[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 2 (Thursday, January 6, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E44]
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. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 4, 2005

  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 to 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 of saw 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 special he 
truly was. Please know that Bob was loved by many and will be missed by 
all.
  May God bless him and keep in his company.

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