[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 4, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E739]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING MR. IWAO MATSUDA

                                 ______
                                 

                    HON. F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER, JR.

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 4, 2010

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of my good 
friend from Japan, Mr. Iwao Matsuda. He is a patriot who has dedicated 
his life to his country and to the people of Japan. I have worked with 
Mr. Matsuda for many years and am saddened by his retirement from the 
United States-Japan Legislative Exchange Program (LEP).
  Mr. Iwao Matsuda served Japan for many years in a variety of roles. 
One such role was as a civil servant in the Ministry of International 
Trade and Industry. Having served in the Ministry for more than twenty 
years, he learned the importance of the United States-Japan friendship. 
Later in his career, as Member of the Japanese Diet, Mr. Matsuda 
constantly forged new pathways to improve United States-Japan relations 
and he recognized that at the core of improved relations was a deeper 
cultural understanding of our two countries. As a Member of the Diet, 
he was in a unique position to forge a pathway to closer ties. Thus, 
Mr. Matsuda helped launch the LEP which is now one of the most 
successful exchange programs in Congress.
  As a founding father of the LEP, Mr. Matsuda has been a leader in 
building a long-lasting friendship between the United States and Japan. 
His in-depth knowledge of the United States has been a key to building 
the LEP into the successful program that it is today. Members of 
Congress, including myself, welcomed the knowledge and wisdom that 
Matsuda shared at LEP meetings. Under his leadership, Members of 
Congress and the Diet have been able to break down barriers and build 
lasting friendships that we all cherish.
  My wife Cheryl and I wish our good friend Mr. Iwao Matsuda all the 
best. As he makes a change to the private sector, we both know that 
Matsuda will continue make Japan proud. I look forward to finding new 
ways to work with my friend and I wish him well with future endeavors.

                          ____________________