[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12486]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   JUSTICE FOR U.S. PRISONERS OF WAR

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, as we move into recess for our annual 
Independence Day celebration, I wish to offer my deepest gratitude for 
all veterans of this country who took the call for arms in silent and 
noble duty and sacrificed more than we can ever repay. From the 
Revolutionary War to the Persian Gulf War, American men and women have 
always answered the call to secure and preserve independence and 
freedom both here and abroad. We are forever in their debt.
  I also want to take this occasion to recognize and honor a special 
group of brave, indeed extraordinary, soldiers who served this country 
so gallantly in WWII. I want to pay special tribute to those who served 
in the Pacific, were taken prisoner, and then enslaved, and forced into 
labor without pay, under horrific conditions by Japanese companies.
  While I in no way wish to suggest that other American troops did not 
suffer equally horrific hardships or served with any less courage, the 
situation faced by this particular group of veterans was unique. As 
recognized in a unanimous joint resolution last year, all members of 
Congress stated their strong support for these brave Americans. As with 
many of our colleagues here today, I am committed to supporting these 
veterans in every way possible in their fight for justice.
  This weekend the Prime Minister of Japan will be meeting with the 
President of the United States. I cannot praise this President enough 
for his thoughtfulness in hosting this event for the leader of Japan.
  On this Independence Day, as we honor and appreciate America's 
freedom, we cannot help but think of those who served our country. 
Freedom, indeed, is not free. The price is immeasurable. I hope the 
Prime Minister will understand, as I know he does, the value we place 
upon our veterans--the very people who fought and paid the price.
  Our country appreciates the decades of friendship the United States 
and Japan have shared. Often, we probably do not recognize as we should 
the value of our bilateral relationship with Japan. On many occasions, 
we get bogged down in trade disputes. But ultimately we have found ways 
to resolve past trade differences, and I am confident we can address 
all current and future trade issues.
  It is with this sincere hope and appreciation that I raise the memory 
of injustices perpetrated by private companies in Japan against 
American servicemen, and I hope that we can find a resolution to this 
problem. There is no more appropriate time to open the door to this 
long overdue dialogue between the United States and Japan. This is a 
moral issue that will not go away. We can work with Japan to close this 
sad chapter in history. In so doing, we will fortify and continue our 
bilateral relationship with Japan.
  In closing, I urge all Americans, during this next week as we 
celebrate our freedom and our great history, to thank our soldiers who 
gave their lives and their freedom to fight for our nation. I thank 
them and express my support that they will be helped and protected. I 
will fight for them as they fought for me, my children, and all other 
Americans.

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