of the United States. In the house 
             of the people of all of the people, you are always going 
             to be standing next to us. What you did here is not lost.
               Thank you, Doris, for being the partner that you are and 
             always will be. Thank you, Brian, for being the son that 
             you have been. Thank you, Amy, and thank you, Anna. We are 
             going to treasure you always. But the most important thing 
             is, Bob, we will never ever lose what you did here. We are 
             going to carry it every day. It is the gold and the myrrh 
             of all of us. Thank you, Bob. We love you.

               Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, I rise with heavy heart to pay 
             tribute to a dear friend, an exemplary Member of this 
             institution, and a great American. Bob Matsui did more 
             than represent the Fifth District of California. He 
             represented the best in American politics. Indeed, if one 
             asked me to describe an ideal Congressman, Bob Matsui 
             would be exhibit A. In an institution that is sometimes 
             short on comity and civility, Bob was mellow and civil by 
             nature. He had a first-class temperament as well as a 
             first-class intelligence.
               But make no mistake about it: he was a fighter for what 
             he believed in. He was a politician of principle and 
             passion and prodigious energy as proved by the way he 
             stumped the country for Democratic candidates, even as he 
             suffered from the blood condition that finally claimed his 
             life. Whether the issue was taxes or trade or Social 
             Security or the earned income credit, he always had an 
             arsenal of facts at his disposal. On whatever the issue, 
             your issue, you were always better off if you ran your 
             arguments by Bob and sought his support here in the well 
             of this House. He became a leader in this House and an 
             influence, not so much because of seniority or position, 
             but because everyone liked him, respected him, and knew 
             his intelligence.
               When Bob spoke, he knew his stuff. He spoke with 
             authority. He spoke substance and sense. I was last with 
             him on December 15 for the better part of the day. We had 
             a teleconference with 36 reporters calling in. It lasted 
             for more than an hour. We literally had to cut it off. 
             Afterward when I spoke with Bob, he was on the ceiling, 
             just delighted with the response we had gotten, and ready 
             to suit up, ready to do battle over Social Security. It 
             was this sort of zest that made Bob Matsui a delight and a 
             joy to work with.
               On our side we have a deep bench and we will fill his 
             committee position with a competent successor, but no one 
             can surpass Bob's mastery of the subjects which were his 
             domain on either side of the aisle. The Congress has lost 
             a great leader and the country a true patriot, a citizen, 
             a third-generation American who was interned as a child 
             with his family who suffered an awful, terrible, 
             unforgivable injustice. But he loved his country 
             nevertheless and committed his life to making it better.
               We do not ask today for whom the bells toll. They toll 
             for all of us, but especially for those of us who served 
             with Bob Matsui, loved him as a friend, and wonder if we 
             will ever see anyone like him again. To Doris and to Brian 
             and Amy and little Anna, our hearts go out. But just as 
             Bob lives on in all of you, he lives on in all of us who 
             worked with him for years and years. His legacy is one 
             that will last in this institution. Indeed, this great old 
             institution of the Republic is a better place because he 
             served here sacrificially for 26 years.

               Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise 
             and speak in honor of a wonderful colleague and a beloved 
             friend, Bob Matsui. No one, but no one, was more able and 
             more respected in this body than Bob Matsui. I came here a 
             little over 18 years ago, and I met this man who was so 
             thoughtful, kind and gentle. Sometimes in this body we 
             call each other ``the honorable, the gentleman, the 
             gentlewoman.'' Bob Matsui was honorable, and he was a 
             gentleman. He was honorable in the truest sense of that 
             word.
               I remember when I first came here in fall 1986. During 
             freshman orientation, we had a dinner at Statuary Hall. My 
             10-year-old son, John Miles, came with me; and Bob Matsui 
             took the time to engage my son in conversation. My young 
             son really appreciated that. Bob Matsui took the time to 
             talk to him and almost treated him like another member of 
             the freshman class. He grew to admire and like Bob Matsui. 
             When I informed him that Bob Matsui had passed, he said, 
             ``Daddy, I really liked him. I am sorry. I am so sorry.''
               We lost a colleague, and some of us have lost a friend. 
             The American people have lost a champion and a warrior who 
             fought to protect Social Security and looked out for the 
             young and all of those who have been left out and left 
             behind in America.
               There are people in this business who we meet from time 
             to time who love the world, but they do not necessarily 
             like people. Bob Matsui not only liked people, but he 
             loved. He loved all of us, and we loved him.
               A few short years ago, I had the opportunity to spend a 
             weekend in Bob's district. He took me to a university 
             where we had a community meeting with students and 
             faculty. We listened, we spoke, and we listened. As a 
             matter of fact, on the campus when we arrived, there were 
             chickens running all around. I said, Bob, I feel really at 
             home with all of these chickens. So when I got up to 
             speak, I said to the president of the university, I said, 
             Mr. President, I know there is some controversy about 
             chickens on the campus, but do not move the chickens; let 
             the chickens stay here. And Bob laughed and laughed, and 
             we got an agreement out of the president that the chickens 
             would remain on the campus.
               We visited schools, we visited a synagogue, a church, 
             and a service in memory of Dr. King. During that trip, I 
             witnessed the love that Bob Matsui had for his people and 
             the love that they demonstrated for him.
               I tell my colleagues, it seems so unreal, so 
             unbelievable; it is almost impossible to comprehend the 
             loss of a friend, the loss of a brother, a colleague, a 
             husband, a father, a grandfather. What more can be said 
             about this man? His life was not in vain. He gave of 
             himself. He was just a warm, decent, good human being who 
             treated each and every one of us with respect.
               When I was walking across the grounds of the Capitol 
             today a few hours ago, a police officer came up to me and 
             said, ``Congressman, when you speak to Mrs. Matsui, please 
             tell her on behalf of all of the Capitol Police officers 
             that her husband was a good man and he treated us well.''
               As a Nation and as a people, this is a great loss. Bob 
             Matsui represents something very special. I, for one, do 
             not believe that we will ever be so lucky or so blessed to 
             witness his likeness again. May God bless his soul.
               At this very difficult time, our prayers and our 
             thoughts are with his beloved wife, Doris; his son, Brian; 
             his daughter-in-law, Amy; his granddaughter, Anna; his 
             staff; and the people of the Fifth Congressional District 
             of California. May they find comfort and peace in the love 
             and memory of this great and beloved man.

               Mr. BECERRA. To Doris Matsui, Brian, Amy and Anna, we 
             grieve with you; but more, we celebrate the life of a 
             wonderful human being, as I know you will have an 
             opportunity to do over the coming months and years as we 
             all remember Bob Matsui.
               I would like to talk to you, Anna, because right now it 
             is perhaps difficult for you to grasp all that is being 
             said about your grandfather, given that you are just a 
             little over a year old. But in time, with the wonders of 
             technology and the beauty of a democracy in the people's 
             house where every word that we speak in the well of this 
             body is recorded for time immortal, perhaps you will have 
             an opportunity to take a glimpse at what so many people 
             thought of your grandfather.
               I will tell you he was a wonderful human being, a superb 
             legislator and public servant and, perhaps most of all, a 
             great American. I will tell you also that he graduated 
             from a great high school 17 years before I did, at C.K. 
             McClatchy High School in Sacramento, CA.
               He cared a great deal about the people he represented. 
             He was a fighter and a champion. He knew when to fight, he 
             knew how to fight, and he knew for whom he was fighting 
             all the time.
               If you ever had an opportunity to converse with Bob 
             Matsui, you knew that his deepest conversations were 
             spoken with his eyes. He had these eyes that somehow could 
             convey what oftentimes words cannot, and you knew that 
             when he spoke with his eyes he was speaking to you from 
             conviction, with determination, focus, and experience. And 
             if it were not his words, for sure his eyes would convince 
             you of a direction to take, of what he was trying to say, 
             of where to go, of how to do it right. A handshake from 
             Bob Matsui was as sure a bet as the sun rising in the 
             morning.
               If you knew Bob Matsui, you knew that he cared deeply 
             about family, about this country, and about what would 
             happen to the next generation. We are going to miss him in 
             this fight to create a better America, to preserve Social 
             Security for our seniors and for the next generations to 
             come. We are going to miss him when we talk about our 
             relations with all of our friends around the world in 
             trade. But we will carry on that fight, because he is a 
             champion to us now as he was before he passed on.
               Anna, I say to you as you grow and have an opportunity 
             to speak to your grandmother and your parents more about 
             your grandfather, and as you read more about his many 
             accomplishments, I hope that you will look back at some of 
             the words that were spoken by people who respected him so 
             dearly and considered him friend, mentor, confidant, that 
             this is a man who left so much for you to glean, to learn 
             from, and this is a man from whom you will have an 
             opportunity to say we can admire an American and certainly 
             America can say that we can appreciate this American.
               So, Doris, with all due respect to you and to Brian and 
             to Amy, I think it is most appropriate for me to address 
             myself to Anna because I believe the greatest gift that 
             Bob Matsui left us was the fact that he thought about the 
             future; and, Anna, I suspect that he was thinking about 
             you as much as anyone else. So with you Anna, Godspeed as 
             you learn from a great man, Bob Matsui.

               Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I am here tonight to 
             pay tribute and honor to our good friend and fallen 
             comrade, Bob Matsui. My wife, Stephanie, and I just came 
             from visiting with Doris at their home, and we put our 
             arms around Doris and told her how much we loved her and 
             loved Bob Matsui.
               I cannot think of a more fitting tribute to pay to Bob 
             Matsui than to say this: I have never heard Bob Matsui say 
             anything unkind about any other human being, and I have 
             never heard any person in this Chamber say anything unkind 
             about Bob Matsui. And that is somewhat unique, I suppose, 
             because there are some unkind things said about other 
             people in this Chamber, but never about Bob or from Bob.
               I know we will miss Bob, and we will miss his intellect, 
             his passion, his compassion, and the history that he 
             brought to this body. I know Congress will miss Bob. I 
             know that I am a better person for having known Bob. And 
             when God looks down on some cold, wintry night on this 
             beautiful Earth and there are 1 million stars shining in 
             the sky, I know one of those stars will shine brighter, 
             and that will be Bob. We will miss you, Bob, and we love 
             you.

               Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, this is a 
             house of diverse and talented Members, but among these 
             Members, Bob Matsui stood out in many, many ways. He stood 
             out as an effective legislator; a senior member of the 
             Committee on Ways and Means, the third-ranking Democrat. 
             Bob was a leader on trade issues. He was a prominent 
             spokesman among Democrats for those of us who favor an 
             expansive trade policy for our country, with safeguards, 
             to level the playing field in terms of environmental and 
             labor standards. He was the foremost Democratic expert on 
             Social Security, determined to fortify that program for 
             future generations.
               Bob Matsui stood out as a committed leader of the 
             Democratic Caucus. He did an extraordinary job in what is 
             our party's toughest assignment, that is, the chairmanship 
             of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, 
             recruiting our candidates, raising untold amounts of 
             money, keeping us motivated and focused.
               He had the toughest assignment in our caucus, and he did 
             it with grace and with great effectiveness.
               Bob Matsui stood out for his extraordinary and 
             distinctive personal story. As a child he was one of 
             120,000 Japanese Americans interned in camps during World 
             War II. I learned about Bob's story early in my service in 
             Congress as he helped many of us understand the need for 
             the Japanese American redress act, belatedly passed by 
             this Chamber in 1988.
               Bob Matsui stood out as a warm friend and supportive 
             colleague. He was a man who took time to get to know his 
             colleagues. He was a wonderful listener, a great 
             encourager, always willing to share credit and to seek a 
             common basis for action.
               Bob was one of our most reasonable Members. Surely he 
             was one of our most reasonable colleagues. He was 
             persuasive precisely because we knew he was a man of his 
             word, and we knew he was a man of utter integrity.
               Like many here, I considered Bob a close friend, 
             generous with his counsel, with ready encouragement, and I 
             will miss him greatly.
               My wife and I have also treasured our friendship with 
             Bob and Doris Matsui as a couple. Doris has made major 
             contributions of her own to our country, particularly as a 
             Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of 
             Public Liaison in the White House for the Clinton 
             administration, and she has been a strong and loyal 
             partner to Bob in his endeavors.
               We extend our heartfelt sympathy to Doris and her 
             family, hoping that she may draw comfort and strength from 
             the outpouring of affection and respect from Bob's and her 
             many friends and admirers this evening and in the days to 
             come.

               Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I say to Doris, 
             she married a nice man.
               The Congressman that we mourn tonight can be described 
             in many ways. It is not often that we use the word 
             ``nice'' and people understand the fullness of what it 
             means. Bob Matsui was a nice person and a nice man. He was 
             a committed man and a dedicated public servant.
               I enjoyed talking to him because we had a commonality. 
             He started on the Sacramento City Council, and he made me 
             feel that, coming from the city council in my town.
               He loved Sacramento. He rose to be the vice mayor of 
             that town, but it made him sensitive to the local needs of 
             people. So, even though I would view him to be the 
             crafter, the definer of the modern day Social Security in 
             these days, I know that he also understood when a pothole 
             got your last tire, that made him a man who cared about 
             the little things but understood the big things.
               I note his love and affection for the Committee on Ways 
             and Means. Yes, if one can love a committee, Bob loved his 
             committee. He loved his fellow committee persons. He loved 
             his ranking member, whom he called chairman. They had a 
             special bond and a special unity, cared about each other, 
             and of course Bob was not a narrow thinker. One may have 
             come from Texas, may have come from New York, Missouri or 
             somewhere else, but he embraced you.
               I will never forget his steady hand in this last very 
             challenging election cycle. If you did not toe the line, 
             Bob had a way of giving you a call and making sure that 
             you did what you needed to do to get good folk elected. He 
             stayed steadfast in the last days of the Louisiana 
             election, but most of all his special story is worth 
             noting, and to his wife Doris, his son Brian, daughter-in-
             law Amy and granddaughter Anna, he will go down as an icon 
             of American history.
               I cannot imagine an internment. I have a history that 
             relates to that, but I never was a slave. But yes, this 
             humble Congressperson started his early life interned in 
             the United States of America. His story is unfortunately 
             part of America's story, but even with that experience 
             this giant of a man rose to be a leader in this Congress 
             and to be able to turn us away from those ways that were 
             wrong.
               Thank you, Bob, Congressman Matsui, for living amongst 
             us. Thank you for being a man of honor. Thank you, Doris, 
             Brian, Amy and Anna, for giving him to us. God bless you 
             and may your soul rest in peace.

               Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great sorrow 
             to join my colleagues in remembering and honoring our 
             colleague, our dear friend, Bob Matsui.
               Bob Matsui was a fine man. He loved his family, he loved 
             his country and he loved this House, the institution he 
             served for 26 years, and in return, we loved him.
               He loved his family. He loved his country. We loved his 
             gentle manner and incisive mind. We loved his tenacity and 
             fair-mindedness, his policy expertise and political skill. 
             He was a true leader of this caucus and the California 
             delegation, a real hero to Japanese Americans and a true 
             fighter for economic opportunity, fiscal accountability 
             and social justice. Like so many, I cannot imagine 
             debating the future of Social Security and many other 
             issues without Bob.
               While the Nation will suffer from his loss, the family's 
             loss is deeper and greater than we could possibly imagine. 
             My heart goes out to Doris, Brian, Amy and little Anna. He 
             was so proud of Anna and was so happy to share pictures of 
             her with all of us, and Doris, you were truly his partner, 
             and he spoke so often of Brian and Amy and their joy at 
             Anna's birth. I know he loved them and he was so proud of 
             them.
               I also want to extend my condolences to his wonderful, 
             hardworking staff, both here on the Hill and at the DCCC, 
             his close circle of former staff, as well as to the people 
             of the Fifth District of California. Bob was a kind, 
             principled man, a valued colleague and a very dear friend. 
             I will miss him greatly.
               We love you, Bob. You will always remain in our hearts 
             and your outstanding work will always be an example to 
             this House of Representatives.

               Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, in my 30 
             years in the Congress I have had the honor and the 
             privilege of meeting so many people from so many different 
             walks of life, not just my colleagues that I have served 
             with in the House of Representatives but obviously the 
             people that I represent and the people who come to the 
             Nation's Capitol to seek our help in so many endeavors 
             that they are engaged in their families and their 
             livelihoods. There are a few who are very special. They 
             stand out in our professional life. They stand out as our 
             peers and our colleagues.
               Bob Matsui was a very special person, for all of the 
             reasons that my colleagues have said here tonight. We all 
             know that at his core was the gold standard in conviction, 
             in morality and integrity and in giving us the unvarnished 
             truth from time to time when we did not agree with him.
               I think that is one of the reasons we were so fond of 
             him. When you had a disagreement with him, he sought you 
             out and he wanted to discuss it with you, face to face, 
             person to person, colleague to colleague, trying to work 
             out the difficulties to make this a better country, but 
             when you discussed it with him, you understood that he was 
             clinging to principle, and he was clinging to integrity 
             because it was the core of his existence.
               Many have referred to the fact of his family's 
             experience in the internment camp, and I do not think 
             there is any question but that gave him a compass to set a 
             course on the issues of social justice and opportunity in 
             this society and civil rights. It is unparalleled, I 
             think.
               We all work in these fields, and we have some 
             outstanding individuals in this Congress that I have 
             served with over 30 years who have fought these fights. 
             Bob was one of those.
               I had the opportunity to work with him on the 
             reparations bill and in the Manzanar Historic Monument 
             bill of one of the internment camps so that this country 
             could remember what happened in the Tule Lake and the 
             other internment centers.
               I do not know what else to say except that this is the 
             loss of a really special person who was a wonderful 
             friend, who was a great credit to this institution and who 
             leaves behind a magnificent legacy along with a 
             magnificent family, a family that no spouse or father 
             could have been more proud of than he was of Doris and 
             Brian and daughter-in-law Amy and his new granddaughter 
             Anna.
               To see him and Doris at public events, engaged in their 
             community and the partnership that they had and their 
             conferring back and forth on the issues and the battles 
             that he was engaged in, was a wonderful experience. I am 
             going to miss him greatly. I think this country is going 
             to miss him even more.

               Mr. LEWIS of California. I very much apologize being as 
             late as I am. I meant to be here earlier, but I am glad I 
             walked in as my colleague the gentleman from California 
             (Mr. George Miller) was making his remarks, for the 
             emotion that we could feel in his very presence and voice 
             is a reflection of how all of us feel, and I join in this 
             celebration of our friend Bob Matsui.
               All of us who care about public affairs and the Congress 
             absolutely know that fundamental to our success in solving 
             people's problems involves our understanding of just how 
             important people are to our entire process.
               The gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) and I 
             got to know each other first in Sacramento, and at that 
             very time, overlapping our service, our friend Bob Matsui 
             was serving on the city council. I learned to get to know 
             Bob in a different venue, however, for he and I were 
             elected in 1978 and came here as freshmen, not so long 
             ago.
               Bob Matsui, as you have heard from many a person, is a 
             fabulous reflection of the best of public affairs.
               I would like my colleagues to know that while we all 
             believe public policy is what we should really be about, 
             looking for the solutions to problems that the people care 
             about, looking for alternative avenues for making a 
             difference, when it comes to it in the final analysis we 
             are all in this together.
               The American public has grown tired of that rhetoric 
             that we hear all too often that reflects the fringe of our 
             dialog; and far from that fringe but rather right in the 
             heart of the best of us was a personality we have been 
             discussing today, Robert Matsui of Sacramento, of the 
             Committee on Ways and Means, a wonderful human being, who 
             was willing to look you in the eye, and tell you what he 
             thought when he disagreed with you. All too often, and 
             much more, he was putting his arm around you and telling 
             you what you did well and what he thought of you on the 
             positive side.
               If we could take the extreme from our rhetoric and the 
             dialog around here and remember Bob Matsui suddenly 
             because of that, this House, great as it is, would indeed 
             be an even better place.
               I am pleased to take just a moment to express to Doris, 
             their family, all their friends in Sacramento, how much we 
             will miss them and how much pain we feel for especially 
             his personal family. Our own friends in Sacramento who 
             remain have talked often about the greatness of this man. 
             We only had a chance of getting to know that by having the 
             privilege of serving with him here.
               With that, let me bid Bob adieu and join with all of his 
             dear friends here in expressing our love and prayers for 
             not just his family, but the future, the future of those 
             he served, and know that we will all miss his service.

               Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California. We have heard tonight so 
             many of our colleagues speak of Bob and describe Bob in so 
             many different ways. He was a great American. We are in 
             mourning in this House. His constituents are in mourning. 
             California is in mourning, and the Nation has lost a 
             giant.
               Bob was a giant through and through. He grew up in 
             Sacramento out in the valley, went to Cal Berkeley, went 
             to law school at Hastings College of Law. He was the first 
             Asian American to hold a leadership position in the House 
             of Representatives. When I became the chairperson of the 
             California Democratic delegation in the 108th Congress, 
             and he had always been a mentor to me, he upped his 
             mentorship of me at that time. It is something I have 
             always been immensely grateful for.
               We have talked about his leadership on a variety of 
             issues: Social Security, the reparations bills, and health 
             care for children. The list goes on and on. But we are 
             mourning him today as someone we knew also as a friend.
               Some in the papers have said he was mild-mannered, and 
             my thought was that the Bob I knew was tough as nails and 
             focused. Yes, he was mild-mannered. He was polite is what 
             he was, but he never lost focus on what he was for. He 
             loved his parents because they gave him a framework to 
             understand the world. And it is important to understand 
             that a great injustice was done to his family and to him, 
             but he was never bitter about that because it allowed him 
             to appreciate also the gift he was given, as so many of us 
             were, of opportunity here in America.
               I believe that is really what fueled his passion here 
             for the issues he fought for, the opportunity that others 
             should have that was given to him. It was not just limited 
             to his constituents, whom he loved dearly, but was for all 
             Americans.
               I can recall several years ago a situation in Silicon 
             Valley. He was very interested in technology. 
             Entrepreneurs had been hit with a weird tax and had lost 
             everything in the AMT-ISO disaster. These were Silicon 
             Valley people, but Bob came from Sacramento and sat all 
             day in San Jose to listen to their stories because he 
             cared about them, whether they were his constituents or 
             not.
               Bob was one of our most compassionate Members, one of 
             our most focused Members, but I also want to talk about 
             Bob the family person. I do not think there was ever a son 
             as brilliant as Brian, if you listened to Bob. Nor was 
             there a daughter-in-law as wonderful as Amy; and never a 
             grandchild as creative and adorable as Anna; not to 
             mention his wonderful spouse, Doris. Many of us have 
             spouses. We love our spouses, but Doris had almost a 
             unique relationship among spouses in the House because not 
             only was she Bob's life partner, she was Bob's partner in 
             political life and in policy life. She stood up for the 
             people of the Fifth District of California every bit as 
             much as Bob Matsui stood up for those people.
               We thank Doris for her many years of service with Bob 
             for those constituents and for Americans.
               Just a final word. Bob had said he was having a few 
             health problems. I had no idea how serious they were; but 
             certainly Bob Matsui knew how serious they were. Even 
             though Bob knew he was ill, he kept working for us. He was 
             chair of the DCCC, not because he was on an ego trip. In 
             fact, he did not want the job; we made him do it. He 
             fought those fights because he believed that the ideals of 
             the Democratic Party for Social Security, for a safety 
             net, for education, for opportunity for hardworking people 
             who play by the rules to get ahead, those were values that 
             were core to him. And even though he put his own health at 
             risk, he fought on for us.
               I want to thank Doris for allowing him to do that. It is 
             a sacrifice that is immense. We all feel the loss today. I 
             thank Doris; his wonderful son, Brian; Amy; his 
             granddaughter, Anna. I think back on the many times we 
             spent in California enjoying ourselves. He was a Cal 
             graduate, but it did not stop him from being a Stanford 
             fan as well, which I always appreciated.
               I loved Bob Matsui, as did the entire delegation. We 
             miss him a great deal. Other people will follow his steps, 
             but no one will be able to fill them completely in our 
             hearts.

               Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair of our 
             California Democratic delegation for her wonderful words 
             about Bob Matsui.
               Anyone who did not know Bob Matsui and just turned on 
             the television tonight would have to be impressed by the 
             array of comments from so many different Members of 
             Congress on both sides of the aisle about this exceptional 
             person. There is no way to exaggerate how wonderful he 
             was. He was a person of great intellect and great passion. 
             He was a person of great gentility and of great strength 
             when it came to debating his points.
               Ever since Members and colleagues and staff on the Hill 
             and reporters and the media learned of his death, they 
             have come and said, Bob Matsui would go out of his way to 
             come by and say hello. He always smiled, he always asked 
             about people's well-being and how they were doing and 
             could he be helpful. He was a gentle man. But again, he 
             had a strength about him that if he thought on a matter of 
             public policy someone was abandoning the children of 
             America or the seniors of America or America's working 
             families, he made it quite clear to them that in his eyes 
             he was losing respect for them because he thought that is 
             what we came here to do.
               So many Members have talked about his talent, his 
             personality, his love of family which was preeminent 
             because at the end of the day that is, of course, what 
             matters most. I visited Doris Matsui on Sunday evening to 
             extend the condolences of Bob's colleagues to her, and to 
             say how magnificently received Bob was after the election; 
             that even though we did not win, every time his name was 
             mentioned or he was introduced, he would receive a 
             standing ovation from the members of the Democratic Caucus 
             because he dealt with them honestly. He worked so hard and 
             so smartly for our success, it just was not to be; but 
             they appreciated the leadership he provided.
               Just to talk about a few things, we had the occasion the 
             last night that we were here, December 8, to have a dinner 
             in appreciation of those who helped us in our efforts. We 
             surprised Bob because it was turned on him, and we 
             expressed our appreciation to him. The gentleman from New 
             York (Mr. Rangel), the ranking member, was so eloquent and 
             spoke from the heart about Bob Matsui. It really was 
             stunning to Bob. It was a gift that God gave us that we 
             would have that opportunity to express appreciation to 
             him. This is a very, very modest man and all of that 
             attention was stunning to him.
               So when I said to Doris, remember the dinner and it was 
             so wonderful, she said he talked about it so much and he 
             talked about the toast of the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
             Rangel) and how the Members expressed their appreciation 
             and how surprised he was and how much it meant to him.
               So to my Democratic colleagues, thank you for the 
             generosity that you extended to Bob Matsui. I hope it is a 
             comfort to those of us who loved him and all of us in our 
             caucus that we did have an opportunity to say thank you to 
             him in a very special way. It was quite remarkable. I 
             think all of my colleagues will agree that my colleagues 
             were clamoring for Bob to be reappointed to the DCCC. 
             Indeed, he had that opportunity, and he was willing to 
             serve, except God had other plans.
               It is important to note that in the summer of this year 
             one of Bob's very closest friends, Steve Thompson, exactly 
             Bob's age, was diagnosed just a few weeks before he died, 
             and it was a complete and total surprise. He, like Bob, 
             was a very respected member in the Sacramento, CA, 
             community. They were very dear friends since seventh 
             grade. When Bob came to his new school, not a very 
             athletic appearance anyway, Steve was a big man on campus 
             and he said he just wrapped his arm around Bob Matsui and 
             that made it OK for everybody, and they were friends for 
             life.
               Nobody would have ever expected 6 months ago that death 
             would come this summer for Steve and now for Bob. Steve's 
             death took a lot out of Bob. He seemed so saddened by it, 
             as we are saddened by his passing. In any event, Doris 
             told us that Bob left us peacefully, just the way he 
             lived, surrounded by people who loved him. Again, Anna 
             saying da-da. He took her to his office on December 23, 
             had their pictures taken in front of the Capitol. Well, 
             when you have been here 26 years, a picture in front of 
             the Capitol is a picture at your desk because he had a 
             special office. It was his plan, and he was bragging about 
             it that he was going to take Anna to be here today with 
             him because she was born since the last swearing in. Again 
             that was not to be.
               In any event, when Anna is old enough to read about her 
             grandfather, she will know he was one of the most 
             dedicated public servants in our country. He was a true 
             patriot, he was a decent man, he loved his family, and he 
             was a best friend to almost everybody in the Congress of 
             the United States.
               There is so much to say, but everybody knows that our 
             thoughts and prayers are with Doris, Brian, Amy and Anna 
             who shared Bobby with us and inspired his commitment for a 
             brighter future for America.
               Imagine that his family and he as a small child were in 
             a Japanese internment camp. Again, as the gentlewoman from 
             California (Ms. Zoe Lofgren) said, it only heightened his 
             love for America because he knew that we could do better 
             and he would be a part of that. I will close by saying 
             that one of the pleasures we had at this dinner on 
             December 8, as the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) 
             reminds me, I always said during the campaign that Bob 
             Matsui was a maestro, that he was orchestrating all of 
             this activity all over the country. This man who 
             unbeknownst to us had this diagnosis, and it was not 
             supposed to be fatal, but the pneumonia was.
               In any event, he would be working so hard for senior 
             citizens all day on a Social Security issue and 
             orchestrating hundreds, thousands of young people 
             throughout the country to be involved in campaigns to make 
             the future better. He had a way of channeling the 
             enthusiasm that he had for issues into the activism that 
             was necessary to make a difference.
               At this party we gave him a baton recognizing the 
             maestro that he was and is. We will just miss him 
             terribly.
               The poet Longfellow wrote:

             Were a star quenched on high,
             For ages would its light,
             Still traveling downward from the sky,
             Shine on our mortal sight.
             So when a great man dies,
             For years beyond our ken,
             The light he leaves behind him lies
             Upon the paths of men.

               Bob Matsui's light will always shine, one that will 
             guide us to a better America, and that was his dream.

               Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to add my remarks 
             to the glowing ones we have heard regarding the untimely 
             passing of our dear colleague, Bob Matsui. To have known 
             Bob Matsui is to be heartbroken by his death. I believe 
             that our Republican colleagues would agree. Especially for 
             Democrats, however, the loss is profoundly felt three 
             times over. First, there was the man whose human 
             dimensions of kindness, consideration, and friendly 
             persuasion made him instantly likeable and one of the most 
             admired and respected Members across the political 
             spectrum. Second, there was the successful party leader, 
             who had just completed his term as a hugely successful 
             chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. 
             And third, there was the Democratic seer of Social 
             Security whom we were depending upon to lead us through 
             the coming crucial Social Security debate, one of the 
             several subjects whose Byzantine complexities Bob had 
             mastered as third ranking on the Ways and Means Committee. 
             Congress and the country could not afford to lose even one 
             of these three Bob Matsuis. Now, sadly we have lost all 
             three. As we mourn the loss of one of the country's most 
             effective public servants, we celebrate our good fortune 
             that Bob Matsui gave his life to public service.

               Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my 
             condolences to the family of Bob Matsui. Bob was my friend 
             for 13 years. Even though we sat on opposite sides of the 
             aisle we shared a bond as fellow Californians, and he 
             always had my utmost respect.
               In this House Bob always strove to do the best for his 
             district, his State, and his country. He entered Congress 
             with a distinguished class in 1978 and made a lasting 
             impression. His 26 years here were an example of how a man 
             can be an effective promoter of his party and the 
             consummate gentleman at the same time. Even in the most 
             partisan of positions, chairman of his party's 
             Congressional Campaign Committee, Bob took the high road 
             and set an example for us to follow. He was a man of 
             unparalleled integrity, compassion, intelligence and 
             dedication.
               I will miss Bob Matsui. I know that the people of 
             California, the United States, and the Members of this 
             body share my sentiments.

               Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in profound sadness to 
             express my deepest sympathy to the family and friends of 
             the Honorable Robert Matsui. I was shocked to learn of the 
             untimely death of our colleague and friend Bob, with whom 
             I was so fortunate to serve for 24 years.
               Bob was truly a great man who triumphed over adversity 
             to help lead our Nation. During World War II the United 
             States wrongfully interned 120,000 American citizens and 
             permanent resident aliens of Japanese ancestry. From his 
             earliest days, Bob faced this brutal devastation as he and 
             his family were rounded up, torn from their home and sent 
             to the desolation of a detention camp in Tule Lake, CA.
               Tempered by tragedy, Bob walked from the darkness of 
             that detention to lead the fight for passage of the Civil 
             Liberties Act of 1988. That historic legislation 
             acknowledged the fundamental injustice of the internment, 
             apologized on behalf of the people of the United States 
             and made restitution to those interned. He called upon us 
             to serve a high purpose and reminded us that while we 
             addressed the injustice done, we were also protecting 
             fundamental American values enshrined in our Constitution.
               This remarkable accomplishment gave added weight to U.S. 
             human rights policy and credibility to our statements 
             about other countries' human rights violations. While no 
             amount of apology or restitution fully rectifies the 
             denial of human rights, Bob understood that the 
             acknowledgment of this past injustice was an important 
             step forward. Bob and I shared that commitment to improve 
             civil rights and human rights all over the world.
               Bob Matsui's long involvement in public service resulted 
             in an impressive record of success in Sacramento and 
             Washington. Among other achievements he was a legislative 
             leader on Social Security as a member of the House Ways 
             and Means Committee. He rallied House Democrats with 
             integrity and spirit as chairman of the Democratic 
             Congressional Campaign Committee.
               We mourn the loss of a good and decent man, a leader 
             with such virtue, a fellow Californian, and a friend. We 
             will carry a heavier burden without his strength to depend 
             upon. My wife Annette and I extend our wishes of solace 
             and peace for his wife Doris, his son Brian, his daughter-
             in-law Amy and his granddaughter Anna during this most 
             difficult time.

               Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember a 
             dedicated public servant and great friend, Robert T. 
             Matsui.
               It was a privilege and honor serving with Bob. Although 
             we only served together for one term, I learned a great 
             deal from Bob--starting when I worked at the other end of 
             Pennsylvania Avenue--about protecting Social Security, 
             expanding free trade, welfare reform, and giving American 
             families more opportunities to prosper.
               His selfless determination, borne from his early 
             childhood experiences--resulted in a lifelong commitment 
             to heal our Nation's wounds and make amends for past 
             wrongs.
               Answering President John F. Kennedy's call, Bob inspired 
             generations of Americans who dedicated themselves to 
             public service, including minorities and the Asian 
             American community in particular.
               His leadership in this Chamber resulted in a formal 
             apology for the treatment of Japanese Americans interned 
             and discriminated against during World War II.
               Bob never shied away from difficult debates. While 
             seeking innovative ways to help America's employees stay 
             competitive in the global economy, he championed President 
             Clinton's North American Free Trade Agreement and secured 
             a strong, bipartisan vote in the House for permanent free 
             trade relations with China.
               His efforts helped fuel the largest economic expansion 
             in our Nation's history, and opened new lines of 
             communication and cultural understanding around the world.
               We will miss Bob's strong and uncompromising leadership 
             on Social Security, a void in this Chamber that will be 
             very difficult to fill.
               Mr. Speaker, Robert Matsui was a man I was proud to call 
             my friend. May God bless his wife Doris and the Matsui 
             family in this difficult hour as we honor the memory of a 
             man truly loved and respected by his peers and his 
             country, and whose contributions will always be remembered 
             in this Chamber.

               Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my 
             colleagues in expressing profound sorrow on the loss of 
             one of this House's most highly respected and widely 
             regarded Members, the Honorable Bob Matsui of Sacramento.
               With his passing, we have lost a national conscience in 
             Congress. Although I had the privilege to serve with him 
             for only 2 of his 26 years of distinguished service in the 
             House, it did not take long for me to realize after 
             arriving here as a freshman that he was truly a man of 
             distinction. His leadership in many ways was subtle, but 
             firm and strong.
               I had the honor of serving with him on the Congressional 
             Asian Pacific American Caucus, and recognize today, along 
             with many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, his long-
             standing commitment and contributions to the progress of 
             our communities. It was through his diligence, as many 
             have recounted and memorialized this evening, that healing 
             and justice was brought through the enactment of the Civil 
             Liberties Act of 1988, which authorized reparations and a 
             formal apology to surviving Japanese Americans who had 
             been detained in U.S. concentration camps during World War 
             II. This is just but one of the lasting landmark 
             accomplishments of his leadership.
               On so many other accounts and in so many other ways, he 
             was there for those in need of a voice in Congress. A 
             reliable and true public servant, for the disadvantaged, 
             for our seniors, and for our young Americans, who he 
             inspired with his example and character.
               Bob Matsui was a gifted leader who epitomized the 
             noblest qualities of public service. On behalf of the 
             people of Guam, I extend our deepest sympathies to his 
             wife Doris and their family and to the people of the Fifth 
             District of California.

               Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, when I opened my holiday cards 
             this season, one in particular stood out. It was bigger 
             than the others. It was more colorful. It had several 
             pictures instead of just one. It was from the Matsui 
             family, and just about every picture included young Anna 
             Matsui, Bob's only grandchild.
               The love that this man had for his family, and this 
             little girl in particular, practically jumped off the 
             page. It saddens me deeply that Anna won't grow up knowing 
             more of her grandpa, but I am certain that her parents and 
             her grandmother will not let her forget him. She will grow 
             up strengthened by his leadership, his integrity, and his 
             kindness.
               I couldn't look at Anna's pictures without thinking 
             that, when Bob was her age, he was living in an internment 
             camp with other Japanese Americans who had been rounded up 
             and incarcerated after the attack on Pearl Harbor. It was, 
             of course, one of the great stains on our Nation's 
             history, and Bob spent his public life trying to somehow 
             correct that ugly injustice. I imagine that Bob's 
             connection to Anna was stronger because his own early 
             years were so unsettled, because he wanted his 
             granddaughter to have a childhood full of innocence and 
             happy memories.
               Bob Matsui stood out in this Chamber--for his policy 
             intellect; for his sense of compassion and justice; for 
             the esteem he earned on both sides of the aisle; but most 
             of all for his fundamental decency. That decency was 
             apparent in his work, whether he was securing flood 
             protection for Sacramento or fighting for Social Security. 
             And there's no question that we'll miss Bob Matsui's 
             expertise as we debate the future of Social Security this 
             year.
               There was no separation between Bob Matsui's private 
             virtues and public virtues. They were one and the same. He 
             treated everyone with respect; he didn't raise his voice a 
             lot; he was a lot more steak than sizzle. To be honest, 
             these are qualities that are not in abundance around here 
             these days. I hope that our memories of Bob Matsui will 
             lead us to conduct ourselves with greater civility in this 
             new Congress.
               Very few of us knew that Bob was sick, which is why the 
             news of his death came as such a shock. But that modesty 
             was consistent with the way Bob lived. Rather than go 
             public with his illness, he preferred simply to be 
             surrounded by the love of his family.
               Of course, even the most unassuming among us have 
             another side to them. As I was reading the obituary in the 
             Sacramento Bee, I was taken aback by one friend's 
             remembrance--of a shirtless Bob Matsui in the stands at a 
             Cal football game rabidly rooting for his team and 
             challenging the other team's fans.
               Now, if you asked the Members of this body to rank their 
             colleagues in order of most likely to remove their shirt 
             at a football game . . . Bob would've finished close to 
             435th of 435. And remember that includes more than 70 
             women.
               Our thoughts and prayers are with Bob's wife, Doris 
             Matsui, whom all of us know as an impressive advocate and 
             public servant in her own right. And with Brian, Amy and 
             Anna Matsui and everyone who loved this dear man. Bob 
             Matsui--rest in peace.

               Mr. CARDOZA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 
             life of a man who represented the best in American 
             politics and government.
               Congressman Matsui was what many of us aspire to be as 
             lawmakers. He was a passionate advocate for his 
             constituents, upheld the highest ethical standards, and 
             conducted himself with the utmost civility.
               He never failed to be there for others who were less 
             experienced. When I first ran for Congress, he served as 
             my mentor. Bob visited my district several times, and we 
             became good friends. I appreciated his advice and 
             benefited greatly from his expertise on issues such as 
             Social Security.
               But I was most impressed with how Bob went about his 
             daily business calmly and with a composure that helped him 
             gain the respect that he deserved.
               His devotion to others was remarkable and unrelenting, 
             and he could always be relied upon to do the right thing. 
             His contributions to our country, particularly on behalf 
             of Japanese Americans, will never be forgotten.
               We are all better for his efforts. While I am greatly 
             saddened that he is no longer with us, it is my honor to 
             be able to recognize and pay tribute to such a fine 
             American.

               Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support this 
             resolution to express profound sorrow upon the death of 
             Congressman Matsui. I join my colleagues to honor and 
             remember my good friend Congressman Bob Matsui, a true 
             leader in the House of Representatives whose passing 
             leaves us all with a sense of great loss.
               I would like to thank my colleagues, Congressman Stark 
             and Congresswoman Lofgren, and the rest of the California 
             Democratic Delegation for their swift leadership to pay 
             tribute to our friend, Bob.
               I would like to say ``thank you'' to Doris, his wife and 
             life-long partner, to his son Brian, his daughter-in-law 
             Amy, and to his granddaughter for sharing him with us in 
             Congress. In addition to the adoration of his wonderful 
             family, Bob had the love and respect of both his 
             constituents and his colleagues. He was a courageous and 
             passionate leader who served California's Fifth 
             Congressional District for 26 years.
               As a Member of Congress and as chair of the 
             Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, CAPAC, I had 
             the honor of working with Congressman Matsui. Bob was 
             instrumental in making CAPAC a reality, and served as a 
             CAPAC executive board member since its inception in 1994.
               Throughout his career, Congressman Matsui championed 
             causes affecting civil liberties and immigrants' rights. 
             As a dedicated member of the Asian Pacific Islander 
             American, APIA, community, Bob fought for a formal apology 
             from our government for its wrongful internment of 
             Japanese Americans during World War II. Congressman Matsui 
             and Secretary Norman Mineta led the way in passing the 
             Civil Liberties Act of 1988. As an American of Japanese 
             ancestry, Congressman Matsui helped obtain the land 
             necessary for the National Japanese American Memorial, 
             which recognizes Japanese American patriotism and honors 
             members for never losing faith in the basic principles 
             embodied in our Nation's Constitution.
               Along with Congressman Matsui and Secretary Mineta, I 
             experienced internment as a young Japanese American during 
             World War II. Bob was only 6 months old when he and his 
             family were interned at the Tule Lake Camp just months 
             after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Bob understood the 
             injustice of internment and sympathized with the other 
             loyal Americans who suffered at the hands of the 
             government in which they never lost faith.
               Bob Matsui listened to people, and set about helping 
             them with compassion and dignity. Whether he was fighting 
             for flood control on behalf of his constituents in 
             Sacramento or defending those without a voice, Bob 
             dedicated his entire career to public service. From the 
             time he worked as a member of the Sacramento City Council, 
             to serving as the vice mayor of Sacramento, and finally as 
             a U.S. Representative starting in 1978, Bob Matsui served 
             as a constant reminder of what integrity and dedication 
             can accomplish in public office.
               Congressman Matsui truly believed in the U.S. 
             Constitution and its promise of ``a more Perfect Union.'' 
             He relied on those values embedded in the Constitution in 
             fights to ensure adequate health care for children and 
             provide a safety net for needy families and the elderly. 
             Bob's leadership as the third ranking Democrat on the 
             House Ways and Means Committee and the ranking member on 
             the Social Security Subcommittee earned him a reputation 
             as an expert on tax and trade policy, Social Security and 
             welfare programs. In the 109th Congress, Bob's presence, 
             heart, and soul will be missed during the great debate 
             over Social Security.
               Mr. Speaker, Bob Matsui should ultimately be remembered 
             for his civility, his dignity, and his service to others. 
             He was a selfless role model whose footprint will forever 
             be imprinted on our Nation's history.

               Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
             recognize the life and legacy of the Honorable Robert 
             Matsui who served Sacramento, CA, for 27 years. Just last 
             month, Representative Matsui was reelected to another term 
             by a winning percentage of 71.4 percent. Sadly, he passed 
             from this life on New Year's Day, January 1, 2005.
               For the past 2 years, I have been honored to serve with 
             Representative Matsui on the Ways and Means Committee and 
             its Social Security Subcommittee. During that time, I 
             observed that Bob had a deep understanding of Social 
             Security and tax policy, which was reflected in his 
             masterful handling of committee work and interactions with 
             colleagues.
               He was a Congressperson's Congressperson. He was a great 
             leader. He was generous with his time and his talent. He 
             was willing to share the limelight. On several occasions 
             he invited me to serve as ranking member on the Social 
             Security Subcommittee, what a privilege. His generosity 
             will be sorely missed.
               As the 109th Congress convenes today, it is fitting that 
             we honor Bob Matsui's legacy. During the 109th Congress we 
             will undertake discussions on gutting the Social Security 
             Program, a program that Bob understood as an important 
             safety net for not only senior citizens but also disabled 
             persons and minor children of deceased parents. Bob was a 
             strong proponent of the idea that privatizing Social 
             Security would lead to its demise by making it financially 
             unviable. He worked tirelessly to reform the program and 
             make it operate more efficiently, without compromising its 
             purpose.
               A biblical proverb states that ``Good men must die, but 
             death cannot kill their names.'' Representative Robert 
             Matsui's legacy will live on in the Congress as we 
             continue his long-standing work to preserve Social 
             Security and our country's ideals of helping those who 
             need and deserve it. We will miss him, but his name will 
             not be forgotten.

               Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, the death of Congressman 
             Robert Matsui is a tremendous loss for his family, the 
             families he represented in California and everyone who 
             knew him. Bob was a wonderful man, a kind and gentle 
             spirit who loved his job and the people he worked for, and 
             I feel privileged to have served as his colleague in the 
             U.S. House of Representatives.
               Throughout his distinguished career in public service, 
             Congressman Matsui, a third-generation American, 
             vigorously defended justice and fairness--values forged 
             very early in his life when his family was imprisoned in 
             the Tule Lake Internment Camp in California during World 
             War II. Despite being interned as a young boy, Bob 
             remained optimistic and determined that everyone should be 
             treated equally and with respect. He believed in the 
             promise of America and took from his experience a strong 
             belief in civil rights as well as a passion for public 
             service.
               In Congress, Mr. Matsui was steadfast in acting on these 
             values, championing basic rights for all Americans and 
             leading the effort in which the U.S. Government formally 
             apologized to Japanese Americans for the World War II 
             internment program. In the 26 years that he served in the 
             U.S. House of Representatives, Bob rose to national 
             prominence as a senior member of the powerful Ways and 
             Means Committee, a national spokesman for Social Security, 
             and as the first Asian American in the leadership of 
             Congress.
               As a crusader for America's seniors, Mr. Matsui led the 
             fight to preserve Social Security. He reached out to 
             Members, new and old, helping them understand the 
             complexities of Social Security as well as its impact on 
             the daily lives of our seniors.
               Bob truly exemplified a gentleman. He served with 
             distinction and integrity, winning the respect and 
             admiration of all who worked with him.
               I extend my deepest condolences to the Matsui family--
             his wife Doris, son Brian, daughter-in-law Amy and 
             granddaughter Anna--as well as to his staff and the people 
             of California. Bob's integrity, devotion and compassion 
             will be greatly missed.

               Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a sad heart 
             to honor a great man, a dedicated public servant and a 
             good friend. In our own ways, each of us will miss 
             something special about Bob Matsui. Let me share with my 
             colleagues my own experience with him.
               Bob Matsui gave me my first job on Capitol Hill. In July 
             1979, I went to work for him as a part-time assistant, 
             entering constituent information into a computer, and then 
             helping to write legislative correspondence. Bob was a 
             freshman Member then, but even at that time I realized he 
             was to have a long and brilliant career in the Congress. 
             Twenty-two years later we reunited on the floor. Just 
             recently I showed him a photograph we took together on the 
             steps of the Capitol. The color was faded and the paper 
             brittle. But I kept it throughout the years to remind me 
             of the first Member of Congress who gave me an opportunity 
             in public service.
               Bob Matsui embodied the best values of public service. 
             He believed so strongly in opportunity here at home and 
             through sensible trade policies abroad. It was an honor to 
             have had the opportunity to learn from a man who put the 
             good of his constituents and of Americans generally over 
             partisanship and political one-upmanship. It is a lesson I 
             have strived to apply during my own tenure in this body.
               Bob Matsui set an example for all of us with his 
             integrity and dedication. He will be greatly missed.

               Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I 
             rise to express my deepest regrets over the loss of my 
             friend and colleague, Bob Matsui.
               My thoughts and prayers are with the Matsui family--
             especially Doris, Brian, Amy, and Anna.
               Our country has lost a great leader. Bob Matsui 
             personified integrity and passion. He served California 
             and America with great conviction and dedication to his 
             beliefs.
               Bob Matsui was an inspiration to all Americans. Although 
             he was taken to a Japanese American internment camp at 
             only 6 months old, he never gave up his dedication to 
             bettering our great country. He later became a leader of 
             the movement for redress of Japanese Americans interned 
             during World War II. Even though much time had passed, he 
             still sought justice for all Americans.
               Bob Matsui also fought tirelessly for America's senior 
             citizens. As ranking member of the Social Security 
             Subcommittee, he worked diligently to protect seniors' 
             retirement funds. He strongly opposed risky schemes to 
             privatize Social Security and worked to make seniors aware 
             of the faults of these plans.
               As chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign 
             Committee, Bob Matsui passionately believed in the message 
             of the Democratic Party, and dedicated himself tirelessly 
             to spreading that message.
               Bob Matsui is an inspiration to all Americans. His 
             strong desire to serve his community and his country led 
             him to become one of the most beloved leaders of this 
             Congress.
               Bob Matsui will be missed by his country, his community, 
             his family and his friends. He will long be remembered as 
             a great American statesman.

               Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to our 
             departed college, Bob Matsui. Bob was an extraordinarily 
             talented patriot and Member of this House.
               Bob's generation of House Members struck out to change 
             the world--or at least change their government in the 
             aftermath of Watergate and the abuses of power in the 
             Nixon administration. He did change the world, 
             representing a district in California and representing the 
             House on the world stage.
               He was a unique political mind and political talent. 
             While he was passionate for caring for the less fortunate 
             in our society, he was also pragmatic about how democratic 
             ideals and reforms come about on the world stage.
               We shared the philosophy that world trade engenders 
             better relationships between nations and offers a greater 
             opportunity to spread democracy to developing nations or 
             nations that were not traditionally democratic.
               Bob's greatest legislative talent--and there were many--
             was his down-to-earth ability to comprehend and explain in 
             laymen's terms all matters related to Social Security. In 
             this political season when the President has made clear 
             his intention to raid Social Security, we will most 
             certainly miss Bob's leadership in this important and 
             fundamental debate in Congress.
               Today the Nation says goodbye to a decent and big minded 
             colleague. Bob was not afraid to learn. And he was not 
             afraid to forgive. Even after his family was interned as a 
             child--with Japanese Americans at the outbreak of WWII--
             Bob forgave the people who imprisoned his family. He 
             forgave his country, then he went on to serve this Nation 
             with enormous talent.
               Bob wanted to make the world better. He did make the 
             world a better place and he made the House of 
             Representatives a better place given his presence in it. 
             He deeply believed in what he said, but he was open enough 
             to listen to--and hear--the ideas of others, as well.
               I will miss him . . . we will all miss him. And we offer 
             our deepest condolences to his dear wife, Doris, and his 
             son, Brian.

               Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to honor one of 
             our country's great leaders, and a dear friend, 
             Congressman Robert Matsui.
               Bob Matsui was a valued colleague to every Member of the 
             House. He was a leading expert on countless issues that 
             have a profound effect on the lives of millions of 
             Americans, not the least of which is Social Security. From 
             his seat on the Ways and Means Committee, Bob fought on 
             behalf of seniors and children, and sought to build 
             thoughtful bipartisan consensus on one tough issue after 
             another.
               Bob approached this job with grace, fairness, and 
             dignity. Even though he was chairman of our party's 
             political committee, he never put partisanship above 
             principle. His intelligence was only exceeded by his 
             compassion. We always refer to one another as 
             ``gentleman'' and ``gentle lady'' on this floor, but there 
             is no Member of Congress for whom the term ``gentleman'' 
             is more appropriate. It is indeed fitting to hold this 
             tribute on the day we swear in the new Congress, because 
             the way Bob conducted himself should be a model for all of 
             us--freshmen and senior Members alike.
               Bob was a cherished friend and valued mentor to both my 
             late husband Walter and me. When Walter was first elected 
             to Congress, Bob was one of the first people he sought out 
             to ask for advice on his new job. As usual, Bob was 
             generous with his time and his wisdom. We both learned 
             much from him and I have relied on his policy insights and 
             his political instincts more times than I can remember. I 
             know that I will still instinctively look for him on the 
             floor during a tough vote.
               Mr. Speaker, Bob and Doris Matsui were there for my 
             family and for me when Walter passed away. Today I extend 
             to Doris, Brian, Amy, Anna, and Bob's staff my most 
             heartfelt condolences. I understand how difficult this 
             time is for them. But I am buoyed by knowing that strength 
             in families is never more evident, and important, than 
             during times of adversity and grief. The Matsuis are a 
             strong and wonderful family, and that, perhaps, is Bob's 
             finest legacy of all.
               We will miss Bob Matsui very much. But we will never, 
             ever forget him.

               Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, this past Saturday, 
             our country lost two beloved public servants. 
             Representative Robert T. Matsui and former Representative 
             Shirley Chisholm leave us behind, but our national 
             consciousness will never forget their considerable 
             contributions to pursuing equality and social justice for 
             all Americans. Representatives Matsui and Chisholm 
             dedicated so much of themselves to others, and the 
             outpouring of support demonstrates the deep impact each 
             had on the lives of others.
               Both leaders rose from humble beginnings to the heights 
             of Congress. Representative Matsui, one of the thousands 
             of Japanese Americans taken to an internment camp during 
             World War II, became an influential member on the powerful 
             House Ways and Means Committee. His passion for social 
             justice shaped the core of his being, reverberating 
             through his promotion of adequate job training, equal 
             access to health care coverage for children, and the 
             preservation of Social Security for our Nation's seniors 
             and disabled citizens. In 1988, he helped win restitution 
             from the U.S. Government for the internment program that 
             negatively affected many surviving Japanese Americans.
               Representative Chisholm too overcame great obstacles. As 
             the product of the working neighborhoods of Brooklyn, 
             Shirley Chisholm became the first African American woman 
             elected to Congress in 1968. Her advocacy on civil rights 
             issues, particularly women's rights, was unparalleled as 
             she reached out beyond her local constituency to all 
             Americans. Never willing to allow America to mire in the 
             status quo, Representative Chisholm again broke new ground 
             by offering herself as the first woman to be considered 
             for the Democratic Presidential nomination in 1972.
               Though I never had the honor of serving with 
             Representative Chisholm, her legacy echoes throughout the 
             halls of Congress. I witness her strength in my colleagues 
             in the Congressional Black Caucus, which she helped 
             establish in 1969. I hear her voice in our continued pleas 
             for justice in underserved communities. And I see her 
             focus and passion in the eyes of American children who 
             won't accept discrimination or barriers to opportunity.
               Connected by the common bond of their love for humanity, 
             Representatives Matsui and Chisholm treaded down unmarked 
             paths with determination, fortitude, and notable grace. As 
             a generation of civil rights activists move into the 
             twilight of their advocacy, we must honor their work by 
             passing along their vision for what our country can still 
             become, a land of equality and opportunity for all 
             Americans. Though we have lost these dear friends too 
             soon, we continue to be led by their unmistakable 
             footprints.

               Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join in 
             paying tribute to one of our colleagues whom we lost so 
             unexpectedly on New Year's Day.
               Bob Matsui was one of the most respected Members of this 
             House. During his 26 years of service in Congress, he was 
             an advocate for our Nation's seniors, our children, and 
             for social and economic justice.
               From his family's experience in the Japanese internment 
             camps during World War II, Bob learned the importance of 
             protecting the liberties and civil rights that are the 
             foundation of this great country. As an Asian American he 
             understood the obstacles that minorities face in building 
             opportunities for themselves and their families.
               Bob Matsui rose quickly to become a leader in this House 
             because of his political savvy and his detailed knowledge 
             of the issues.
               He was dedicated to this House and its institutions. He 
             was also dedicated to the ideals of the Democratic Party. 
             We all know how tirelessly he worked as the chairman of 
             the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
               Many will remember Bob for his leadership in our party 
             and on the critical national issues of trade and Social 
             Security.
               It is true that he understood the values of free trade 
             and the economic prosperity it can provide to communities. 
             He was not afraid to stand up against even his own party 
             on issues in which he passionately believed. As the 
             ranking member of the Social Security Subcommittee, Bob 
             was also a national expert on the subject of retirement 
             and pension.
               His knowledge of the intricacies of the Social Security 
             system and his wisdom will be sorely missed during this 
             year's upcoming debate on Social Security reform.
               I, however, will remember Bob for something else. I will 
             remember him as a friend and champion of migrant children 
             and their families. Bob helped us in the fight for funding 
             for migrant education programs. For years he also hosted a 
             college assistance migrant intern in his office.
               Many of his former interns are now leaders in their 
             professions and communities because of the start Bob gave 
             them.
               I want to express my deepest condolences to his family: 
             his wife Doris, his son Brian, his daughter-in-law Amy and 
             his granddaughter Anna. I know how proud Bob was of all of 
             them. The people of California and of this Nation have 
             truly lost a great advocate.

               Mr. SABO. Mr. Speaker, my family and I would like to 
             convey our heartfelt sympathy to the Matsui family upon 
             the death of Congressman Robert Matsui on Saturday, 
             January 1.
               Bob's passing is a tragic loss to all who knew him. It 
             is also a loss to all Americans who didn't know him 
             personally but whose lives were enhanced by the 
             legislation and the leadership he provided. Bob was one of 
             the smartest and most principled people in Congress, a 
             dedicated public servant and a friend. He will be greatly 
             missed in Congress, especially by me.
               First elected 26 years ago, Congressman Matsui and I 
             entered the U.S. House of Representatives in the same 
             incoming class. We were colleagues and friends throughout 
             these years; our families each moved to the Washington 
             area and our wives Sylvia and Doris also became good 
             friends. One of my fond memories together was attending 
             Brian and Amy's wedding in California a few years ago. 
             Brian also gave me my first official tour of the U.S. 
             Supreme Court facilities, where he clerked recently. His 
             parents were so proud.
               Sylvia and I are shocked and deeply saddened by Bob's 
             passing, and we offer Doris and the Matsui family our most 
             sincere condolences.

               Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my 
             late colleague Robert T. Matsui. While his life was cut 
             tragically short, his many achievements and contributions 
             to our Nation will serve as a constant reminder of his 
             hard work, integrity, and determination to advocate for 
             those who were not able to fight for themselves.
               Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1978, 
             Bob served the people of Sacramento for 14 terms focusing 
             on the city's public safety by bringing adequate flood 
             protection to his hometown. He also served as a senior 
             member of the Committee on Ways and Means, covering an 
             array of policy issues such as preserving Social Security 
             for future generations, as well as having adequate basic 
             health care rights for children. Most recently he served 
             as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign 
             Committee leading the Democratic Party's congressional 
             effort for the 2004 cycle.
               When he was 6 months old, Bob, a third-generation 
             Japanese American, and his family, were taken from their 
             home in Sacramento and interned at the Tule Lake Camp 
             after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor in 1942. He carried 
             this experience with him throughout his life. In 1988, he 
             helped steer the Japanese American redress act through 
             Congress, in which the government formally apologized for 
             the World War II internment program and offered 
             compensation to victims. This experience helped shape his 
             strong belief that every American is entitled to basic 
             civil rights despite their ethnicity.
               Bob was also a member of the executive committee of the 
             Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. Because of 
             his many achievements and contributions, he was and always 
             will be a role model to the more than 11 million Americans 
             of Asian and Pacific Islander descent in our country.
               His presence and driving force will certainly be missed. 
             However, his legacy will live on through the people of 
             Sacramento, the Asian Pacific Islander American community 
             and our Nation as a whole. I offer my deepest condolences 
             to his wife, Doris, son, Brian, daughter-in-law, Amy and 
             granddaughter, Anna. We will miss you, Bob. All Hawaii 
             sends with you on your final journey our deepest and most 
             loving Aloha.

               Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to my 
             colleague and friend, Bob Matsui. As Members of Congress, 
             many factors determine who we form close relationships 
             with. One of those factors is committee assignment. I had 
             the tremendous fortune of serving on the Ways and Means 
             Committee with Bob Matsui for 15 years. As we worked on 
             tax reform, trade, health, and many other issues, I 
             learned many valuable lessons from him. His dedication to 
             the people of his district and to all the people of this 
             Nation shone through at every hearing and markup.
               He had a lifelong commitment to public service and the 
             public good. Even though his early years were spent in a 
             Japanese American internment camp in California, that 
             injustice did not dim his love and devotion to our 
             country. He remained in California, served on the 
             Sacramento City Council and as vice mayor of Sacramento, 
             and eventually came to this House, which he also loved so 
             very much.
               For his entire career, he was devoted to the welfare of 
             children, the promotion of free trade, and the 
             preservation of Social Security for future generations. I 
             know that the committee will miss his expertise and good 
             counsel for many Congresses to come. I want to personally 
             extend my heartfelt condolences to his wonderful wife 
             Doris, his son Brian, daughter-in-law Amy, and his 
             granddaughter Anna. We will miss Bob and forever treasure 
             his camaraderie.

               Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, this week our Nation has 
             lost a great leader and statesman from my home State of 
             California, Bob Matsui. And it is with a great deal of 
             sadness that I join my colleagues to pay tribute to Bob's 
             life and his distinguished record of service and 
             accomplishments during his 26 years as a Member of the 
             House of Representatives. A model of integrity and 
             commitment to his district, his State and our Nation, Bob 
             exemplified the best of this great institution.
               By having the privilege of representing an area of Los 
             Angeles with a rich and diverse Asian American population 
             that includes Little Tokyo, Koreatown, Filipinotown, and 
             Chinatown, I am very aware of the positive impact Bob had 
             on the Asian Pacific Islander community and the Japanese 
             American community in particular. Like so many Japanese 
             Americans, Bob's early years were spent with his family in 
             an internment camp during World War II. Anyone viewing the 
             large photo of a youthful Bob Matsui with his little 
             league baseball teammates which adorns his office wall was 
             reminded of the difficult challenge an Asian American 
             faced growing up in 1950s California. As a young man in 
             that volatile ethnic environment, Bob Matsui was a 
             standout student who gained admittance to the University 
             of California at Berkeley and distinguished himself 
             academically both there and at the Hastings College of 
             Law.
               His early experience became the foundation of his 
             academic success as a young man, and ultimately led him to 
             a career of distinguished public service, first for his 
             local Sacramento City Council, then to this great House. 
             His respect for this institution and his personal and 
             professional integrity were well known and helped Bob 
             become a persuasive advocate on the issues he cared deeply 
             about.
               As a member of the Energy and Water Subcommittee of the 
             Appropriations Committee, I was honored to work with him 
             on one of the most important issues to California--water. 
             Bob's knowledge of water issues affecting our State, 
             including southern California, and his long record of 
             support for adequate flood control protection for the 
             Sacramento area were brought to bear each year during our 
             committee deliberations as we set priorities for funding 
             the water projects so crucial to Sacramento and to 
             California.
               Bob was also a strong advocate of trade and of 
             protecting the rights of our senior citizens. In fact, as 
             the ranking Democrat on the Ways and Means Subcommittee on 
             Social Security, Bob was our Democratic expert and a 
             leading advocate for the protection of this critical 
             program. Bob was to be our Democratic point person for the 
             upcoming and pivotal debate on Social Security. 
             Understanding the importance of Social Security to our 
             Nation's seniors and the need for the Democratic Party to 
             effectively and successfully confront attacks on the 
             system, his wife Doris told me that Bob continued to plan 
             a Democratic strategy to the very end at Bethesda Naval 
             Hospital.
               It was this kind of commitment coupled with his 
             integrity and sincerity that helped to make Bob one of the 
             most respected Members of Congress. This respect also made 
             him one of the most successful chairmen of the Democratic 
             Congressional Campaign Committee. We all know that the 
             DCCC set many records during the 2003-2004 election cycle. 
             I believe this success stemmed from the leadership model 
             that Bob conveyed at the DCCC's helm, and it was also a 
             result of the great esteem in which Bob was held by all 
             segments of our party. I was proud to serve with him as 
             vice chair of the DCCC, and Bob made sure it was indeed a 
             working position. Few Members could have motivated me in 
             quite the same way as Bob Matsui.
               In short, I will miss Bob as a friend and colleague. 
             This House, the Democratic Party, and our Nation have lost 
             a great statesman and a quiet and effective leader. His 
             legacy of accomplishments as a trailblazing Asian American 
             Californian is unlikely to be surpassed. His dedication, 
             dignity, and bipartisan approach to addressing the 
             Nation's problems will be the hallmark of his legacy for 
             both Republicans and Democrats.
               In this time of extreme partisanship and frequent 
             legislative gridlock, it is my hope that we can all learn 
             from the example of our friend and colleague, Bob Matsui.

               Mr. OXLEY. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in paying 
             tribute to Congressman Bob Matsui of California. The 
             American people will miss this outstanding public servant, 
             and we in the House of Representatives will miss a skilled 
             legislator who approached every issue with a fair mind.
               I've lost a friend. Bob and his wife Doris were friends 
             of my wife Pat and me. Our son Chadd and their son, Brian, 
             grew up together as congressional kids.
               For the past 2 years, Bob and I were hallmates. In fact, 
             I moved into his old office on the third floor of the 
             Rayburn Building. He always had a smile and hello for 
             anyone he passed in the hall, whether it was a fellow 
             Member, a staffer, or a visitor.
               Bob Matsui was a courageous legislator. He showed great 
             resolve in helping to win approval for the North American 
             Free Trade Agreement. There isn't a tax or trade bill in 
             the last 20 years that doesn't have his stamp on it. He 
             was positively heroic when he had Congress squarely face 
             the issue of the treatment of Japanese Americans during 
             World War II. Bob Matsui showed us the meaning of dignity 
             and humility as he helped us to acknowledge a wrong. He 
             and his parents were among those held in internment camps, 
             but what was more important to him than his personal 
             history was righting history for thousands of innocent 
             Americans.
               Our thoughts and prayers are with Bob's family. As we 
             start a new session of Congress, we should all look to the 
             distinguished career of Bob Matsui as an example of how we 
             can remain true to our ideals and beliefs while ultimately 
             working together for the good of all Americans.

               Ms. BONO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a respected 
             colleague in the U.S. Congress whose recent passing will 
             be mourned by all who knew him. With Congressman Robert 
             Matsui's untimely death, America has lost a tireless 
             leader.
               As a fellow Californian, I had the pleasure of working 
             with Congressman Matsui on several issues of importance to 
             our State. I admired his leadership and dedication to his 
             constituency as well as the high level of integrity with 
             which he served.
               Congressman Matsui's 26 years of service are filled with 
             a remarkable number of legislative achievements such as 
             his commitment to free trade that have bettered the lives 
             of many Americans. He was a powerful and respected voice 
             whose memory will continue to be an inspiration for many 
             years to come.
               Congressman Robert Matsui was a true leader and served 
             his constituents and country with honor and distinction. 
             The people of Sacramento, CA, were fortunate to have such 
             a talented person for their Representative in Congress.
               I will always remember Congressman Matsui's 
             thoughtfulness; he was always quick with a smile and a 
             kind word. He was a bridge for communication between both 
             sides of the aisle. His legacy of effective leadership 
             will be a model for those that follow him.
               My thoughts and prayers are with Doris and the entire 
             Matsui family during this difficult time. Congressman 
             Matsui's positive impact on his country will be remembered 
             forever.

               Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness 
             that I rise today to honor a valued colleague and true 
             gentleman, the late Congressman Bob Matsui. I met him when 
             I served as a State legislator within his congressional 
             district in Sacramento. Since that time, I have been taken 
             by his approachability and his ability to make those 
             around him feel that he is truly listening to their 
             concerns.
               During his 26 years in Congress, he has been a champion 
             on issues that affect the lives of all Californians and 
             Americans, from protecting Social Security to working for 
             civil rights. Congressman Matsui's fight against 
             privatizing Social Security showed his deep commitment to 
             fighting for the poor or less fortunate in our country. He 
             led the efforts to ensure its fundamental purpose was 
             never compromised.
               Congressman Matsui's strong belief in social justice is 
             apparent by looking at the legislation he championed. He 
             drafted bills that became the backbone for child welfare 
             reform, proposing to expand the social services available 
             to at-risk children and families in the child welfare, 
             mental health and juvenile justice systems. He also fought 
             welfare changes, arguing that adequate job training and 
             education programs were essential to helping parents 
             become self-sufficient. And his bipartisan work to provide 
             health care coverage to uninsured children became the 
             basis of the State Children's Health Insurance Program.
               His personal journey, however, could be his most lasting 
             legacy. After spending his infancy in an internment camp 
             during World War II, Congressman Matsui led the 
             legislative effort to compensate victims of the camps and 
             officially apologize to those held there. A grateful 
             Japanese American community is indebted to his work, as 
             are the rest of us.
               I want to send my prayers and condolences to his family: 
             his wife Doris, son Brian, daughter-in-law Amy and 
             granddaughter Anna. For those of us who remain in 
             Congress, we would like you to know that we will continue 
             to fight for the causes and ideals that Bob fought for his 
             entire life.

               Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I am saddened by the sudden loss 
             of Robert Matsui, and I would like to join my colleagues 
             in honoring him today. Bob was one of the finest Members 
             to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. His 
             strength of character, wisdom, civility, and attention to 
             detail were inspiring to many of us serving with him. His 
             thoughtful and helpful nature has been remembered by many 
             today, but I will always be grateful for his desire to 
             seek out and befriend younger and less senior Members of 
             Congress like me. I join my colleagues in mourning the 
             loss of a friend, a mentor, and a great leader in 
             Congress.

               Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, it is with sadness that 
             I recognize the death of a former colleague and a great 
             Californian, Representative Robert Matsui, who passed away 
             earlier this week.
               A third-generation Japanese American, Bob was born in 
             Sacramento and was just a 6-month-old baby when he and his 
             family were imprisoned at the Tule Lake Internment Camp 
             following the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Forty years 
             later, he was instrumental in passing the Japanese 
             American redress act, which produced an official apology 
             from the Federal Government for the World War II 
             internment program and offered compensation to victims.
               Bob was a quiet and admired Member of Congress. His 
             passion for issues he believed deeply in was respected by 
             his colleagues on both sides of the aisle. He brought 
             dignity and honor to the House of Representatives. Bob was 
             a tax and trade maven on the House Ways and Means 
             Committee, and his knowledge and expertise in these areas 
             will be sorely missed. He was one of a small number of 
             Democrats who pushed for passage of the North American 
             Free Trade Agreement.
               First elected in 1978 following his service to the city 
             of Sacramento, Bob and I were in the same freshman class 
             of Congress as I too was elected that year. I got to know, 
             and become very good friends with Bob during the 26 years 
             we served in the House together.
               The people in the Sacramento-based Fifth District lost a 
             good legislator when Bob passed away on January 1, and he 
             will be missed by his friends and family.
               It is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to Bob. My 
             wife Cheryl and I would like to express our condolences to 
             his wife, Doris, and the entire family, in this time of 
             sorrow and sadness. They will be in our prayers.

               Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with a sad heart that I 
             rise today to honor my colleague, the Honorable Robert T. 
             Matsui. Far before these past 4 years where I had the 
             opportunity to work with him in Washington, Bob's work 
             effort, faith and determination were a constant source of 
             inspiration for me.
               Bob fought in Congress for 26 years on principles that 
             were unshakeable for the betterment of all. He took a 
             genuine interest in Members' concerns, visited Members' 
             districts--including mine in the San Gabriel Valley--and 
             fought hard to ensure equality for the underserved and to 
             bring justice to those wronged. Bob was a champion for 
             Social Security, fought for all of our children and was 
             determined to achieve economic justice.
               I am proud to say that Bob Matsui is among those I 
             consider close personal friends. I send my condolences to 
             his family and I am consoled only by knowing that Bob's 
             legacy will live on, and the world will be better for it.

               Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to remember my 
             colleague and friend, Bob Matsui. Both California and 
             America have lost a respected leader and more important, a 
             good man who was committed to his constituents, his family 
             and his Nation.
               Bob was a dedicated public servant who worked tirelessly 
             on behalf of his constituents. He always fought for 
             America's children, to create economic justice, and to 
             protect Social Security. His work, accomplishments, and 
             life are an inspiration to all Americans.
               I have been honored to serve with and know Bob. Even in 
             a partisan and closely divided Congress, Bob always 
             brought civility and intellect to policy debates. He was 
             an example for all who seek to advance the best public 
             policy.
               I know that his colleagues and his constituents will not 
             soon forget Bob--his untimely passing leaves an emptiness 
             in everyone who knew and loved him.
               Mr. Speaker, I hope you will join with me in sending our 
             sincerest condolences to his family. I hope that his wife, 
             Doris, and his family can find peace in this difficult 
             time.

               Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate 
             the life and the contributions of my good friend and 
             colleague, the Congressman from California, Bob Matsui, 
             who passed away last Saturday.
               During his 26 years of service here in Congress, Mr. 
             Matsui was a great leader in the House of Representatives, 
             introducing legislation on issues such as welfare reform, 
             health care, tax issues and the environment. His thorough 
             knowledge of the Social Security system made him a strong 
             advocate against proposed reforms that would negatively 
             impact America's elderly population.
               Mr. Speaker, I know I speak for many of my colleagues 
             when I say I will miss the Congressman from California 
             deeply. When I started here over 16 years ago, Mr. Matsui 
             was already well established, and I was one of the many 
             beneficiaries of his knowledge and experience.
               In many ways Mr. Matsui brings to mind the late Martin 
             Luther King. In the same way that the Reverend King was 
             able to rise above the challenges facing him in his fight 
             for civil rights for African Americans, Mr. Matsui, who 
             began his life in a Japanese internment camp during World 
             War II, never retreated into bitterness and instead 
             remained an inspiration and a strong positive force 
             throughout his career, representing not just the Asian 
             American community but his constituency and our country, 
             with honor and pride.
               Mr. Matsui dedicated his life to serving our country. 
             Due to his contributions, the lives of our great country's 
             children, our elderly, and our oppressed have been made 
             better. For that, we are supremely thankful.
               Mr. Speaker, I would ask my colleagues to remember our 
             departed friend not with sadness, but with joy in their 
             hearts that we had the opportunity to be associated with 
             such a strong, inspiring, devoted man.

               Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
             memory of Congressman Robert Matsui. Bob Matsui was one of 
             those elected officials who earned the right to be called 
             a ``statesman.'' He was a force for compassion, competence 
             and integrity--as well as a wonderful human being whom I 
             was honored to call my friend. I extend my heartfelt 
             sympathies to his loving wife and family.
               Mr. Speaker, Bob Matsui embodied America's promise, 
             demonstrating how a citizen of humble beginnings could 
             rise to the heights of American governance. Bob also 
             reminded us of our country's sins. During the Second World 
             War, Bob's family was interned in the Tule Lake Internment 
             Camp. This time of curtailed liberties and rampant 
             xenophobia is one of the darker moments of American 
             history.
               Mr. Speaker, internment left an indelible mark on Bob 
             Matsui's family. Bob's mother contracted German measles at 
             Tule Lake, and as a result, Bob's sister was born blind.
               The experience also deeply affected Bob, inspiring him 
             to use his platform in Congress to reclaim the dignity of 
             those wrongly interned. Bob worked tirelessly to enact the 
             Japanese American redress act, in which the government 
             formally apologized for internment and offered 
             compensation.
               Mr. Speaker, James Baldwin once said, ``I love America 
             more than any other country in the world, and, exactly for 
             this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her 
             perpetually.'' Bob Matsui loved America in just this 
             spirit. When John F. Kennedy told Americans to ask what 
             they could do for their country, Bob pledged to become a 
             public servant. He served diligently for 26 years.
               Mr. Speaker, we will miss Bob's leadership as the new 
             Congress wades through the murky waters of Social Security 
             policy. Our Democratic House Leader, Congresswoman Nancy 
             Pelosi, was quite accurate when she noted that ``America's 
             seniors have lost their best friend in the Congress.'' I 
             would add only that so have this Nation's children and all 
             of us who seek balanced, progressive solutions to the 
             challenges at the center of people's lives.

               Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
             honor the life of an admirable citizen, respectable public 
             servant and a generous, kind man. Congressman Robert 
             Matsui served the people of California and his Nation in 
             the House of Representatives for 26 years.
               Bob gave our country and Congress years of his knowledge 
             and dedication to fighting for civil rights after 
             beginning his life in 1942 in a detention camp for 
             Japanese Americans. He embraced his heritage as well as 
             the hardships Asian Americans faced and channeled it to 
             positive change to make our Nation formally apologize for 
             the internment of Japanese Americans and provide financial 
             compensation to the survivors.
               Bob was a true inspiration: as a Member, he was a vital 
             member of the Democratic Party and worked to make his 
             party stronger but never let his dedicated ties refrain 
             him from working with his Republican colleagues; as an 
             American, he listened to President Kennedy to give to his 
             country a life of service and commitment to making life 
             better for all Americans; and as an Asian American, he 
             served as a role model to young Asian Americans that the 
             impossible is never that far away and that they too can 
             become active in government to serve the American people.
               Mr. Speaker, Bob Matsui's loss will leave a large void 
             in this Chamber. Our prayers and thoughts are with his 
             wife Doris and his son Brian.

               Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise with great sadness as 
             we honor our dear friend and colleague, Congressman Bob 
             Matsui, who passed away this New Year's Day. I always say 
             that it is a privilege to serve in this body. But for 26 
             years, it was this institution that was privileged--
             privileged to call Bob Matsui one of its Members. He was a 
             compassionate man dedicated to his constituents and 
             family, and resolute in his ideals.
               Each of us knows the adroit knowledge of Congress Bob 
             possessed--from his grasp of tax and trade law 
             intricacies, to his drive for basic social justice, to his 
             tireless opposition to those who would weaken Social 
             Security's guarantee. He was not only smart--he was also 
             principled, and he used both to the fullest throughout his 
             illustrious quarter century in public life.
               I know he would have relished the forthcoming debate to 
             fundamentally reform Social Security, to which he surely 
             would have brought the same passion and intelligence he 
             took to his efforts to help his party over the years. As 
             was the case with all things he put his mind to, win or 
             lose, whatever the battle--whether it was welfare reform, 
             Social Security or his chairmanship of the Democratic 
             Congressional Campaign Committee--the level of discourse 
             was elevated when Bob Matsui added his voice to the 
             debate. At a time when the tenor of politics in our 
             country has become so abrasive, what Bob Matsui offered 
             was a precious commodity indeed.
               On a personal note, I always felt a close bond to Bob, 
             as we were both children of immigrant parents--his from 
             Japan, mine from Italy. He spoke of how spending the first 
             5 years of his life in a Japanese internment camp haunted 
             him for the rest of his life. But the experience 
             unquestionably gave him a lifelong commitment to civil 
             rights and social justice. It gave him a genuine empathy 
             for people that one could trace from his friendships to 
             his work on issues like trade, welfare and retirement 
             security.
               He was, in the truest sense of the word, a patriot--
             someone for whom America meant the promise of a better 
             life for one's family and community. As such, Bob Matsui 
             will be sorely missed, but his legacy will live on for 
             generations. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his 
             family.

               Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in memory of our 
             colleague, Bob Matsui, as we honor his life and his long 
             service to this Congress and to our Nation.
               I had the pleasure of serving alongside Bob on the Ways 
             and Means Committee since 1996 and knew him to be a 
             statesman of enormous ability and integrity, a man of kind 
             and gentle nature, a rare individual with whom one could 
             disagree without finding him to be disagreeable. These are 
             the most important qualities a public servant in this 
             House of Representatives could possess. Bob made an 
             immeasurable contribution to the House. His keen intellect 
             and ability to craft bipartisan legislation will be missed 
             by me and the entire Congress.
               Our thoughts and prayers are with Bob's family at this 
             difficult time. His passing is truly a great loss for our 
             Nation.

               Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, on January 1, 2005, the U.S. 
             Congress lost one of its finest Members with the passing 
             of Bob Matsui. Recently reelected to his 14th term by an 
             overwhelming margin, Bob was an outstanding leader, 
             beloved by his colleagues in Congress and his constituents 
             alike.
               As the third ranking Democrat on the powerful House Ways 
             and Means Committee, and the ranking member on the Social 
             Security Subcommittee, Bob served as an outspoken champion 
             for the preservation of our Social Security system. In 
             addition, Bob was a member of the executive board for the 
             Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), one 
             of the most active caucuses in Congress. The trust and 
             respect that his colleagues had for him was demonstrated 
             last Congress, when he was elected as chairman of the 
             Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
               As we convene to begin the 109th Congress, it is 
             important that we all pause to remember the noble work 
             that Congressman Matsui had accomplished during his 26 
             years in these halls. I would ask that all of my 
             colleagues also keep his loved ones in their thoughts, 
             including his beloved wife Doris; his son, Brian; his 
             daughter-in-law, Amy; and his granddaughter Anna. Bob 
             Matsui was a great man, as well as an outstanding leader, 
             and his service to our great Nation will never be 
             forgotten.

               Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, every now and then you encounter 
             someone in public service who is a public servant in every 
             sense of the word, who transcends petty partisan politics, 
             who brings a depth of character and a depth of knowledge 
             surpassed by no person, someone who loves his country, 
             works hard for the people he represents but loves his 
             family even more. That person was Bob Matsui who we lost 
             over the weekend.
               Bob was someone I grew to know and love. My first 
             contact with Bob was a campaign check he sent to me in my 
             first run for Congress in 1996. I had never met him before 
             then but he must have seen something in me that motivated 
             him to help me out a little during my first campaign when 
             a lot of other people didn't think I could win.
               And when I came to Congress, I quickly got to know Bob 
             and appreciate him. He was someone who made everyone feel 
             special. He would solicit your opinions on the issue 
             before us, even though his depth on the issues like tax 
             policy, trade, Social Security and Medicare, surpassed 
             anything anyone else had. He cared for this institution 
             and the process of democracy and he exuded boundless 
             optimism about the future of our great country even though 
             his first few months as a citizen of this country was 
             spent in an internment camp in California shortly after 
             the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He later led the 
             effort in Congress to right that gross injustice by having 
             our government apologize for that action.
               In short, Bob Matsui was someone I respected, looked up 
             to and tried to emulate here in Congress. You can't 
             replace a Bob Matsui; he was rare and never fully 
             appreciated to the extent he deserved. But we all can 
             learn from Bob Matsui and take his legacy of compassion, 
             justice and fairness and make it our legacy to the next 
             generation.
               To his wife Doris, son, Brian, daughter-in-law, Amy, and 
             granddaughter, Anna, may you surround yourself with 
             family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time 
             and find comfort and understanding. Perhaps one day Anna 
             will be old enough to read these testimonials to her 
             grandfather and better appreciate how truly special he 
             was. Please know that Bob was loved by many and will be 
             missed by all.
               May God bless him and keep in his company.

               Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay my respects 
             to one of the giants of the House of Representatives, 
             Congressman Bob Matsui. Mr. Speaker, I cannot tell you how 
             shocked and saddened I was when I heard the news of 
             Congressman Matsui's passing. The constituents of the 
             Fifth Congressional District of California, the Democratic 
             Party and our Nation have suffered an enormous loss.
               I had the honor and privilege of serving with 
             Congressman Matsui since I was elected to Congress in 
             1990. I was always impressed with Bob's knowledge, 
             dedication and concern about the issues that he held 
             close: health care for those who need it--especially for 
             children, tax policy, fiscal responsibility and trade; as 
             well as the issues that were important to his district: 
             flood control, transportation, housing, and environmental 
             preservation. His knowledge and passion on these and many 
             other issues will be missed dearly.
               Even on the rare occasion when we differed on an issue, 
             such as trade, Congressman Matsui presented his positions 
             fairly and without rancor. He approached issues with an 
             open mind and demonstrated a great ability to reach across 
             the aisle. He had opponents, but no enemies.
               Congressman Matsui served the people of Sacramento for 
             26 years. While Bob Matsui was a valued member of the 
             Democratic Party, he never forgot that his primary 
             responsibility was to all of the people of California's 
             Fifth Congressional District, regardless of party 
             affiliation. Bob always did what he thought was best for 
             his constituents and for the country. He worked tirelessly 
             for them in Congress and they have lost a valuable 
             advocate.
               Bob Matsui had the respect and confidence of his peers. 
             Time and again, Democrats elected him to leadership posts 
             and he used these positions to be a capable and articulate 
             spokesman for the Democratic Party. There is perhaps no 
             other issue in which Congressman Matsui proved to be more 
             valuable--or will be missed more--than Social Security. 
             His knowledge was second to none and as Congress debates 
             the future of this vital program, we will miss his wise 
             counsel about the importance of preserving Social Security 
             as we know it for future generations.
               Congressman Matsui's experiences as a Japanese American 
             who was detained in an internment camp during World War II 
             gave him a special sensitivity to the importance of 
             preserving civil rights and civil liberties. His 
             legislative work securing relief for those who were 
             wrongfully held during World War II was a historic 
             achievement and a fitting tribute to this great and good 
             man.
               Over the past several days, we have heard dozens of 
             tributes honoring Congressman Matsui. The words that were 
             most often used in these accolades to describe Bob Matsui 
             were ``integrity,'' ``dignity'' and ``ability.'' For those 
             that knew him, these words were only part of what made Bob 
             Matsui a terrific person, a dear friend and valuable 
             Member of Congress.
               Mr. Speaker, it is amazing to think that public service 
             was not Bob Matsui's first passion; architecture was. We 
             are tremendously fortunate that Congressman Matsui 
             happened to read the biography of Clarence Darrow, which 
             he always credited for inspiring him to enter law and 
             eventually politics. California and, indeed the Nation, 
             has benefited from Congressman Matsui's service and we 
             thank him and his family for sharing him with us.
               Congressman Matsui will be sorely missed. My prayers are 
             with his wife Doris, his son, Brian, his daughter-in-law, 
             Amy and granddaughter Anna, and his many friends and 
             family. God bless you, Congressman Matsui. We will never 
             forget you.

               Mrs. MALONEY. Bob Matsui was a dear friend. His long and 
             distinguished public service on behalf of the people of 
             California and all Americans was a tremendous benefit to 
             his State and our Nation.
               As a Member of Congress, he was a respected leader, an 
             effective lawmaker, and a tireless leader of his party. 
             With a major debate on Social Security looming, we will 
             sorely miss his unparalleled expertise and foresight on 
             that issue.
               Most of all--in that fight and in many to come--we will 
             miss his compassion and his dedication to serving the most 
             needy among us.
               Throughout his career, Bob Matsui was a champion of the 
             vulnerable, leading the fight for civil rights. He said 
             that he was inspired to go to law school by Clarence 
             Darrow and to go into politics by John F. Kennedy. And he 
             never stopped advancing those ideals.
               Imprisoned as a young child in the Japanese American 
             internment camps of World War II, he authored the landmark 
             bill that provided restitution to Japanese Americans held 
             in those camps and, more important, tendered an official 
             apology on behalf of the government.
               Never one to shirk the tough jobs, he worked over 
             decades on the thankless but essential task of improving 
             flood protection for the Sacramento region, and recently 
             reached a historic agreement on that critical issue.
               Bob Matsui was a thoughtful and prescient legislator. An 
             early advocate of free trade, in the early 1990s, he 
             provided critical assistance to President Clinton in 
             getting NAFTA through the House--despite opposition from 
             labor groups that traditionally support Democrats. In 
             2000, he played a key role in obtaining permanent 
             normalized trade relations with China, again at President 
             Clinton's behest. And he was a strong backer of giving the 
             President fast track trade authority. At the same time, he 
             was increasingly concerned over how little was being done 
             to help Americans who had lost jobs.
               Even those who fought the hardest with Bob over policy 
             issues admired his intelligence and dedication and enjoyed 
             his humor and warmth. He was a truly kind person and we 
             will all miss his friendship.
               My thoughts and prayers are with Bob Matsui's family.
               May he rest in peace.

               Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise 
             in support of H. Res. 11 expressing profound sorrow on the 
             occasion of the death of the Honorable Robert T. Matsui.
               I am saddened by the loss of a great man and wonderful 
             colleague in Bob Matsui. He was a person dedicated to 
             others, not just in his remarkable public service, but 
             also in his warm and embracing character. His passing is a 
             loss to the people of his district, California, and all 
             Americans who benefited from his wisdom in Congress for 
             the past 26 years.
               Most of all, my heart goes out to his family. His wife, 
             Doris, his son, Brian, his daughter-in-law, Amy, and, of 
             course, his granddaughter, Anna, were the most important 
             things in the world to him, and I only hope that their 
             grief can be tempered by the knowledge of his constant and 
             unwavering love for them.
               While it will be difficult for Californians, and all of 
             Bob's colleagues in Washington to accept this tragic loss, 
             I think we owe it to him to remember all of the positive 
             things that Bob stood for. He was the first Japanese 
             American elected to the Sacramento City Council and one of 
             the first Japanese Americans to serve in the U.S. 
             Congress.
               These are remarkable feats for any American, but are 
             simply astounding coming from Bob Matsui, who was forced 
             into an internment camp, along with his family, when he 
             was only 6 months old.
               But Bob would never hold a grudge against the country 
             that had done him and so many other Japanese Americans 
             wrong. He was too great a man, and he had too big a heart. 
             He continued to strive for what was right for decades, 
             using his energy to improve those systems that so many 
             Americans rely on. He was as committed to Social Security 
             and protecting older Americans as he was to upholding the 
             ideals and principles of the Democratic Party, creating a 
             strong future for the next generations.
               Bob Matsui was a terrific mentor and a terrific friend 
             to me. While our time together was cut too short, he 
             provided an excellent role model of how to stay true to 
             your beliefs even in the face of adversity. Today I join 
             all Californians and Americans in mourning Congressman 
             Robert Matsui. Serving with him in this body will always 
             be one of the great honors of my career.

               Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the 
             gentlewoman from California (Ms. Zoe Lofgren) for taking 
             out this special order on our dear friend Bob Matsui and 
             to all of our colleagues who participated in it.
               I hope it is a comfort to the Matsui family, to Doris, 
             Brian, Amy and Anna, that so many people in this Chamber 
             and I know throughout the country share their grief and 
             are praying for them at this sad time.

               Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California. I would like to conclude 
             by thanking all those who have participated this evening 
             as well as some of our colleagues who were unable to 
             actually physically be here but who have prepared their 
             statements for our colleague, a giant of the legislature, 
             a man who warmed our hearts, who broke our hearts when he 
             died, someone who was never petty, always modest but 
             always a leader, always someone who could make America 
             proud.
                                     ADJOURNMENT
               Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to 
             House Resolution 11, I move that the House do now adjourn 
             in memory of the late Honorable Robert T. Matsui.
               The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 9 o'clock and 
             25 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House 
             adjourned until Thursday, January 6, 2005, at 11 a.m., in 
             memory of the late Honorable Robert T. Matsui of 
             California.
                                              Thursday, January 6, 2005
              APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO ATTEND THE FUNERAL OF THE LATE 
                             HONORABLE ROBERT T. MATSUI
               The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Blackburn). Pursuant to 
             House Resolution 11, and the order of the House of January 
             4, 2005, the Chair announces the Speaker's appointment of 
             the following Members of the House to the committee to 
             attend the funeral of the late Honorable Robert T. Matsui:
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Stark;
               The gentlewoman from California, Ms. Pelosi;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. George Miller;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Waxman;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Lewis;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Thomas;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Dreier;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Hunter;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Lantos;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Berman;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Gallegly;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Herger;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Cox;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Rohrabacher;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Cunningham;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Doolittle;
               The gentlewoman from California, Ms. Waters;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Becerra;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Calvert;
               The gentlewoman from California, Ms. Eshoo;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Filner;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. McKeon;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Pombo;
               The gentlewoman from California, Ms. Roybal-Allard;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Royce;
               The gentlewoman from California, Ms. Woolsey;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Farr;
               The gentlewoman from California, Ms. Zoe Lofgren;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Radanovich;
               The gentlewoman from California, Ms. Millender-McDonald;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Sherman;
               The gentlewoman from California, Ms. Loretta Sanchez;
               The gentlewoman from California, Mrs. Tauscher;
               The gentlewoman from California, Mrs. Capps;
               The gentlewoman from California, Mrs. Bono;
               The gentlewoman from California, Ms. Lee;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Gary G. Miller;
               The gentlewoman from California, Mrs. Napolitano;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Thompson;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Baca;
               The gentlewoman from California, Ms. Harman;
               The gentlewoman from California, Mrs. Davis;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Honda;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Issa;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Schiff;
               The gentlewoman from California, Ms. Solis;
               The gentlewoman from California, Ms. Watson;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Cardoza;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Nunes;
               The gentlewoman from California, Ms. Linda T. Sanchez;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Daniel E. Lungren;
               The gentleman from California, Mr. Costa;
               The gentleman from New York, Mr. Rangel;
               The gentleman from Minnesota, Mr. Oberstar;
               The gentleman from Massachusetts, Mr. Markey;
               The gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Kildee;
               The gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Levin;
               The gentleman from North Dakota, Mr. Pomeroy;
               The gentlewoman from Texas, Ms. Jackson-Lee;
               The gentleman from Texas, Mr. Hinojosa;
               The gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Kucinich;
               The gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. Holt;
               The gentlewoman from Ohio, Mrs. Jones;
               The gentlewoman from Minnesota, Ms. McCollum.
                                              Tuesday, February 1, 2005
               Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to call the attention 
             of the House to a wonderfully written column by Norman 
             Ornstein about the memory of our colleague, the Honorable 
             Robert T. Matsui, who passed away on January 1. Mr. 
             Ornstein's column, published in the January 26 edition of 
             Roll Call, captured the very essence of Bob's spirit and 
             reminded us why we all will miss him so much--because he 
             was an ``all-around great guy'' whose warmth, wit and 
             bipartisanship will live on and inspire future leaders in 
             this Chamber to serve with the same kind of grace and 
             style that Bob possessed in spades.

                         [From Roll Call, January 26, 2005]
                 Bob Matsui: Wonk, Fighter, and All-Around Great Guy
                                (By Norman Ornstein)
               Some years ago, I had the good fortune (or misfortune) 
             of appearing on the cover of a now-defunct glossy magazine 
             called Washington Dossier, wearing a fancy tuxedo while 
             dancing with an elegant model (who was about 6 inches 
             taller than me).
               A couple of weeks later, I got a call from the office of 
             Rep. Bob Matsui (D-Calif.) asking me to come by for a 
             meeting on some issue he was dealing with on the Ways and 
             Means Committee. I dutifully showed up, to find that it 
             was a pretext for Bob to give me a nicely framed picture 
             with the Dossier cover and the inside picture.
               I treasure that picture--but I treasure even more the 
             photograph I received later. It was taken by one of Bob's 
             staffers, showing Matsui giving me the gift, beaming about 
             the surprise he'd managed to pull off.
               That was vintage Bob Matsui: a delight in surprising one 
             of his friends, a warmth and goodness that is rare in any 
             group of people but even rarer at the top reaches of 
             rough-and-tumble politics. Weeks after the fact, I am 
             still having trouble coming to grips with the reality that 
             he is gone.
               I first met Bob and his wife, Doris, soon after he was 
             elected to the House in 1978. Bob drew people to him 
             because he was so warm, open, unpretentious and bright. I 
             shared with him a love of baseball and of politics. He and 
             Doris and my wife and I became good friends, sharing news 
             of our kids growing up, dissecting current events, talking 
             about the Orioles and sometimes going to games.
               Unlike many people in elite levels of politics, 
             television, law or business, Bob was not self-absorbed. 
             The line, ``But enough about me. What do you think of 
             me?'' applies to many (as each of us could name) but it 
             did not apply to him. He was genuinely interested in 
             others, and took genuine delight in their achievements.
               Through the years, I watched Bob up close as his career 
             in Congress soared. He first shot to national prominence 
             when he led the effort to get reparations for the 
             Japanese-Americans who had been forced into internment 
             camps during World War II. Of course, he had been among 
             them, spending the first few years of his life in such a 
             camp. He and his House colleague Norm Mineta (D-Calif.) 
             handled that issue with determination and drive--but 
             without bitterness or recrimination. The process became a 
             template for reconciliation. It also showed Bob as a proud 
             American, not cynical or bitter but simply wanting to see 
             his country make amends for a huge mistake.
               That alone would have made a terrific career. But Bob 
             made his mark in so many more areas. In trade, he was a 
             model bipartisan, willing often to take on his own party 
             as he fought for the free-trade ideals he believed in, 
             looking to find common ground with allies such as Reps. 
             Jim Kolbe (R-Ariz.) and David Dreier (R-Calif.), and 
             looking as well to find common ground on issues such as 
             labor and environmental standards as a way of broadening 
             the free-trade coalition. (He was disappointed to find 
             that the current House was not interested in broadening 
             coalitions beyond the majority of the majority party.)
               Bob became a world-class expert on welfare and Social 
             Security. He was a policy wonk who loved politics, a 
             gentle man who had a fierce attachment to his values and 
             policy views, a partisan who also wanted to work with 
             those across the aisle, and a man who could use ferocious 
             rhetoric to defend the downtrodden but who seemed to have 
             no enemies, even among those he excoriated.
               I have had the privilege of having many members of the 
             House and Senate as friends, spanning both parties and all 
             viewpoints. They have included many currently serving or 
             recently retired, along with such now-deceased leaders as 
             Speaker Tip O'Neill (D-Mass.) and House Minority Leader 
             John Rhodes (R-Ariz.), and superstars of public service 
             like Rep. Barber Conable (R-N.Y.) and Sen. Daniel Patrick 
             Moynihan (D-N.Y.).
               I think what all my friends in Congress have shared is 
             their love and respect for the institution, their joy of 
             serving, and their delight in politics. That was true, in 
             spades, of Bob. He embodied all that is right about 
             politics and the legislative process, all that is great 
             about America. As partisan as he grew in the ever-more-
             partisan House, he refused to divide the world into 
             friends and enemies. He carried himself with class. His 
             dismay with the House led him to take the brutal job as 
             chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign 
             Committee, which he did dutifully and well over the past 
             two years, without any of the sleaze now so common in 
             elections.
               During the beautiful memorial service for him in 
             Statuary Hall, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) 
             provided the take-home phrase: She hoped that during the 
             coming years, as we face nasty and brutish partisan 
             politics and debate, that we could pause from time to time 
             for a ``Matsui moment.''
               Everybody in the hall understood what she meant, 
             including Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), who had the 
             class to allow the memorial service to be held in that 
             hallowed and rarely used space. Despite the tension of 
             recent years, the Speaker noted that Bob Matsui never 
             failed to come across the aisle to say hello to him, to be 
             pleasant and forthcoming. I hope he, and his colleagues, 
             will remember the idea of the Matsui moment and apply it. 
             God knows such moments have been in short supply.
               Bob knew about his disease for some months. He and Doris 
             decided that he was not going to change his life or curb 
             his energy in face of it. Rather, he was going to carry on 
             with what he believed in and what he was dedicated to do. 
             That included finishing his responsibilities with the DCCC 
             and preparing for his crucial role as point man for the 
             Democrats on Social Security. Up to the last, he followed 
             what was going on in the world and worked on a strategy 
             for Social Security.
               My family and I got back from our holiday late on the 
             evening of Jan. 1. I opened the mail, and went right for 
             the famous Matsui Christmas card, which was especially 
             delightful this year, with its gorgeous pictures 
             showcasing Bob and Doris's beautiful pride and joy, 
             granddaughter Anna. The next morning, I checked my e-mail 
             and saw the news about his death--and literally fell off 
             my chair.
               I am glad that Bob will be replaced by Doris, who, like 
             Lindy Boggs, will come to Congress as a remarkable talent 
             from day one. But I miss my friend and miss even more what 
             he brought to politics, to Congress and to America.
                                              Wednesday, April 13, 2005
               Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
             and pass the bill (H.R. 787) to designate the U.S. 
             courthouse located at 501 I Street in Sacramento, CA, as 
             the ``Robert T. Matsui United States Courthouse''.
               The Clerk read as follows:
                                      H.R. 787
               Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
             of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
             SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.
               The United States courthouse located at 501 I Street in 
             Sacramento, California, shall be known and designated as 
             the ``Robert T. Matsui United States Courthouse''.
             SEC. 2. REFERENCES.
               Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, 
             paper, or other record of the United States to the United 
             States courthouse referred to in section 1 shall be deemed 
             to be a reference to the ``Robert T. Matsui United States 
             Courthouse''.

               The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the 
             gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) and the 
             gentleman from California (Mr. Honda) each will control 20 
             minutes.
               The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
             (Mr. Shuster).

               Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, H.R. 787 introduced by the 
             gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson), honors the late 
             Bob Matsui, a distinguished and well-liked Member of this 
             body.
               A well-respected attorney and former city councilman, 
             Bob Matsui served in this body for 26 years before his 
             passing away on New Year's Day of this year.
               Since his passing, much has been said about our late 
             colleague by Members that knew him better than I, many of 
             whom are here today. So I will leave it to them to speak 
             of his many and varied talents and abilities.
               This naming is a fitting tribute to an exceptionally 
             fine person, a dedicated public servant, and a respected 
             colleague.

               Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
             H.R. 787, a bill to name the courthouse in Sacramento in 
             honor of our former colleague, Robert T. Matsui. This bill 
             has broad bipartisan support from both his California 
             colleagues and all of us who had the distinct privilege of 
             serving with him.
               Congressman Matsui's legislative interests and 
             accomplishments are legendary here in the House. Health 
             care, welfare reform, tax issues, the environment, 
             immigrant issues, and of course Social Security are just a 
             few of the issues that Bob made his own.
               Bob was only 6 months old when, just months after the 
             attack on Pearl Harbor, he and his family were interned at 
             Tule Lake Camp in California. His childhood experience in 
             the internment camp shaped his future actions on behalf of 
             those fighting for fairness. Bob understood the injustice 
             of the internment and sympathized with other loyal 
             Americans who suffered at the hands of the government in 
             which they never lost faith.
               He embraced his heritage and channeled his energy into 
             making positive changes for all Americans. From the time 
             he worked as a member of the Sacramento City Council to 
             serving as the vice mayor of Sacramento and finally as a 
             U.S. Representative starting in 1978, Bob Matsui served as 
             a constant reminder of what integrity and dedication can 
             accomplish in public office.
               Bob Matsui should ultimately be remembered for his 
             civility, his dignity and his service to others. He was a 
             selfless role model whose footprint will forever be 
             imprinted on our Nation's history.
               Bob Matsui was intelligent and principled. As a skilled, 
             respected politician willing to reach across the aisle, 
             his voice elevated any debate. His leadership style and 
             his character served as a model for all of us.
               It is certainly fitting that the House honor his 
             exceptional life and public service with this very 
             appropriate courthouse designation. I thank the gentleman 
             from California (Mr. Lewis) and the gentleman from 
             California (Mr. Thompson) for bringing up this measure in 
             such an expeditious manner.
               Again, I strongly support H.R. 778 and urge my 
             colleagues to join me in support of this bill.

               Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
             gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan).

               Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the 
             gentleman yielding me time.
               I just wanted to come and pay tribute to this 
             legislation and speak in favor of this tribute to Bob 
             Matsui, and it is very fitting legislation to designate 
             this courthouse.
               I wanted to speak personally as a member of the 
             Committee on Ways and Means, as a younger member of the 
             Committee on Ways and Means, who had the opportunity to 
             serve with Bob Matsui for 4 years. I have not served with 
             Bob for the decades that many have in the past, but the 
             Bob Matsui that I got to know in the Committee on Ways and 
             Means was a very special man and person.
               Bob Matsui was intellectually on the top of his game and 
             was one of the best intellectual debaters and sparring 
             partners we had, especially when it came to the issue of 
             Social Security.
               My favorite kind of people in the world and in this body 
             are those who are passionate about their beliefs, whether 
             or not we agree on those beliefs, and Bob Matsui had a 
             great lesson for those of us younger Members and it was 
             that you can be as strong and tough in debate when the 
             microphone's on, but when it is turned off, you can be 
             good human beings to one another.
               Bob Matsui was a very kind gentleman. I was half his 
             age, about the age of his kids, and I always just felt 
             that he gave me sort of a mentoring-ship kind of 
             relationship and role. Because every time I had a 
             conversation with Bob Matsui, he had this nice glint in 
             his eye, and he was always a person offering a kind word 
             of advice or a kind word of friendship. That is something 
             that I do not think we have enough of in this institution. 
             It is something that I thought was a great lesson on how 
             to conduct yourself among your colleagues, especially 
             across the aisle.
               So I am really sad to see Bob leave us here, but I think 
             this is an extremely fitting tribute. I wish that more of 
             us conducted ourselves in the way that he did, and I just 
             want to lend my word of support to this fine legislation 
             for just an outstanding and fine man who taught us a lot 
             on how we can be civil with one another.

               Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman 
             for his kind words.
               Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
             California (Mr. Thompson), my friend and colleague and the 
             author.

               Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, we are here 
             today to honor a colleague who honorably served in the 
             House for 26 years, our good friend, the late Robert T. 
             Matsui.
               This bill to rename the U.S. courthouse in Sacramento 
             after Bob is a small tribute to our friend who always rose 
             above petty, partisan politics to do what was good and 
             what was right for his district and for our country.
               Bob provided more than a voice for those who could not 
             speak for themselves. He provided monumental victories and 
             results, not by being the loudest but by always being the 
             smartest and the most informed person in any debate.
               Bob's legacy of legislative victories directly improved 
             the lives of millions of Americans spanning several 
             generations. His victories included protection for single 
             mothers with infants, stronger civil rights laws and 
             protection of our Nation's most vulnerable seniors.
               He also played a key role in crafting fiscal policy for 
             the past 26 years, and before his very untimely death he 
             was leading the effort to protect Social Security benefits 
             for America's seniors.
               Bob left an indelible mark on national policy, but he 
             never forgot the needs of his district. His district and 
             the greater Sacramento region were always his number one 
             priority.
               Today we will vote to rename the U.S. courthouse in 
             Sacramento after Bob Matsui. This courthouse is a symbol 
             of Bob's commitment to his district. Here in Congress, he 
             was able to secure $142 million that was used and needed 
             to build that courthouse.
               The courthouse not only created 1,200 new jobs in the 
             Sacramento area, but it was the anchor for redevelopment 
             and revitalization of downtown Sacramento, CA.
               It is more than fitting that we name this important 
             building in honor of a very important figure in our 
             history and our friend, Bob Matsui. I urge everyone to 
             cast a vote for this bill.

               Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
             gentlewoman from Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson).

               Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I thank the 
             gentleman for the time.
               I rise to recognize the life and work of Bob Matsui and 
             to support this legislation which will name the courthouse 
             after him.
               Bob was truly a remarkable individual, intellectually 
             very smart but, more important, humanly, deeply in touch 
             with the challenges that America has faced over his many 
             years of service here. He focused on the fundamentals. 
             Often they were not sexy, often they did not attract a 
             great deal of attention in the press. For example, he 
             spent many years working with me and others on trying to 
             build the R&D tax credit into our Tax Code in a way that 
             would recognize the dependence of American companies on 
             invention to maintain their position in an intensely 
             competitive global economy.
               He understood the big issues and he understood the small 
             steps that had to be taken for us to be successful in the 
             macro arenas, whether the macro arena of economics, the 
             macro arena of strengthening and supporting families 
             struggling through difficult matters, or the security of 
             our retirees. On so many fronts, Bob Matsui was a 
             thoughtful voice, profoundly in touch with the challenges 
             our society faces today and over the many years of his 
             long service.
               I salute him and I thank the gentleman (Mr. Thompson) 
             for bringing forward this legislation to name a courthouse 
             after him in his home base.

               Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
             gentleman from California (Mr. Stark), the dean of the 
             delegation.

               Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise just to comment. My 
             colleagues will hear a lot of people talking about our 
             friend Bob Matsui and his legislative accomplishments. I 
             want to remind everybody that his name on this Federal 
             courthouse will remind people that it was Executive Order 
             9066 that interned Japanese Americans in the 1940s in 
             violation of what we then thought were human and civil 
             rights. As we proceed to violate people's human and civil 
             rights under the PATRIOT Act, I think it will be 
             appropriate that the Matsui courthouse will be the place 
             where, hopefully, these rights will be corrected and 
             restored to the American citizens and residents who 
             deserve them.
               I think it is most fitting that this building is named 
             for Robert Matsui.

               Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the 
             gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel), my friend.

               Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this 
             legislation, and I thank the gentleman from California 
             (Mr. Thompson) and those others who thought about doing 
             this for our friend Bob Matsui.
               So often we read about outstanding Americans who make 
             great contributions to the country, and yet some of us 
             have never heard of them. So I feel indeed privileged and 
             honored at having served with one of those people. 
             Notwithstanding how his country treated him, he decided to 
             make his country treat other people so much better.
               Here is a person that served on the Committee on Ways 
             and Means, where it is a privilege to serve, and he 
             enjoyed each and every minute of it. He was involved in 
             every debate, whether it was fairness in taxes, Medicare, 
             Social Security, or providing assistance to those people 
             who have less than most people in this country. His 
             compassion was always mixed with a lot of humor, to make 
             certain that people would take time out to listen to him 
             when he was serious and at the same time to know that he 
             was not a politician but was someone who was a patriot who 
             loved this country.
               I really think he has set an example for many people who 
             have reasons to be bitter but certainly can make a better 
             contribution to life as Bob Matsui has made to his 
             country, to his Congress and to his family.
               I thank God that I had the privilege to know and to be 
             his friend.

               Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the 
             gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady).

               Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege of 
             serving with Bob Matsui on the Subcommittee on Social 
             Security, and it was a real privilege.
               You always hope that we will send to Congress men and 
             women of just great decency, who love their country, love 
             their community, love their family so dearly and are 
             willing to give back to all that and do it in such a good, 
             positive way. That is what Bob Matsui stood for and still 
             stands for in my mind.
               There is a saying that you make a living by what you 
             get; you make a life by what you give. By that measure, 
             Bob Matsui had a very rich life because he gave back so 
             much to this body. He gave back so much in his example to 
             other Members like myself, and he truly gave back to his 
             family and his Nation, and I consider it a privilege to 
             have served with him.

               Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
             gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin).

               Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, Bob Matsui was a pillar of his 
             beloved Sacramento. He was a pillar of the congressional 
             community. So it is truly fitting that the courthouse in 
             his beloved city be named after him.
               I think today we should pause and ask what would be the 
             best monument to Bob Matsui here in Washington, and I 
             think it is clear and that is that we join together with 
             his wife Doris, who is now a colleague, to try to carry 
             out his hopes, to fulfill his dream that everybody in this 
             country counts, and when it comes to our work here, 
             everybody should count equally.
               So I am pleased to join with my colleagues and this is 
             another moment of emotion. We very much remember Bob.

               Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the 
             gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott).

               Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity in 
             Seattle to help bring about the renaming of a courthouse 
             there for a man who won the Congressional Medal of Honor, 
             a Japanese American. He served in the 422d and died, and 
             it is very fitting on the West Coast that we find another 
             courthouse, and we put Bob Matsui's name up.
               He was also a hero. He was a Congressional Medal of 
             Honor winner in the civilian society because he stood for 
             the principle that we are all in this together, and we are 
             not going to let the past stand in our way of moving 
             forward.
               He was one who was reluctant to come forward on the 
             whole issue of repayment to Japanese who suffered losses. 
             He felt that once the war was over it was his job to help 
             the community move forward and be one Nation, where we all 
             stand together and look after everybody.
               The monument to Bob Matsui will be what we do with the 
             PATRIOT Act in this House in a few weeks. It will be a 
             statement about whether we learned the message that guys 
             like Bob Matsui tried to teach us.

               Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the 
             gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis).

               Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise 
             in support of H.R. 787, to designate the U.S. courthouse 
             located in Sacramento, CA, as the Robert T. Matsui United 
             States Courthouse.
               It is so fitting and appropriate that we honor Bob 
             Matsui. In spite of what the American Government did to 
             him and his family, this good and decent man never lost 
             faith in America. He loved America. He loved the people of 
             his district. He was a wonderful human being. Every day he 
             tried to do his best to bring America together, to create 
             one America, one family, one House, the American House.
               Mr. Speaker, with this legislation I think we are doing 
             the right thing by honoring Bob Matsui.

               Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the 
             gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones).

               Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I say to the 
             gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui), it gives me 
             great pleasure to speak on the floor this morning with 
             regard to Bob Matsui. As a former judge, I do not believe 
             a better name could be placed upon a courthouse for 
             someone who stood for justice and integrity and looking 
             out for the little people.
               I am pleased to have an opportunity to be here this 
             morning to support the legislation, and I bring something 
             no other Member has brought to the gentlewoman from 
             California (Ms. Matsui) yet: My sister and her husband are 
             moving to Sacramento and are building a house. I am 
             bringing the gentlewoman two more votes, and I will 
             introduce them to the gentlewoman when I have an 
             opportunity.

               Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the 
             gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Emanuel).

               Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill 
             to name this courthouse the Robert Matsui Courthouse. I 
             cannot think of anything more fitting, as others have 
             said, the notion of a courthouse where justice is weighed 
             and issued for a person who had injustice done to him and 
             never lost his sense of right and justice. It would have 
             been easy for Bob to be angry, but he always sought 
             fairness both personally and professionally.
               I think it is quite fitting and it has a sense of poetic 
             justice that we are naming a courthouse for a gentleman 
             who was not treated fairly at one time by his country, but 
             who always sought fairness and justice and equality 
             throughout his life. It is fitting to remember him this 
             way, someone who will always be part of our family here; 
             and I thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui) 
             for allowing us to be part of his family.

               Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may 
             consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui), 
             the wife of Bob Matsui.

               Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
             yielding me this time.
               Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
             thank, first of all, the gentleman from California (Mr. 
             Doolittle) and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
             Thompson) for sponsoring this legislation. I know that Bob 
             would have been so proud to know how much effort his two 
             colleagues have put in to bring this bill to the floor to 
             honor him.
               This courthouse, which symbolizes equal justice for all, 
             was a major accomplishment for Bob personally, but also 
             for the city of Sacramento. It is such an appropriate way 
             to honor him and his many years in public service, for the 
             city he loved, Sacramento, and the country he absolutely 
             adored.
               I would also like to thank his other colleagues here, 
             now my colleagues, for honoring him by speaking here 
             today. I would like to thank all Members very much and on 
             behalf of Brian, Amy, and my granddaughter, Anna, for this 
             wonderful honor.

               Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my 
             time to close.
               Mr. Speaker, I thank the leadership for this opportunity 
             to honor Bob Matsui, who sought to make this country a 
             more perfect place, and urge passage of the bill.
               Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

               Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of 
             my time.
               Mr. Speaker, it was an honor for me to manage this bill 
             and to serve with Bob Matsui. I know my father and my 
             entire family's thoughts and prayers go out to the Matsui 
             family. As I said, he is a respected colleague, a fine 
             gentleman, and this is a very fitting tribute. I urge my 
             colleagues to support this bill.

               Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to rise today in 
             support of H.R. 787 and to say a few words for our late 
             colleague, the Honorable Robert T. Matsui. When Bob passed 
             away on January 1, 2005, we lost a friend, his 
             constituents lost their most ardent supporter and America, 
             as a whole, lost a dedicated statesman.
               Bob was well respected on both sides of the aisle. A 
             brilliant man and an honest and fair politician, his 
             leadership on the House Ways and Means Committee and his 
             expertise and knowledge of Social Security will be sorely 
             missed in the House for many years to come.
               Naming the federal courthouse in Sacramento is a fitting 
             tribute for a man who did so much for that city. A member 
             of the Sacramento City Council, vice-mayor and eventual 
             Representative of the city in Congress, Bob served the 
             city of Sacramento in every capacity he could. In 
             Congress, Bob's efforts in securing funding for Sacramento 
             were crucial in the revitalization of that city. Among the 
             projects he was responsible for were the expansion of the 
             city's light rail public transit system, and the 
             courthouse that will soon bear his name. Both projects 
             were crucial in creating new jobs and opportunities for 
             the people of Sacramento.
               His passing is a great loss for all of us and I thank my 
             colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their work in 
             getting this legislation before the House so quickly, so 
             that we can honor a man we all loved and respected. I urge 
             all my colleagues to support this resolution.

               Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 
             787, a bill to designate the new U.S. courthouse located 
             at 501 I Street in Sacramento, CA, in honor of our friend, 
             my dear and treasured friend and colleague, Congressman 
             Bob Matsui.
               Congressman Matsui's death this past January deprived 
             this House of one of its most astute, most admired 
             statesmen. The headline in the Sacramento Bee newspaper 
             said it well: ``A Good and Decent Man.'' A lifelong 
             Californian, Bob Matsui served the people of California's 
             Fifth District with dedication, commitment and compassion.
               I was able to witness Bob Matsui's commitment to his 
             constituents firsthand when he and I worked together to 
             address flood control issues for his beloved Sacramento 
             area.
               No other major metropolitan area faces as severe a flood 
             risk as Sacramento. Congressman Matsui believed, as do I, 
             that the capital city of the world's fifth largest economy 
             deserved to know that it would not face severe threats 
             from flooding.
               Following the high flows of 1986, when the levees almost 
             failed, Congressman Matsui worked tirelessly to improve 
             flood protection. He examined every option. He worked to 
             forge agreement to complete a dam at Auburn, CA. It was to 
             be a multipurpose dam, then a dry dam, and then 
             ultimately, no dam, but assurance of adequate water supply 
             for up-country users represented by Congressman John 
             Doolittle. Because of Bob Matsui's persistence, original 
             thinking, flexibility and collegiality, we were able to 
             develop a comprehensive proposal that strengthens levees, 
             makes use of the existing Folsom Dam, and preserves the 
             beautiful American River Canyon.
               As this project comes to completion over the next few 
             years, every spring, when the snows melt and rains come, 
             and the State Capitol in Sacramento stays dry, the people 
             of California and the Nation will owe a debt of gratitude 
             to Bob Matsui for his persistence and wisdom on behalf of 
             flood control.
               Flood control is just one example of Bob Matsui's 
             dedication and effectiveness. There are countless other 
             examples.
               In his first congressional race in 1978, Congressman 
             Matsui campaigned as an underdog who vowed to bring new 
             statesmanship to public office. His campaign was enriched 
             by literally hundreds of volunteers that helped him 
             achieve victory. Bob Matsui did not disappoint his 
             constituents. He brought not only statesmanship, but also 
             dedication, competence, innovation, and integrity to 
             public service.
               Elected to 14 consecutive terms in the House, Bob Matsui 
             rose through the ranks to be a member of the leadership 
             team. Under his quiet demeanor lay a man of keen intellect 
             who was a trusted friend and a formidable competitor.
               As a senior member of the Committee on Ways and Means, 
             Congressman Matsui was substantially involved with all the 
             complex policy issues placed before the committee 
             including international trade, health care, welfare 
             reform, and tax issues.
               Congressman Matsui helped create the research and 
             development tax credit in 1981 to fuel innovation in the 
             American economy. In 1986, he spearheaded efforts that 
             resulted in extensive reform of the Tax Code. His work on 
             the earned income tax credit helped extend the tax credit 
             for working poor families.
               Most recently, Congressman Matsui was preparing to lead 
             the discussions regarding the future of Social Security 
             and his desire to preserve Social Security for future 
             generations. Bob Matsui truly understood the varied 
             complexities of the Social Security program, and he was 
             determined that any reform of Social Security would 
             provide for its long-term solvency without compromising 
             its fundamental purposes.
               Bob Matsui was intellectually curious and honest. He was 
             fairminded and evenhanded. His legacy is one of 
             compassion, commitment to do the right thing, hard work, 
             and wisdom.
               Congressman Matsui is ably succeeded by his wife Doris 
             Matsui. She has already done an admirable job of 
             representing the people of California's Fifth District and 
             I am confident that she will continue to do so.
               It is most fitting and proper that the career of this 
             truly outstanding Member be honored with the designation 
             of the new courthouse in his hometown of Sacramento, CA, 
             as the ``Robert T. Matsui United States Courthouse.'' I 
             urge the bill's passage.

               Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a co-sponsor of 
             this legislation, which will name the Federal courthouse 
             in Sacramento after our former colleague and friend, the 
             late Representative Bob Matsui.
               As many of you know, we both arrived in Washington in 
             1979 as newly elected Congressmen from opposite ends of 
             California's vast Central Valley. For more than 20 years, 
             we worked together on issues of importance to California, 
             such as securing funding to combat drug trafficking and to 
             gain a better understanding of the challenges posed by 
             California's air quality. Through these efforts, as well 
             as through his work on the Committee on Ways and Means, I 
             saw firsthand Bob's commitment to, and strong advocacy of, 
             his principles and how he served his constituents with 
             honor and distinction.
               Naming a Federal courthouse, where our Nation's laws and 
             Constitution are used to dispense justice, is a fitting 
             way to remember Bob. Notwithstanding his service as a 
             Member of the U.S. Congress, he was one of the more than 
             120,000 persons of Japanese ancestry who, pursuant to 
             Executive Order 9066, were forcibly removed from their 
             homes by our government and detained during World War II. 
             Undoubtedly, this experience had a profound impact upon 
             his life and career.
               Accordingly, I now ask my colleagues to pass this 
             legislation in honor of Bob's service to his constituents 
             and Nation.

               Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
             of this resolution to name the U.S. courthouse in 
             Sacramento, CA, after my dear friend and our beloved 
             former colleague, Bob Matsui, who passed away so suddenly 
             on New Year's night.
               Time and time again, Bob's constituents elected him to 
             serve as their Representative in the U.S. Congress. As all 
             of us know, he rose to national prominence as a senior 
             member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, a 
             national spokesman for Social Security, and as the first 
             Asian American in leadership in the Congress.
               Bob was a living combination of intellect and passion--
             someone who understood the complexities of the Social 
             Security system, and who never forgot what it meant to the 
             lives of America's seniors. As an architect for a better 
             America, Bob expanded opportunities for our county's 
             children, built a more secure future, and protected 
             precious freedoms for all of us.
               In our more than 30 years of friendship, I deeply 
             admired Bob's personal courage. Despite being imprisoned 
             in an internment camp as a very young boy during WorId War 
             II, Bob always had hope in the promise of America. He 
             loved America enough to want to make it better. In fact, 
             he worked tirelessly to pass legislation that awarded 
             payments and an apology from the government to Japanese 
             Americans who had been sent to internment camps.
               When it came to politics, Bob was a maestro, 
             orchestrating campaigns across the country that addressed 
             the aspirations of the American people, particularly on 
             his signature issues of economic opportunity, civil 
             liberties, and retirement security.
               It seems like only yesterday that Bob was among us, 
             doing the people's work here in Congress. Bob's spirit and 
             energy have been greatly missed. We are saddened by the 
             loss of our dear friend and colleague, but we are 
             fortunate to have his wife Doris here to continue and 
             build on Bob's outstanding work.
               President Bush rightly called him a ``dedicated public 
             servant and a good and decent man who served with 
             distinction and integrity.'' I know that our friends on 
             the other side of the aisle miss Bob as well, and join in 
             paying him this tribute.
               Bob Matsui was a true patriot who had a dream for a 
             better America. I urge my colleagues to support naming 
             this courthouse in his beloved Sacramento in his honor.
                              Proceedings in the Senate
                                               Tuesday, January 4, 2005
                            PUBLIC BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS
               Under clause 2 of rule XII, public bills and resolutions 
             were introduced and severally referred, as follows:
               By Mr. STARK:

               H. Res. 11. A resolution expressing profound sorrow on 
             the occasion of the death of the Honorable Robert T. 
             Matsui, a Representative from the State of California; 
             considered and agreed to.

               Mr. CORZINE. Mr. President, this week, our Nation 
             suffered the loss of two of the finest Americans to grace 
             the public stage in my lifetime.
               Congressman Matsui and I served here together, and as a 
             result of our passionate efforts to preserve and protect 
             Social Security, and from leading our respective caucus's 
             campaign efforts last year, Bob and I became friends.
               Bob was a man of strong beliefs and principles and a 
             tireless advocate for children, women, minorities, seniors 
             and virtually every segment of society that too often has 
             been left behind. I am saddened by his passing and my 
             heart goes out to his family, friends and constituents.
               Those of us who knew Bob are richer for the experience, 
             and the institution of Congress is poorer now that he is 
             gone.
                                              Thursday, January 6, 2005
               Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I offer a few words about 
             the passing of Bob Matsui, one of California's great 
             political leaders.
               Bob was one of those people who you always thought would 
             be there. His death has come as a great shock and surprise 
             to many.
               I extend my deep sorrow to Doris, Brian, and the rest of 
             the Matsui family. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
               Throughout his career his wonderful wife Doris has been 
             by his side. One of the things I remember most about the 
             two of them is the wonderful smile she always had whenever 
             they walked into a room together. They truly were a fine 
             couple.
               I would also like to offer my sympathy to everyone in 
             the Sacramento area--you were so well served by this 
             wonderful man. He has done a fantastic job representing 
             you in Washington for the last 26 years and before that on 
             the Sacramento City Council.
               I have known Bob Matsui for a long time. I will remember 
             him as a great human being, as a trusted colleague, as a 
             fine public servant, and someone in whom I was very proud 
             to place friendship, respect, and collegiality.
               Bob was a superb public servant. He was a thoughtful, 
             constructive leader who brought people together to find 
             solutions for public policy issues. He was a reasoned 
             voice; he was a dependable voice.
               When we faced a problem related to the Folsom Dam, Bob 
             was one of the most constructive figures in getting that 
             very divided issue settled.
               Bob was also a good thinker and a strong thinker. People 
             knew that when Bob Matsui said something that it was 
             steeped in practicality. He was well respected and 
             influential among his colleagues.
               If Bob told me something was true, I knew it was true 
             and not some variation of the facts. This is an important 
             quality in someone who represents others because it gives 
             them credibility among their colleagues. Bob Matsui had 
             that credibility.
               We have all heard the story of Bob's family and their 
             internment at the Tule Lake Camp in 1942. I think this 
             probably had a very sobering impact on his life.
               I think he knew what could happen in situations of 
             stress and military conflict. I think it presented a 
             challenge to him as a young man growing up. He clearly 
             overcame that challenge and I think it probably had an 
             impact in his knowing what he wanted to do with his life, 
             and that was public service.
               One of Bob's most significant legacies will be the work 
             he did to help the government make amends with the 
             Japanese Americans who were interned during World War II.
               As a Member of Congress, Bob was successful in passing 
             legislation that offered a formal apology from the 
             government for the internment program and provided 
             compensation to victims. This is a great legacy and it 
             will be well remembered.
               Another of the areas in which Bob excelled is his 
             knowledge and expertise of Social Security as well as tax 
             and trade policy. He had an influential place on the House 
             Ways and Means Committee. His leadership there will be 
             missed.
               Bob did what he did extraordinarily well. Throughout his 
             career he showed that he was a skilled politician as well 
             as a great policymaker.
               In addition to his duties as a House Member, he took on 
             heading the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee 
             this past election cycle--a particularly demanding and 
             grueling position. Despite the enormous challenges he 
             faced, he did a superb job in guiding the committee 
             through the elections.
               Throughout his long and distinguished career Bob Matsui 
             proved to be a dedicated public servant and his 
             constituents considered themselves lucky to have his 
             representation. I consider myself lucky to have known him.
               We will truly miss him.

               Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I rise today to join my 
             colleagues in expressing sympathies to the family of 
             Representative Bob Matsui, who passed away over the 
             weekend. I was shocked and saddened to hear the news about 
             our old friend.
               While few Montanans may know Bob Matsui, he did embody 
             one trait Montanans are familiar with. He was always 
             willing to reach out to those across the aisle to get the 
             job done. He and I shared this work philosophy on free 
             trade especially. He was a tireless advocate in the 
             Congress for America's trade agenda and was essential to 
             the enactment of many historic international agreements.
               We will surely miss his leadership on critical issues 
             this next Congress, such as Social Security, one issue 
             where the American people expect and deserve a healthy, 
             vigorous, and open debate. And for that type of debate, 
             you could certainly count on Bob Matsui to deliver.
               Despite starting his life as a child unjustly interned 
             by his own government during World War II, Bob later rose 
             to serve in that very government at its highest echelons, 
             as a Member of Congress. How proud his family must have 
             been to see this dynamic man elected to public office, 
             where he championed legislation to apologize for the 
             internment of Japanese American families such as his. 
             Overcoming obstacles and injustices to rise to a level of 
             public admiration, respect, and trust may sound like a 
             Hollywood story; to Bob, though, it was his life story.
               Wanda and I send our prayers and sympathies to his 
             family; his wife Doris, son Brian, daughter-in-law Amy, 
             and granddaughter Anna. He will be greatly missed by us 
             all.

               Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, it is with great sorrow 
             that I mark the passing of Representative Robert Matsui. 
             In his quarter century of service representing 
             California's Fifth District in the House of 
             Representatives, Robert Matsui won the deep respect and 
             affection of everyone who ever worked with him. When he 
             first ran for Congress in 1978, he pledged to bring to the 
             office ``a new form of statesmanship.'' For more than 25 
             years, on a daily basis, he fulfilled that promise, and 
             his constituents honored him for it. This past November 
             they returned him to the Congress for his 14th term, with 
             71 percent of the vote.
               Bob Matsui was a third-generation Japanese American. 
             Like so many of us, he was part of a family that had come 
             to the United States for the great opportunities this 
             country offers, to build a better life for their children. 
             Because Bob Matsui's family was Japanese American, 
             however, he and his parents were taken from their home in 
             Sacramento in 1942, following the Japanese attack on Pearl 
             Harbor. They were interned for more than 3 years at Tule 
             Lake, in one of the relocation centers specifically 
             created for Japanese Americans. Bob Matsui himself was 
             very young at the time--barely 6 months old at the time of 
             internment, not yet 4 years old when the war ended but he 
             felt deeply the confusion and anguish of the adults around 
             him. Yet he never lost faith in his country and in 
             himself. Inspired by the Kennedy administration to enter 
             public service, he dedicated his professional life to 
             serving and protecting the rights of all Americans, first 
             as a lawyer and then as a public official. He served 8 
             years on the Sacramento City Council before entering the 
             Congress. But the experience of his early childhood never 
             left him, and in 1988 he was instrumental in ensuring 
             enactment of the Japanese American redress act, which 
             offered recognition of the terrible, unconstitutional 
             wrongs done to Japanese Americans.
               As a senior member of the House Ways and Means 
             Committee, Bob Matsui worked unstintingly to assure the 
             safety net for those most in need: children, seniors, the 
             disabled, the poor and others who needed an advocate. As 
             the ranking minority member of the Social Security 
             Subcommittee, he was one of the Social Security system's 
             best informed and most eloquent advocates in the Congress. 
             No one understood better than he the indispensable role 
             that Social Security plays in assuring basic standards of 
             security and dignity to Americans when their working years 
             are over, and no one was more dedicated to keeping the 
             system intact. Robert Matsui believed in the social 
             insurance system that Roosevelt created to care for 
             retirees, but we as a society expanded to care for younger 
             citizens in need, the disabled, widowed and survivors. He 
             made politics personal, and because he cared so deeply for 
             others, he was able to be a real leader in this realm. His 
             voice will be sorely missed.
               Congressman Matsui leaves a legacy of extraordinary 
             integrity, commitment and strength. It is fitting that in 
             his memory Bob Matsui's family and friends have 
             established the Matsui Foundation for Public Service, 
             which will carry forward the principles to which he 
             dedicated his life. I express my deepest sympathies to his 
             wife, Doris Okada, his son Brian, daughter-in-law Amy, and 
             granddaughter Anna, and thank them for sharing him with us 
             these many years.
                               MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE
               At 9:36 a.m., a message from the House of 
             Representatives, delivered by Ms. Niland, one of its 
             reading clerks, announced that the House has agreed to H. 
             Res. 11, resolving that the House has heard with profound 
             sorrow of the death of the Honorable Robert T. Matsui, a 
             Representative from the State of California.

               Resolving, That a committee of such Members of the House 
             as the Speaker may designate, together with such Members 
             of the Senate as may be joined, be appointed to attend the 
             funeral.
               Resolving, That the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House be 
             authorized and directed to take such steps as may be 
             necessary for carrying out the provisions of these 
             resolutions and that the necessary expenses in connection 
             therewith be paid out of applicable accounts of the House.
               Resolving, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions 
             to the Senate and transmit a copy thereof to the family of 
             the deceased.
                                               Monday, January 24, 2005
               Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I am introducing legislation 
             today to name the courthouse in Sacramento, CA, as the 
             ``Robert T. Matsui United States Courthouse.'' I am 
             pleased to be joined in this effort by Senators Feinstein 
             and Durbin.
               Congressman Matsui's death on January 1, 2005, was 
             shocking to all of us. Naming the Federal courthouse in 
             Sacramento in his honor would be a very appropriate 
             memorial to his continual efforts toward a just and fair 
             society.
               After his childhood internment, Bob Matsui could have 
             chosen to dwell on the sadness of his early years. 
             Instead, he chose to give his life to public service, 
             working to improve the lives of those in his congressional 
             district and all Americans. He was a true patriot.
               He was first elected to Congress in 1978, and spent the 
             past 26 years representing the citizens of Sacramento with 
             distinction and pride. He served as a senior member of the 
             Committee on Ways and Means, and took a particular 
             interest in complex public policy issues including tax, 
             international trade, Social Security, healthcare, and 
             welfare reform.
               Congressman Matsui's dedication to the well-being of 
             America's children earned him the Congressional Advocate 
             of the Year Award from the Child Welfare League of America 
             in 1992 and 1994. The Congressman was also honored with 
             the Anti Defamation League's Lifetime Achievement Award 
             for his commitment to human rights.
               Included in Congressman Matsui's long list of 
             legislative achievements were his accomplishments to 
             benefit the people of his district including flood 
             control, transportation, and his success in obtaining $142 
             million in Federal funding for the courthouse in 
             Sacramento.
               A graduate of the University of California at Berkeley 
             and Hastings College of Law, he founded his own law 
             practice in 1967, and was elected to the Sacramento City 
             Council in 1971. After winning re-election in 1975 he 
             became vice mayor of Sacramento in 1977. Congressman 
             Matsui is survived by his wife, Doris Matsui, their son 
             Brian and his wife Amy, and granddaughter, Anna.
                                              Tuesday, January 25, 2005
               Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I have joined Senators 
             Boxer and Durbin in introducing legislation that would 
             rename the Federal courthouse in Sacramento, CA, in honor 
             of recently deceased U.S. Representative Robert T. Matsui. 
             This represents a fitting tribute to a great man and a 
             dedicated public servant.
               On January 1, 2005, the people of the Sacramento area, 
             the State of California, and the Nation, suffered a great 
             loss when Bob Matsui passed away. For 26 years in Congress 
             and 7 years before that as a member of the Sacramento City 
             Council, Bob was a reasoned and dependable voice. A 
             problem solver, Bob was a thoughtful and constructive 
             leader who brought people together to find solutions to 
             public policy issues.
               I had the distinct pleasure of working with Bob on a 
             number of issues relating to our home State of California. 
             I will remember him as a great human being, as a trusted 
             colleague, as a fine public servant, and someone in whom I 
             was proud to place friendship, respect, and collegiality.
               Proud of his ideals, Bob never let disagreement lead to 
             rancor. The sheer number of tributes paid from both sides 
             of the aisle clearly demonstrates the enormous respect he 
             inspired among his colleagues. Likewise, the tremendous 
             outpouring of support shown at services held in his honor 
             reminds us just how endeared he had become to those he 
             represented over the years.
               Bob's path to public service was greatly fueled by 
             experiences in his youth, especially his internment along 
             with thousands of other Japanese Americans during World 
             War II.
               When he was just 6 months old, Bob and his family were 
             sent to an internment camp in Northern California, leaving 
             behind their home and their livelihood. Bob would spend 
             the first 4 years of his life there.
               I think this experience had a very sobering impact on 
             his life. But rather than let it lead to resentment and 
             hatred, I think it had an impact on his knowing what he 
             wanted to do with his life, and that was public service.
               In fact, one of Bob's most significant legacies will be 
             the work he did to help the government make amends with 
             the Japanese Americans who were interned like himself.
               As a Member of Congress, Bob was successful in passing 
             legislation that offered a formal apology from the 
             government for the internment program and provided 
             compensation to victims. This is a great legacy and it 
             will be remembered well.
               Bob also excelled in his knowledge and expertise of 
             Social Security as well as tax and trade policy. He had an 
             influential place on the House Ways and Means Committee, 
             which will miss his leadership.
               The Sacramento area, where Bob was born and which he 
             represented for over three decades in public office, shows 
             numerous examples of Bob's achievements. From the light-
             rail train system to comprehensive flood protection, Bob's 
             mark is everywhere.
               The renaming of this particular courthouse in Bob's 
             honor is especially fitting. During his career in 
             Congress, Bob was instrumental in obtaining more than $142 
             million in Federal funding for the courthouse.
               Bob did what he did extraordinarily well. Throughout his 
             career he showed that he was a skilled politician as well 
             as a great policymaker. His constituents considered 
             themselves lucky to have his representation, and I 
             consider myself lucky to have known him.
               Through his many accomplishments, Bob Matsui secured his 
             legacy of devoted public service. I offer my gratitude for 
             his service and support this legislation in his honor.
                                            Thursday, February 17, 2005
              DESIGNATING THE ROBERT T. MATSUI UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE
               Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that 
             the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of 
             Calendar No. 7, S. 125.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will state the bill by 
             title.
               The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

               A bill (S. 125) to designate the United States 
             courthouse located at 501 I Street in Sacramento, 
             California, as the Robert T. Matsui United States 
             Courthouse.

               There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to 
             consider the bill.

               Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that 
             the bill be read the third time and passed, the motion to 
             reconsider be laid on the table, and that any statements 
             relating thereto be printed in the Record, all without 
             further intervening action or debate.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so 
             ordered.
               The bill (S. 125) was read the third time and passed, as 
             follows:
                                       S. 125
               Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
             of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
             SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.
               The United States courthouse located at 501 I Street in 
             Sacramento, California, shall be known and designated as 
             the ``Robert T. Matsui United States Courthouse''.
             SEC. 2. REFERENCES.
               Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, 
             paper, or other record of the United States to the United 
             States courthouse referred to in section 1 shall be deemed 
             to be a reference to the ``Robert T. Matsui United States 
             Courthouse''.
?

                 
               Following are the program for and remarks of 
             Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui at the July 7, 2005, 
             rededication ceremony of the Robert T. Matsui United 
             States Courthouse in Sacramento, CA.
               Ms. Matsui was elected to fill the unexpired term of her 
             late husband in a special election on March 8, 2005.

                                  Unveiling of the

                      Robert T. Matsui United States Courthouse

                               Sacramento, California

                               Thursday, July 7, 2005

             Program:

                                           

                             The Honorable David F. Levi

                     Chief Judge, Eastern District of California

                                Master of Ceremonies

                                           

                                   Peter Stamison

               Regional Administrator, General Services Administration

                                           

                             The Honorable Heather Fargo

                                 Mayor of Sacramento

                                           

                             The Honorable Mike Thompson

                       United States House of Representatives

                                           

                            The Honorable John Doolittle

                       United States House of Representatives

                                           

                             The Honorable Barbara Boxer

                                United States Senate

                                           

                                    Brian Matsui

                                           

                                  Unveiling of the

                      Robert T. Matsui United States Courthouse

                                           

                            The Honorable Doris O. Matsui

                       United States House of Representatives

                                           

                                 Reception to follow

               Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui. Thank you so much to each 
             of you for being here to honor and commemorate the life 
             and service of my husband Bob Matsui.
               To Senator Barbara Boxer, Representatives John Doolittle 
             and Mike Thompson, Mayor Heather Fargo, and Judge David 
             Levi: I am touched by and so grateful for your thoughtful 
             and heartfelt words about Bob. And I also want to thank 
             Peter Stamison and his staff at the GSA, as well as the 
             deputy marshals and staff of the U.S. Marshal Service, 
             without whose efforts this ceremony would not have been 
             possible.
               Brian: I can only begin to express how moved I am to see 
             you here with your wife Amy, and your beautiful daughter 
             Anna. Our family life has been so bound up with this 
             wonderful city, ever since Bob and I began our marriage 
             here. Today, it is impossible to express how much it means 
             to me to both celebrate Bob and his history of work for 
             our community while at the same time feeling such 
             brightness for the future through you.
               Rededicating this building as the Robert T. Matsui 
             United States Federal Courthouse is a fitting honor for 
             Bob's life and his accomplishments--and I am deeply 
             grateful to Senators Feinstein and Boxer and 
             Representatives Doolittle and Thompson for conceiving of 
             this tribute and guiding it through Congress into law. 
             This courthouse is so symbolic of Bob . . . of his quest 
             for justice, of his pursuit of equality, and of the legacy 
             he created in almost 35 years of public service to the 
             city of Sacramento and to this Nation.
               A career that was started when as a young person he read 
             an autobiography written by Clarence Darrow who said, ``as 
             long as the world shall last there will be wrongs, and if 
             no man objected and no man rebelled, those wrongs would 
             last forever.''
               It is not difficult to see how the words of Darrow would 
             be so inspirational and you can see the influence they had 
             on the path Bob pursued; from his start as an attorney in 
             Sacramento to being elected to represent Sacramento in 
             Congress. At each point he always returned to the idea of 
             justice Darrow put forth.
               Bob's legislative record is an embodiment of Clarence 
             Darrow's words. And a reflection of his staunch and 
             steadfast belief in our country and our Constitution--the 
             ideals of justice and equality firmly embedded in both.
               His record is an expression of the possibility that 
             government can do good . . . for people, for communities, 
             for this Nation and for the world. It is an example of 
             government upholding its promise to its citizens--of 
             liberty and freedom.
               And he valued the legislative victories in which justice 
             triumphed. As when the legislation he was shepherding 
             through Congress, the Japanese American redress act, was 
             signed into law. It was a courageous moment for this 
             Nation, it acknowledged mistakes. And Bob was deeply proud 
             of our Nation and our leaders for their willingness to 
             accept responsibility.
               In the struggle for this legislation, Bob's philosophy 
             on what it meant to be an elected official was clearly 
             present. You could see his belief that being an elected 
             official means making the difficult decisions--the 
             decisions that are not always popular, but ultimately 
             benefit the Nation.
               This was typical Bob. He was an articulate, intelligent 
             and passionate advocate for the least powerful among us. 
             When Congress addressed welfare reform, he fought to 
             ensure that the needs of children were met and not 
             ignored, or worse, irreversibly hurt. He stood up during 
             the reform debate for those who are not abusing the 
             system, but do actually need help to get back on their 
             feet. And he authored legislation, which became the guide 
             for welfare reform that expanded access to social services 
             for children and their families within the child welfare, 
             mental health and juvenile justice systems.
               And even though these are major pieces of legislation 
             with national implications, Bob never lost sight of 
             Sacramento. Sacramento influenced every decision he made.
               Bob was born in Sacramento; he was raised in Sacramento. 
             He loved this town and his values sprung from here. Bob 
             truly felt honored and privileged that Sacramentans would 
             place their trust and their futures in his hands by 
             electing him to Congress. And in return, Bob was devoted 
             to this city.
               I would argue that this courthouse we are naming in his 
             honor today is also a crucial and strategic contribution 
             that Bob made to Sacramento. Bob had a vision for this 
             courthouse as anchoring a revitalized downtown, and we see 
             around us how his thoughtfulness and unique way of looking 
             at challenges again benefited Sacramento.
               But if Bob were here today, you wouldn't hear all of 
             this, because he was modest about his accomplishments. In 
             his mind it was the least he could do for the honor 
             Sacramento gave him in allowing him to represent them in 
             Congress and be a part of the 200-year history of this 
             Nation. And he was humbled by it. It made his life truly 
             extraordinary.
               I thank you for recognizing Bob and all of the 
             contributions he made to this city and its residents as 
             well as to this Nation by rededicating this courthouse in 
             his honor--this symbol of all Bob stood for, believed in 
             and fought for throughout his career.
               Thank you.
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