[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 2 (Thursday, January 6, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E42-E43]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING SORROW OF THE HOUSE AT THE DEATH OF THE HONORABLE ROBERT T. 
        MATSUI, MEMBER OF CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 4, 2005

  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

[[Page E43]]

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.

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