[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 15, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H2610]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             COMFORT WOMEN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Royce) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to condemn the systematic and 
brutal enslavement of women during World War II by the Imperial 
Government of Japan. What is known today as ``comfort women'' is, in 
reality, a state-sponsored program of sexual brutality against 200,000 
women from Korea, China, Taiwan, and the Philippines.
  The fact that women and girls as young as 13 years old would be 
forced into this kind of misery is appalling. It runs counter to every 
recognized international norm against human dignity.
  Anyone seeking to justify or deny the existence of comfort women is 
ignoring history. The sheer amount of evidence regarding this terrible 
time in history is staggering. Not only are there documents chronicling 
the existence of comfort women camps, but there is also the gut-
wrenching testimony of survivors and of eye witnesses.
  Countless governments around the world have come to the conclusion 
that, yes, the Imperial Government of Japan did indeed condone this 
most reprehensible of actions during World War II, along with such 
brutal violence as the rape of Nanking.
  That is why I rise today to condemn the unfortunate remarks of the 
mayor of Osaka, Japan, who, as recently as yesterday, denied the 
existence of comfort women. The mayor not only questioned the existence 
of comfort women, but he sought to justify the use of a ``comfort woman 
system'' as a means to boost morale for the military. The mayor's 
remarks are absolutely outrageous, and it adds insult to injury for 
survivors and their families.
  The rise of ultranationalism in Japan is very worrisome and, as 
chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I strongly condemn it.
  Mr. Speaker, the House went on record in 2007 to express our outrage 
regarding the forced enslavement of 200,000 women during World War II. 
The civilian populations of Korea, China, Taiwan, and the Philippines 
suffered so much from the imperialism and aggression of the Imperial 
Government of Japan.
  We speak with one voice when we speak against grave violations of 
human rights. It is in America's interest that we continue to press for 
justice and to never forget.

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