[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 12, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E29-E30]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE LIFE OF ROSE MATSUI OCHI

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JUDY CHU

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 12, 2021

  Ms. CHU. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Rose Matsui 
Ochi, who passed away on December 13, 2020, at the age of 81. Rose was 
a dedicated public servant, a longtime constituent of mine in Monterey 
Park, California, and a dear friend.
  Rose was born on December 15, 1938, in East Los Angeles, but her 
early childhood was spent imprisoned at Rohwer concentration camp in 
Arkansas along with countless other Japanese Americans during World War 
II. This childhood experience with systemic racism helped forge her 
passion for social justice and solidified her determination to break 
barriers. At a time when people of color were not expected or 
encouraged to seek higher education, Rose graduated from UCLA in 1959 
and received her graduate degree in education from Cal State Los 
Angeles in 1967. After witnessing the 1968 East L.A. walkouts by Latino 
students demanding equal conditions in schools, Rose was inspired to 
pursue a career in law to create a more just and equitable society. She 
graduated from Loyola Law School in 1972 and was admitted to the 
California Bar that year.
  Seen by many as a rising star who possessed an incredible legal mind, 
Rose quickly became involved in public policy at the federal level. In 
1979, she was appointed to President Carter's Select Commission on 
Immigration and Refugee Policy, where she pushed for immigration reform 
and helped secure a pathway to citizenship for thousands of 
undocumented immigrants. She then took from her childhood experiences 
and helped secure a federal apology and redress for Japanese American 
detention camp survivors in 1988. And in 1997, Rose was confirmed by 
the U.S. Senate to be the director of the Community Relations Service 
at the Department of Justice, becoming the first Asian-American woman 
to serve as an assistant attorney general.
  She also had incredible achievements in her service to Los Angeles 
communities. She served for two decades as the director of the City's 
criminal justice office, where she helped reduce gang violence by 
supporting programs for at-risk youth, designed successful community 
policing methods, and increased the number of women and officers of 
color within the Los Angeles Police Department. And in 2001, she broke 
yet another barrier by becoming the first Asian American woman to serve 
on the Los Angeles Police Commission.
  On top of her long list of accomplishments, Rose Ochi paved the way 
for people like me. There were so few Asian-American women in 
leadership positions as I was growing up that I never dreamed I could 
be an elected official,

[[Page E30]]

let alone a Congressmember. But Rose's spirit, determination, and 
boldness were an inspiration to me. She was passionate and 
compassionate, and always had a word of encouragement for me. I was 
lucky to have her as my constituent and I was lucky to have known her. 
I ask my colleagues to join me in commemorating the life of an 
extraordinary woman and a trailblazing public servant.

                          ____________________