[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 123 (Monday, July 30, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H8870-H8876]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENSE OF HOUSE THAT JAPAN SHOULD APOLOGIZE FOR ITS IMPERIAL ARMED 
          FORCE'S COERCION OF YOUNG WOMEN INTO SEXUAL SLAVERY

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 121) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives that the Government of Japan should formally 
acknowledge, apologize, and accept historical responsibility in a clear 
and unequivocal manner for its Imperial Armed Force's coercion of young 
women into sexual slavery, known to the world as ``comfort women'', 
during its colonial and wartime occupation of Asia and the Pacific 
Islands from the 1930s through the duration of World War II, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows

                              H. Res. 121

       Whereas the Government of Japan, during its colonial and 
     wartime occupation of Asia and the Pacific Islands from the 
     1930s through the duration of World War II, officially 
     commissioned the acquisition of young women for the sole 
     purpose of sexual servitude to its Imperial Armed Forces, who 
     became known to the world as ianfu or ``comfort women'';
       Whereas the ``comfort women'' system of forced military 
     prostitution by the Government of Japan, considered 
     unprecedented in its cruelty and magnitude, included gang 
     rape, forced abortions, humiliation, and sexual violence 
     resulting in mutilation, death, or eventual suicide in one of 
     the largest cases of human trafficking in the 20th century;
       Whereas some new textbooks used in Japanese schools seek to 
     downplay the ``comfort women'' tragedy and other Japanese war 
     crimes during World War II;
       Whereas Japanese public and private officials have recently 
     expressed a desire to dilute or rescind the 1993 statement by 
     Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono on the ``comfort women'', 
     which expressed the Government's sincere apologies and 
     remorse for their ordeal;
       Whereas the Government of Japan did sign the 1921 
     International Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic 
     in Women and Children and supported the 2000 United Nations 
     Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and 
     Security which recognized the unique impact on women of armed 
     conflict;
       Whereas the House of Representatives commends Japan's 
     efforts to promote human security, human rights, democratic 
     values, and rule of law, as well as for being a supporter of 
     Security Council Resolution 1325;

[[Page H8871]]

       Whereas the United States-Japan alliance is the cornerstone 
     of United States security interests in Asia and the Pacific 
     and is fundamental to regional stability and prosperity;
       Whereas, despite the changes in the post-cold war strategic 
     landscape, the United States-Japan alliance continues to be 
     based on shared vital interests and values in the Asia-
     Pacific region, including the preservation and promotion of 
     political and economic freedoms, support for human rights and 
     democratic institutions, and the securing of prosperity for 
     the people of both countries and the international community;
       Whereas the House of Representatives commends those 
     Japanese officials and private citizens whose hard work and 
     compassion resulted in the establishment in 1995 of Japan's 
     private Asian Women's Fund;
       Whereas the Asian Women's Fund has raised $5,700,000 to 
     extend ``atonement'' from the Japanese people to the comfort 
     women; and
       Whereas the mandate of the Asian Women's Fund, a 
     government-initiated and largely government-funded private 
     foundation whose purpose was the carrying out of programs and 
     projects with the aim of atonement for the maltreatment and 
     suffering of the ``comfort women'', came to an end on March 
     31, 2007, and the Fund has been disbanded as of that date: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That it is the sense of the House of 
     Representatives that the Government of Japan--
       (1) should formally acknowledge, apologize, and accept 
     historical responsibility in a clear and unequivocal manner 
     for its Imperial Armed Forces' coercion of young women into 
     sexual slavery, known to the world as ``comfort women'', 
     during its colonial and wartime occupation of Asia and the 
     Pacific Islands from the 1930s through the duration of World 
     War II;
       (2) would help to resolve recurring questions about the 
     sincerity and status of prior statements if the Prime 
     Minister of Japan were to make such an apology as a public 
     statement in his official capacity;
       (3) should clearly and publicly refute any claims that the 
     sexual enslavement and trafficking of the ``comfort women'' 
     for the Japanese Imperial Armed Forces never occurred; and
       (4) should educate current and future generations about 
     this horrible crime while following the recommendations of 
     the international community with respect to the ``comfort 
     women''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Lantos) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, 
and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, let me first commend my good friend and our 
distinguished colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda), for 
introducing this very important resolution and for all his hard work to 
give voice to the so-called ``comfort women.''
  Mr. Speaker, the true strength of a nation is tested when it is 
forced to confront the darkest chapters in its history. Will it have 
the courage to face up to the truth of its own past, or will it run 
from that truth in the foolish hope that truth will fade with time.
  The Government of Japan's unwillingness to offer a formal and 
unequivocal apology to the women forced by its Army to be sex slaves 
during World War II stands in stark contrast to Japan's positive role 
in the world today. Japan is a proud global leader and a valued ally of 
the United States, which makes its unwillingness to account honestly 
for this part of its past all the more perplexing.
  The U.S.-Japan relationship, Mr. Speaker, is the bedrock of peace and 
stability in the Asia-Pacific region. Our reliance and friendship are 
based on mutual respect and admiration. And together, we have helped 
promote our shared values of democracy, economic opportunity and human 
rights throughout Asia. Yet Japan's refusal to make an official 
government apology once and for all to the women who suffered as so-
called ``comfort women'' is disturbing to everyone who values the U.S.-
Japan relationship.
  No nation can disregard its own past, neither the actions of a few 
nor the actions of many. Inhumane deeds should be fully acknowledged, a 
spotlight shined on the whole truth. This is essential to national 
reconciliation, and it helps the victims to heal. Withholding that 
acknowledgment only compounds the cruelty.

                              {time}  1445

  Post-war Germany, with the most horrendous crimes in its history, 
made the right choice. Japan, on the other hand, has actively promoted 
historical amnesia.
  The facts, Mr. Speaker, are plain. There can be no denying that the 
Japanese Imperial military coerced thousands upon thousands of Asian 
women, primarily Chinese and Koreans, into sexual slavery during the 
Second World War.
  The continued efforts by some in Japan to distort and deny history 
and play a game of blame-the-victim are nauseating. Those who posit 
that all of the ``comfort women'' were happily complicit and acting of 
their own accord simply don't understand the meaning of the word 
``rape.''
  On June 14, members of the Japanese Government took out a shocking 
advertisement in The Washington Post that attempted to smear the 
survivors of the comfort women system, including those who bravely 
testified before our own House Foreign Affairs Committee. The ad 
suggested that these women, who were forcibly and repeatedly raped by 
soldiers, were engaged in ``licensed prostitution that was commonplace 
around the world at the time.'' This is a ludicrous and infuriating 
assertion.
  Our resolution calls on the Government of Japan officially to 
acknowledge and to apologize for the appalling acts that Imperial Japan 
committed against the so-called ``comfort women.'' It seeks admission 
of an appalling truth. Failure to do so would signal to others around 
the globe that such horrors can be perpetrated again and treated just 
as cavalierly as they have been in this case.
  But most importantly, Mr. Speaker, it speaks out for the victims of 
this monstrous system who were terrorized and brutalized by men at war. 
It gives voice to these courageous women whom others have tried to 
silence through shame, bigotry, and threats of further violence.
  It is appropriate that this House stand up for these women who ask 
only that the truth be honored. The world awaits a full reckoning of 
history from the Japanese Government.
  I strongly support this resolution, and I urge all of my colleagues 
to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise also in support of this resolution, which strikes an important 
balance, protecting the integrity of history and recognizing present-
day reality. It also addresses an issue of great significance for the 
peoples of the Asia Pacific region.
  The tragedy of the ``comfort women,'' the thousands of Asian and 
European women forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army 
during the first half of the 20th century, was a horrific crime. For 
the surviving ``comfort women'' these issues are not historical; they 
are profoundly personal. Some of them were in our Foreign Affairs 
Committee when this bill was marked up. Attempts to deny or minimize 
these facts are a disservice to future generations.
  The case of Darfur, which we spoke about earlier today, Mr. Speaker, 
reminds us all that the issue of the use of military force to abuse 
women, to abuse children through rape and exploitation is one which we 
need to look at and one which unfortunately continues to this very day.
  At the same time, the resolution makes clear that Japan has been a 
vital ally of the United States and a generous benefactor of the 
international community through several decades. It has been a strong 
ally of the United States on issues relating to, for example, 
nonproliferation.
  It was recently reported that three Japanese banks have stopped 
engaging in any new business with Iran and that Japanese financial 
institutions are restricting loans and rejecting an Iranian request to 
pay for oil imports in currency other than dollars.

[[Page H8872]]

  So we are proud of the U.S.-Japan alliance and grateful for the 
friendship of the people of Japan. At the same time, we should also 
recognize that the issue of unresolved historic grievances from the 
Pacific war is one that cannot be ignored. It is through reconciliation 
of these issues that our Asian allies can work constructively together, 
as is the case with our European allies, and the achievement of 
regional harmony is in America's vital national security interests
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to my good 
friend and our distinguished colleague from California (Mr. Honda), the 
principal author of this important resolution.
  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my unconditional and 
heartfelt support for those euphemistically known to the world as 
``comfort women.''
  Let me at the outset thank Chairman Lantos; the vice chair of the 
subcommittee, Eni Faleomavaega; and the ranking member, Ileana Ros-
Lehtinen. I really appreciate your support and your strong, clear 
statements.
  Today, the House will make history as we consider the passage of H. 
Res. 121, a resolution I introduced which seeks an official apology for 
what the ``comfort women'' endured under Japan's Imperial Armed Forces 
during World War II.
  On this day, I must recognize my good friend and mentor and former 
colleague, Representative Lane Evans, whose irreproachable character 
gave these women hope. The legacy of his spirit has remained with me 
throughout this incredible journey, during which it has been my 
personal honor to have carried this torch, and I know that his spirit 
is with me today too. If he is watching, I would like to thank him for 
his unparalleled courage and tireless efforts to bring justice and the 
restoration of dignity to the ``comfort women'' survivors. Lane, semper 
fi.
  I would also like to recognize Ms. Lee Yong-Soo, a survivor of the 
comfort stations who is here today with us. Ms. Lee has been a stalwart 
and passionate advocate for herself and her fellow survivors.
  On February 15 of this year, Ms. Lee was joined by Ms. Jan Ruff-
O'Herne and Ms. Kim Koon-Ja as witnesses in a hearing before the Asia, 
the Pacific and Global Environment Subcommittee, chaired by my good 
friend Eni Faleomavaega. I would also like to thank him and Chairman 
Tom Lantos for their outspoken support for these women.
  The survivors' riveting and gut-wrenching testimony about the horrors 
they endured as former ``comfort women'' brought us all to tears and 
impacted me profoundly. Their courage and indomitable spirit will 
continue to inspire me every day.
  Mr. Speaker, today the House will send a message to the Government of 
Japan that it should deliver an official, unequivocal, unambiguous 
apology for the indignity the ``comfort women'' suffered.
  Too many times we've seen women victimized by war and conflict. The 
experience of these women is a vivid reminder that the human rights of 
women around the world are never fully secure. We know that rape, 
sexual abuse and sometimes murder of women and girls in war are still 
committed by armies in various countries. One thinks of Darfur, Bosnia, 
and East Timor.
  We must teach future generations that we cannot allow this to happen.
  Mr. Speaker, encouraging our good friend and ally, the Government of 
Japan, to officially and unequivocally apologize is, in my mind, my 
heart and the minds and hearts of all those concerned about protecting 
human rights, the right thing to do.
  I have always believed that reconciliation is the first step in the 
healing process, and I am proud to be here today on this truly historic 
occasion to continue to advocate with every fabric of my being for that 
principle.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in support of protecting and 
defending the human rights of ``comfort women'' by voting ``yes'' on H. 
Res. 121.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he 
may consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis).
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of H. Res. 121. I want to thank Mr. Honda, the chief sponsor 
for this legislation, Chairman Lantos, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Mr. 
Faleomavaega and others who have helped bring this to the floor.
  This resolution is long overdue. I'm a proud cosponsor of this 
resolution because it is time for these women to tell their story to 
the world. It is time for the world to know how horribly humans can 
treat other humans in times of war and conflict, and it is time for the 
Government of Japan to own up to the wrongs that it committed toward 
these women.
  During World War II, between 100,000 and 200,000 women were abducted 
from their homes in Japan and occupied lands, including Korea and China 
and the Philippines, and forced into the sex trade for the benefit of 
the Japanese Army. To deny this tragedy is to allow it to happen again. 
We prevent history from repeating itself only when we actually learn 
from history, not when we try to deny and obfuscate the truth.
  When U.S. Government placed Americans of Japanese descent into 
internment camps in World War II, we were wrong; and we have since 
apologized to the families of those victims. This is the measure of 
responsible leadership. When we implore our friends across the Pacific 
to apologize for their many mistakes, we ask for no more than what we 
as Americans are willing to do ourselves.
  Japan has been a strong ally of the United States for years, and I 
believe both countries have benefited greatly from that relationship. 
However, it is a true friend that will tell another when it is wrong, 
and I believe the United States has an obligation as an ally to Japan 
to stand up against this atrocity and to reveal to the world in 
appropriate fashion.
  It is time for the stories of the ``comfort women'' to be told. It is 
because these courageous women are speaking out and refusing to be 
silenced that the United States and the world can finally learn why 
this issue is so important and why we must never allow it to be 
repeated ever again on this planet.
  I urge support for this resolution
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to my good 
friend, the distinguished chairman of the Subcommittee of Asia, the 
Pacific and the Global Environment, Eni Faleomavaega.
  (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the distinguished 
chairman of our House Foreign Affairs Committee, my good friend and 
chairman, Tom Lantos, and also our senior ranking member, Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen, for their leadership and efforts in bringing H. Res. 121 to 
the floor today.
  I also want to thank our colleagues, and the gentleman from 
California especially as the chief sponsor of this legislation, which 
has the support of some 146 Members, both Republicans and Democrats, 
fully supporting the provisions of this resolution.
  I also want to note, this resolution was previously passed by the 
International Relations Committee in the last Congress, under the able 
leadership of our previous chairman, the gentleman from Illinois, Mr. 
Hyde.
  And I would be remiss if I did not also mention the name of another 
gentleman from Illinois, my good friend Mr. Lane Evans, who was also a 
champion of this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 121 seeks to express the sense of the U.S. House 
of Representatives that the Government of Japan should formally 
acknowledge, apologize and accept historical responsibility in a clear 
and unequivocal manner for its Imperial Armed Forces coercion of 
teenage girls and young women into a sexual slavery, euphemistically 
known as ``comfort women,'' system during its colonial and wartime 
occupation of Asia and the Pacific islands from the late 1930s 
throughout the duration of World War II.
  On February 7 of this year, the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, 
the Pacific and the Global Environment held a hearing on H. Res. 121, 
the first time ever in the history of the United States Congress that 
three surviving ``comfort women'' testified for the record.

                              {time}  1500

  Ms. Lee Yong-Soo is with us today, and I want to especially commend 
her and Ms. Koon Kim Lee and

[[Page H8873]]

Ms. Jan Ruff O'Herne for their courage and their faith and their belief 
that one day their story would be told and, in part, their suffering 
would be set right.
  I encourage the world to read their moving testimony, which has 
brought us to this moment when the United States of America will stand 
arm in arm with these noble women in demanding an official apology from 
the Government of Japan.
  The comfort women system organized, managed and administered by the 
Imperial Army of Japan is considered one of the 20th century's most 
extensive cases of human trafficking and ignored violations of human 
rights. It was unprecedented in its cruelty and magnitude as teenage 
girls and young women were raped, systematically beaten, tortured, 
drugged, mutilated and sometimes even murdered.
  According to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, soldiers 
of the Japanese Imperial Army abducted and forced some 200,000 young 
teenage girls and young women from Korea, from China, from the 
Philippines, from Indonesia, from the Dutch Indies, and other women, 
forced them into sexual enslavement and abuse.
  Today the Government of Japan contends that it has apologized and 
accepted responsibility for its atrocities. But it wasn't until 1980s 
and the 1990s that major publications in Japan began to describe the 
details of the comfort women, and it also wasn't until 1992 in response 
to these developments that Japan's Chief Secretary, cabinet secretary, 
Yahei Kono, issued an official statement. After a 2-year period, the 
foreign ministry of Japan conducted this research, and it did make the 
admission.
  I would include for the Record the full statement of Chief Secretary 
Kono regarding the 2-year study by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  In 1993, after a two-year study by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 
under the supervision of the Chief Secretary of Cabinet, an equivalent 
to the Chief-of-Staff of the White House, Mr. Yahei Kon stated:

       The Government of Japan has been conducting a study on the 
     issue of wartime ``comfort women'' since December 1991. I 
     wish to announce the findings as a result of that study.
       As a result of the study which indicates that comfort 
     stations were operated in extensive areas for long periods, 
     it is apparent that there existed a great number of comfort 
     women. Comfort stations were operated in response to the 
     request of the military authorities of the day. The then 
     Japanese military was, directly or indirectly, involved in 
     the establishment and management of the comfort stations and 
     the transfer of comfort women. The recruitment of the comfort 
     women was conducted mainly by private recruiters who acted in 
     response to the request of the military. The Government study 
     has revealed that in many cases they were recruited against 
     their own will, through coaxing coercion, etc., and that, at 
     times, administrative/military personnel directly took part 
     in the recruitments. They lived in misery at comfort stations 
     under a coercive atmosphere.
       As to the origin of those comfort women who were 
     transferred to the war areas, excluding those from Japan, 
     those from the Korean Peninsula accounted for a large part. 
     The Korean Peninsula was under Japanese rule in those days, 
     and their recruitment, transfer, control, etc., were 
     conducted generally against their will, through coaxing, 
     coercion, etc.
       Undeniably, this was an act, with the involvement of the 
     military authorities of the day, that severely injured the 
     honor and dignity of many women. The Government of Japan 
     would like to take this opportunity once again to extend its 
     sincere apologies and remorse to all those, irrespective of 
     place of origin, who suffered immeasurable pain and incurable 
     physical and psychological wounds as comfort women.
       It is incumbent upon us, the Government of Japan, to 
     continue to consider seriously, while listening to the views 
     of learned circles, how best we can express this sentiment.
       We shall face squarely the historical facts as described 
     above instead of evading them, and take them to heart as 
     lessons of history. We hereby reiterated our firm 
     determination never to repeat the same mistake by forever 
     engraving such issues in our memories through the study and 
     teaching of history.
       As actions have been brought to court in Japan and 
     interests have been shown in this issue outside Japan, the 
     Government of Japan shall continue to pay full attention to 
     this matter, including private researched related thereto.

  The Kono statement is often cited as Japan's official apology, 
although it was never endorsed officially by any of Japan's prime 
ministers and members of cabinets. At the time the chief cabinet 
secretary was considered part press secretary, part chief of staff but 
never an official member of cabinet, nor can he ever present himself as 
an acting prime minister.
  2001, Prime Minister Koizumi issued a statement. However, only 
statements approved by the cabinet and not the prime minister, are a 
definitive expression of government policy in Japan. Without the 
approval of the cabinet, all declarations of contrition are considered 
only personal views.
  I want to close my statement and to say this: Someone once said, 
``The greatness of a nation is not necessarily measured by its 
accomplishments, by its ability, but by its ability to face honestly 
its mistakes of the past and then take appropriate action to correct 
them.''
  I sincerely hope that this will be taken seriously by our good 
friends and the leadership of the Government of Japan.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Tom Lantos of the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs and our Senior Ranking Member, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, for 
their leadership and efforts in bringing H. Res. 121 to the floor 
today. I also want to thank our colleague, the gentleman from 
California, Mr. Honda, for his sponsorship of this bill which has the 
bipartisan support of some 146 Members of the U.S. House of 
Representatives.
  I also want to make note that this resolution was previously passed 
by the International Relations Committee in the last Congress under the 
able leadership of our previous Chairman, the gentleman from Illinois, 
Mr. Henry Hyde. I would be remiss if I did not also mention the name of 
our former colleague and friend, Mr. Lane Evans also from Illinois, who 
championed this bill for years.
  Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 121 seeks to express the sense of the U.S. House 
of Representatives that the Government of Japan should formally 
acknowledge, apologize, and accept historical responsibility in a clear 
and unequivocal manner for its Imperial Armed Force's coercion of 
teenage girls and young women into sexual slavery, euphemistically 
known as the ``comfort women'' system, during its colonial and wartime 
occupation of Asia and the Pacific Islands from 1930s and through the 
duration of World War II.
  On February 15, 2007, the Foreign Affairs' Subcommittee on Asia, the 
Pacific and Global Environment held a hearing on H. Res. 121, and, for 
the first time ever in the history of the U.S. Congress, three 
surviving comfort women testified for the record.
  Ms. Young Soo Lee is with us today and I want to especially commend 
her and Ms. Koon Kim and Ms. Jan Ruff O'Herne for their courage and 
their faith and their belief that one day their story would be told 
and, in part, their suffering would be set right. I encourage the world 
to read their moving testimony which has brought us to this moment when 
the United States of America will stand arm in arm with these noble 
women in demanding an official apology from the Government of Japan.
  The ``comfort women'' system, organized, managed and administered by 
the Imperial Army of Japan, is considered to be one of the 20th 
century's most extensive cases of human trafficking and ignored 
violations of human rights. It was unprecedented in its cruelty and 
magnitude as teen-age girls and young women were systematically raped, 
beaten, tortured, drugged, mutilated, and sometimes murdered. According 
to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, soldiers of the 
Japanese Imperial Army, abducted and forced some 200,000 young teenage 
girls and young women from Korea, China, the Philippines, Indonesian, 
Dutch, and other women--forced them into sexual enslavement and abuse.

  Today, the Government of Japan contends that it has apologized and 
accepted responsibility for its atrocities. But it wasn't until the 
1980s and 1990s that major publications in Japan began to describe the 
details of the ``comfort women'' system and that countries occupied by 
Japan also began to speak out about it. I wasn't until 1992, in 
response to these developments, that Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Yohei Kono issued a statement.
  This ``Kono Statement'' is often cited as Japan's official apology 
although it was never endorsed officially by any of Japan's prime 
ministers and their cabinets. At the time, the Chief Cabinet Secretary 
was considered part Press Secretary, part Chief of Staff, and never an 
official member of Cabinet, nor can he ever present himself as an 
Acting Prime Minister.
  In 2001, Prime Minister Koizumi issued a statement. However, only 
statements approved by the Cabinet, not the Prime Minister, are a 
definitive expression of government policy in Japan. Without the 
approval of the Cabinet, all declarations of contrition are considered 
only personal views.

[[Page H8874]]

  Interestingly, as this topic has gained widespread attention as 
result of February's hearing, both the Japanese government and press 
have ignored the fact that Members of Congress now understand both 
Japan's legislative system and history of the Comfort Women tragedy. We 
are not ignorant, as some reporters have suggested. We know what does 
and does not constitute an official apology. We are also aware of the 
propaganda being churned out by the Japanese press intent on revising 
history by denying the validity of the ``Comfort Women'' controversy.
  This year, Prime Minister Abe denied the existence of sexual slave 
camps. Then he retracted his statement because of pressure from leaders 
of the Asia-Pacific region. Now he says that he ``respects'' the 
finding of the Kono Report of 1993. What does this mean?
  I have a special love and affinity for the people of Japan. But more 
sacred to me is our obligation to emphasize the fact a systematic 
abduction and raping and abuse of women as a weapon of war is totally 
unacceptable, and I believe the people of Japan agree. In fact, it can 
be argued that H. Res. 121 reflects the will of the Japanese people. In 
the only survey that the Japanese press appears to have published on 
the Comfort Women issue, in 2001, Fuji TV's Hodo asked respondents if 
they thought Japan has apologized sufficiently. 43.8 percent answered 
no, 37.2 percent answered yes.
  Some may say the past is the past and that the U.S. is also an 
offender and violator of human rights. Maybe this is so. But nowhere in 
recorded history has the U.S. military command as a matter of policy 
issued a directives allowing for the coercion of teenage girls and 
young women into sexual slavery or forced prostitution. On the other 
hand, this is exactly what the Japanese military high command did and 
it is an affront to truth for any government to downplay its history.

  Civilized society cannot allow history to be revised or denied under 
any circumstances. Regardless of what bearing this, or any other issue, 
may have on bilateral relations, or U.S. foreign policy, civilized 
society has a moral obligation to remember, to give voice to those who 
have suffered, to pay living tribute to victims past and present, to 
defend human rights. Otherwise we run the risk of holocaust.
  Today, I want to commend my colleagues for their support and to call 
upon the Prime Minister of Japan and his Cabinet to issue a formal 
apology. No amount of money, not even payments set up by private 
Japanese contributions or the Asian Women's Fund, can atone for the 
suffering of the thousands of women victimized at the hands of Japan's 
Imperial Forces before and during, World War II.
  While I support any woman's right to lay claim to these funds, I do 
not believe the Japanese government should suggest that a monetary 
payment can make right a moral wrong. So, for me, any and all 
discussions about the Asian Women's Fund sufficing as an act of apology 
falls short of what is relevant.
  What is relevant is that Japan acknowledge, apologize, and accept 
historical responsibility for its Imperial Armed Force's coercion of 
teenage girls and young women into sexual slavery during its occupation 
of Asia and the Pacific Islands during WWII.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to conclude by sharing with my colleagues this 
statement--someone once said that, ``The greatness of a nation is not 
necessarily measured by its accomplishments, but by its ability to face 
honestly its mistakes of the past, and then take appropriate action to 
correct them.''
  Again, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce).
  Mr. PEARCE. I thank the gentlelady from Florida for yielding time and 
also thank Mr. Lantos.
  Mr. Speaker, we have to ask ourselves exactly why would we be 
interested in this particular thing today. Some might claim that it's 
an old circumstance, that it existed too far in the past. Others might 
say that it simply is not our right, not our position, to enter into 
the discussion.
  As far as it being too far in the past, many times I go into the 
district of New Mexico, the Second District of New Mexico, and I bump 
into people from the Vietnam era, people my age. I was there in the 
1970s, I flew in Vietnam. Many, many have hearts broken by the way a 
Nation treated them, and just a word of encouragement, just a word of 
saying welcome home, brother, brings tears that flow down men and 
women's cheeks from long ago past.
  We have a responsibility to impact those circumstances which were not 
right, which were not just, and no better person than Mr. Lantos to be 
talking about this today, because he understands that. He's a steady, 
quiet voice for reason. Regarding Ms. Lee, who is with us today, I 
would remember the words of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, who said that the 
simple step of a courageous individual is not to take part in the lie. 
One word of truth outweighs the entire world.
  He went on in that same talk to say that one person of truth impacts 
the whole world. So I think that we are called to quietly visit with 
our friends, the Japanese, and I think they are very good friends. I 
think that we, as good friends, should quietly say, Friend, it's time 
to acknowledge; it's time to apologize; it's time to speak. Because the 
healing just doesn't occur on the recipient's part, on those persons 
who were wronged; the healing begins in the heart of those who have 
perpetrated the actions. Admission brings a certain humbleness that 
each one of us begins to recognize that we are not above righteousness, 
we are not above rightness, that we are not above justice, truth. No 
single one of us is.
  So if we find ourselves at this curious point saying to a long-time 
trusted friend, It's time to acknowledge; it's time to apologize; it's 
time to recognize what we have done and to change, it's not a very 
harsh statement. It's not one taken in anger, but it is one taken with 
the noblest of objectives, and that is the recognition and the healing 
of a long-overdue act.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
colleague from California (Ms. Woolsey), a member of the Foreign 
Affairs Committee.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 
121, and I thank my colleague, Mike Honda, for his leadership on this 
issue.
  I particularly thank Representative Lane Evans, who was with us up 
until this year, and I hope he is watching today, because he was right 
when he first introduced this legislation, and his reasons and his 
legislation remains correct and right today.
  Many may claim that the exploitation of the comfort women should be 
left in the past. That could not be further from the truth. Anyone who 
has met these brave women knows that they live with the haunting 
memories in the present every single day. The sexual exploitation, some 
would say enslavement, must be marked, and it must be remembered. The 
acts of violence the comfort women faced were inhuman, and it cannot be 
erased.
  This should not be a day of sadness. Today is about accountability 
and hope for the future. We will remember that those who did not live 
to see this day and, yet, are still celebrated for their courage. In 
their honor, we will speak for all of the world here: Never again.
  The lesson will be learned. Women are not prizes of war. This has 
been a long time coming, but there is no statute of limitations on 
courage and on dignity, and that is what we honor today. We honor the 
perseverance of comfort women. We call on governments worldwide to 
accept responsibility for past deeds and work towards a just future.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of our time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to my good 
friend from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee), a distinguished member of the 
Foreign Affairs Committee.
  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
her remarks.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I thank the 
ranking member of this committee for creating the forum to recognize 
atrocities that many have tried to forget.
  Let me thank Mr. Honda, the moving force of this legislation and the 
chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia, for his leadership, and I am so 
glad we have all mentioned Lane Evans because of the spirit and the 
enthusiasm and the determination in which he authored this legislation 
earlier before he left Congress.
  Let me also speak to Ms. Lee, who remains as a steadfast anchor for 
all the women who cannot speak for themselves.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to take a different approach. I hope that people 
do not take lightly what acknowledgment, apologies and accepting 
historical responsibility means. This is about sexual slavery.
  I ask my colleagues to just think that if we were addressing the 
question

[[Page H8875]]

today, which we have done in our Foreign Affairs Committee on sexual 
slavery, the holding of women, the debasing of women, the degrading of 
women, would most of us be rushing to the floor of the House to be able 
to condemn those actions that might be around us and around the world?
  This is no less degrading, and its historical perspective does not 
diminish the responsibility of Japan and of this Congress to be able to 
say to these comfort women, women who were sexual slaves, that we 
apologize or ask Japan to apologize and hold the nation historically 
accountable for those actions.
  Do you know that today textbooks in Japan, many of them diminish the 
actions of Japan and the activities that held the comfort women? These 
were women engaged in sexual activities allegedly to give comfort to 
the military.
  So I would simply say, having gone through a number of debates about 
apologies regarding slavery in America, that apologies do count. It 
means something for those who have suffered in a way that they can 
never, never find an expression for.
  So I rise today to support H. Res. 121 and place it in a historical 
context but in the context of today. We know that if any of those 
issues arise before us, we would stand here in condemnation. The 
comfort women's plight is no less deserving of our Nation, and, of 
course, a recognition by Japan that an apology, accountability, will go 
a long way in soothing the deeply embedded pain for those who no longer 
live but for those who live and suffer.
  I ask my colleagues to support H. Res. 121
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H. Res. 121, which calls on the Government of Japan to formally 
acknowledge, apologize, and accept historical responsibility for its 
role in the coercion of young women and girls, euphemistically known to 
the world as `comfort women', to serve as sex slaves in Japanese 
military comfort stations from the 1930s through World War II.
  I would especially like to thank Mr. Honda for his leadership on the 
issue of `comfort women' and for his expression of solidarity with 
these exploited women and urge each and everyone of my colleagues to 
support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, as you well know, the friendship and alliance that 
exists between the United States and Japan establishes stability and 
prosperity in Asia and the Pacific and is essential to our security 
interests in that region. This resolution calls on the Government of 
Japan to strengthen that tie by acknowledging the facts forever 
enshrined in history and by publicly denouncing these past heinous 
human rights abuses in one of the largest cases of human trafficking in 
the 20th century.
  Only in recent years have these victims of Imperial Japanese 
brutality relayed their stories to the world. In fact, just this year, 
on February 15, 2007, three women who knew firsthand the unequivocal 
pain, suffering and horror of sexual servitude at the hands of the 
Japanese military testified at a subcommittee hearing chaired by Mr. 
Faleomavaega. These women relayed heartbreaking real life accounts of 
years of torment, disease, and separation from their families. These 
women are still plagued today by the physical and emotional scars of 
the horrendous human rights abuses committed against them.
  On April 26 of this year, my good friend and the former chairman of 
the Foreign Affairs Committee, Henry Hyde and I co-authored an op-ed in 
the Washington Times urging `the Japanese people to courageously 
acknowledge and redress the wrongs perpetuated by Imperial Japan' on 
these women and `to come to grips' with the history of their past. In 
light of Japan's recent wavering on the accuracy of historical fact 
regarding comfort women, I stand with my colleagues in urging the 
Japanese Government to very clearly acknowledge, apologize, and accept 
historical responsibility in a clear, unequivocal manner for its 
Imperial Armed Forces' coercion of young women into sexual slavery.
   Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr Speaker, I rise today in support of H. 
Res. 121, which calls on the Government of Japan to accept formal 
historical responsibility for one of the darkest chapters of World War 
II history in Asia and the Pacific, the Japanese military's use of 
``comfort women'', the practice of coercion of young women into sexual 
slavery.
  I would first like to acknowledge our distinguished colleague, Mr. 
Honda of California, for introducing this important resolution and for 
his persistent efforts in giving voice to the victims of these crimes 
against humanity.
   Japan, a loyal ally and one of U.S.' closest partners, plays a 
critical role in maintaining the geopolitical balance in a still 
volatile region. The Japanese government's refusal to acknowledge the 
despicable war-time practice of its Imperial Army known as ``comfort 
women'' stands in stark contrasts to the courageous humanitarian stand 
the Japanese government has taken in a number of humanitarian crises 
around the world and to its role as guarantor for peace in the region.
  Facing up to one of the darkest chapters of its history is a genuine 
test for the maturity of a nation. In the aftermath of World War II, 
the German nation and its government found the courage to account for 
war crimes that the Third Reich committed during the war and 
occupation.
  There can be no denying that the Japanese military committed those 
crimes involving thousands of women, mostly of Chinese and Koreans 
descent. It is particularly disturbing that some in Japan are still 
trying to distort the historical record and are denying that these 
crimes took place. The same parties are going even a step further and 
blaming the victims for engaging into prostitution.
  It is up to this House to call for the Japanese government to set the 
record straight, not just for the sake of the past, but also because 
rape has been used across the globe today as a weapon of war. By 
supporting this resolution we send a strong and unambiguous signal to 
the Japanese Government to acknowledge its historical responsibility. 
We will also state Congress' strong l condemnation of rape as weapon of 
war.
  While support of the resolution will finally give voice of the 
numerous victims of these despicable crimes, the Congress' intent is to 
assure our ally Japan that the resolution aims at forging the process 
of healing by facing certain historical experience and is not intended 
as retribution against a partner and ally.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me In supporting this 
important resolution.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 121, the Comfort 
Women Resolution--a resolution that I have supported since its initial 
introduction in the 109th Congress.
  Beginning in the 1930s, the Imperial Government of Japan orchestrated 
the enslavement of up to 200,000 young Korean women. Many were abducted 
from their homes and sent to Japanese military brothels. Others were 
lured from their homes under the false pretense of employment. In what 
was one of the worst cases of human trafficking of the 20th century, 
the trauma that these women suffered drove many to conceal their past, 
either too embarrassed or scared to speak of it. The surviving victims 
deserve the recognition that they so desire.
  To this day, Japan maintains that this issue is closed and the 
sufferings of individuals inflicted in the war have already been dealt 
by treaties normalizing its ties with other Asian countries. Some have 
pointed to Prime Minister Abe's April 27th statement as a formal 
apology, yet both the Prime Minister himself and Japan's Foreign 
Ministry went on record to disavow any alleged apology. It is important 
that the Japanese government confronts this dark part of Japanese 
history.
  This resolution is as much about today as it is about yesterday. The 
world's strength to oppose killing today is made greater by 
accountability, for actions present, but also past. It's weakened by 
denial of accountability and obfuscation of past acts. History is a 
continuum that affects today and tomorrow. It's much harder to get 
tomorrow right if we get yesterday wrong.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution.
  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the House 
today is considering H. Res. 121 which rightly recognizes the plight of 
Korean comfort women during the 1930s and WorId War II. I was proud to 
cosponsor this resolution which calls on the nation of Japan to 
formally recognize and apologize for these crimes.
  After the Japanese occupation of Korea in the 1930s, the army forced 
young women to work in brothels. In some cases kidnapped women were 
transported overseas for sexual servitude. At the end of WorId War II, 
these women were left scarred and in many cases far from home with no 
resources.
  Sadly, there are some in Japan who still insist that the army was not 
formally involved with these crimes or that the women chose to become 
involved in prostitution. The evidence clearly demonstrates that this 
was not the case. It is far past time for the Japanese government to 
recognize the role the army played in these crimes.
  Today, we call on them to apologize to the few women who continue to 
live with the shame of the crimes committed against them. While the 
relationship between Korea and Japan has improved as both countries 
turned into thriving democracies, the issue of the comfort women 
continues to come between them. I hope that this resolution will 
promote reconciliation so that both countries can move together into a 
future of cooperation and friendship.

[[Page H8876]]

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, we have no additional requests for time and 
yield back the balance of our time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hinojosa). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 121, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  The title was amended so as to read: ``A resolution expressing the 
sense of the House of Representatives that the Government of Japan 
should formally acknowledge, apologize, and accept historical 
responsibility in a clear and unequivocal manner for its Imperial Armed 
Forces' coercion of young women into sexual slavery, known to the world 
as `comfort women', during its colonial and wartime occupation of Asia 
and the Pacific Islands from the 1930s through the duration of World 
War II.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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