[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 28, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E602]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     IN HOPES THAT JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER SHINZO ABE WOULD UPHOLD 
         INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE AND ADDRESS COMFORT WOMEN ISSUES

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 28, 2015

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, this year marks an important year for the 
United States and Japan as August 15th will be the 70-year anniversary 
of the Japanese surrender and the end of World War II. This upcoming 
anniversary comes on the heels of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's 
historic address to a joint session of the United States Congress, the 
first time a Japanese head of state has delivered such an address. 
While our two countries have experienced the pains of war and peace, I 
am looking forward to this historic speech in order for Prime Minister 
Abe to not merely highlight our strong alliance built over since 1945 
but also to deliver justice for women who have endured irreparable harm 
and trauma in the years before 1945.
  In the past, the joint session on the House floor has been used as a 
platform to call for peace by some of the world's greatest leaders such 
as Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle and Nelson Mandela. His speech 
on April 29 would be a great opportunity for Abe to do the same. In 
particular, it would be significant for him to acknowledge the pain and 
suffering of comfort women, a phrase used to describe hundreds of 
thousands of women, mostly Korean, whom former Secretary of State 
Hillary Clinton correctly pointed out were ``enforced sex slaves'' for 
Japanese soldiers during the war.
  The plight of the comfort women was addressed by the U.S. Congress in 
2007, when the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed House 
Resolution 121, which called upon the government of Japan to formally 
acknowledge, apologize and accept historical responsibility for its 
coercion of young women into sexual slavery during its colonial and 
wartime occupation of Asia and the Pacific Islands in the 1930s and 
throughout World War II.
  Eight years later, the Japanese government has not officially issued 
the apology, and there are only 53 Korean comfort women living. Among 
them is Lee Yong-soo, who had the courage to testify before Congress 
for the passage of House Resolution 121. I met her several times over 
the years and was moved to hear of her story of survival. Lee Yong-
soo's journey is a reflection of the horrors of war but also 
demonstrates our collective need to make amends for the things that 
were committed.
  In an effort to overcome the shadows of our past since World War II, 
the United States and Japan have built and maintained an unbreakable 
alliance. Japan's political and financial support has substantially 
strengthened the U.S. position on a variety of global issues, including 
countering the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and terrorism in 
all its forms; working to stop the spread of the Ebola epidemic; 
advancing environmental and climate change goals; maintaining 
solidarity in the face of Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine; 
assisting developing countries; countering piracy; and standing up for 
human rights and democracy. Additionally, Japan is currently our 4th 
largest trading partner with $204 billion in goods traded during 2013.
  My recent visit to Japan reaffirmed my belief that the U.S.-Japan 
relationship is the cornerstone of our security interests throughout 
Asia and the world. Our bond is essential to regional stability and is 
based on our mutual values, including the preservation and promotion of 
political and economic freedoms, respect for human rights and 
democratic institutions and securing of prosperity for the people of 
both countries and the international community as a whole.
  Japan is one of the world's greatest leaders and most reliable 
partners in the fight for peace. Prime Minister Abe's mention of this 
human rights violation would send a message to the world that the 
lingering pain of the comfort women is real and it would further convey 
Japan's commitment to human rights and peace in the region.
  As a veteran myself, I know firsthand that war creates immeasurable 
pain and suffering on all sides. With so many Americans risking their 
lives in war, it is crucial for today's leaders to promote healing in 
order to continue to make this world a better place for future 
generations. I hope that Prime Minister Abe would move history forward 
in advancing diplomacy and ensuring Japan remains a pillar of peace, 
stability and an advocate of human rights in the region and the world.

                          ____________________