[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 5] [House] [Pages 6186-6190] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]ROBERT T. MATSUI UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 787) to designate the United States courthouse located at 501 I Street in Sacramento, California, as the ``Robert T. Matsui United States Courthouse''. The Clerk read as follows: H.R. 787 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. DESIGNATION. The United States courthouse located at 501 I Street in Sacramento, California, shall be known and designated as the ``Robert T. Matsui United States Courthouse''. SEC. 2. REFERENCES. Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the United States courthouse referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``Robert T. Matsui United States Courthouse''. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster). Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 787 introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson), honors the late Bob Matsui, a distinguished and well- liked Member of this body. A well-respected attorney and former city councilman, Bob Matsui served in this body for 26 years before his passing away on New Year's Day of this year. Since his passing, much has been said about our late colleague by Members that knew him better than I, many of whom are here today. So I will leave it to them to speak of his many and varied talents and abilities. This naming is a fitting tribute to an exceptionally fine person, a dedicated public servant, and a respected colleague. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 787, a bill to name the courthouse in Sacramento in honor of our former colleague, Robert T. Matsui. This bill has broad bipartisan support from both his California colleagues and all of us who had the distinct privilege of serving with him. Congressman Matsui's legislative interests and accomplishments are legendary here in the House. Health care, welfare reform, tax issues, the environment, immigrant issues, and of course Social Security are just a few of the issues that Bob made his own. Bob was only 6 months old when, just months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, he and his family were interned at Tule Lake camp in California. His childhood experience in the internment camp shaped his future actions on behalf of those fighting for fairness. Bob understood the injustice of the internment and sympathized with other loyal Americans who suffered at the hands of the government in which they never lost faith. He embraced his heritage and channeled his energy into making positive changes for all Americans. From the time he worked as a member of the Sacramento City Council to serving as the vice mayor of Sacramento and finally as a U.S. Representative starting in 1978, Bob Matsui served as a constant reminder of what integrity and dedication can accomplish in public office. [[Page 6187]] {time} 1100 Bob Matsui should ultimately be remembered for his civility, his dignity and his service to others. He was a selfless role model whose footprint will forever be imprinted on our Nation's history. Bob Matsui was intelligent and principled. As a skilled, respected politician and willing to reach across the aisle, his voice elevated any debate. His leadership style and his character served as a model for all of us. It is certainly fitting that the House honor his exceptional life, his public service with this very appropriate courthouse designation. I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson) for bringing up this measure in such an expeditious manner. Again, I strongly support H.R. 778 and urge my colleagues to join me in support of this bill. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan). Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman yielding me time. I just wanted to come and pay tribute to this legislation and speak in favor of this tribute to Bob Matsui, and it is very fitting legislation to designate this courthouse. I wanted to speak personally as a member of the Committee on Ways and Means, as a younger member of the Committee on Ways and Means, who had the opportunity to serve with Bob Matsui for 4 years. I have not served with Bob for the decades that many have in the past, but the Bob Matsui that I got to know in the Committee on Ways and Means was a very special man and person. Bob Matsui was intellectually on the top of his game and was one of the best intellectual debaters and sparring partners we had, especially when it came to the issue of Social Security. My favorite kind of people in the world and in this body are those who are passionate about their beliefs, whether or not we agree on those beliefs, and Bob Matsui had a great lesson for those of us younger Members and it was that you can be as strong and tough in debate when the microphone's on, but when it is turned off, you can be good human beings to one another. Bob Matsui was a very kind gentleman. I was half his age, about the age of his kids, and I always just felt that he gave me sort of a mentoring-ship kind of relationship and role. Because every time I had a conversation with Bob Matsui, he had this nice glint in his eye, and he was always a person offering a kind word of advice or a kind word of friendship. That is something that I do not think we have enough of in this institution. It is something that I thought was a great lesson on how to conduct yourself among your colleagues, especially across the aisle. So I am really sad to see Bob leave us here, but I think this is an extremely fitting tribute. I wish that more of us conducted ourselves in the way that he did, and I just want to lend my word of support to this fine legislation for just an outstanding and fine man who taught us a lot on how we can be civil with one another. Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for his kind words. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson), my friend and colleague and the author. Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, we are here today to honor a colleague who honorably served in the House for 26 years, our good friend, the late Robert T. Matsui. This bill to rename the U.S. courthouse in Sacramento after Bob is a small tribute to our friend who always rose above petty, partisan politics to do what was good and what was right for his district and for our country. Bob provided more than a voice for those who could not speak for themselves. He provided monumental victories and results, not by being the loudest but by always being the smartest and the most informed person in any debate. Bob's legacy of legislative victories directly improved the lives of millions of Americans spanning several generations. His victories included protection for single mothers with infants, stronger civil rights laws and protection of our Nation's most vulnerable seniors. He also played a key role in crafting fiscal policy for the past 26 years, and before his very untimely death he was leading the effort to protect Social Security benefits for America's seniors. Bob left an indelible mark on national policy, but he never forgot the needs of his district. His district and the greater Sacramento region were always his number one priority. Today, we will vote to rename the U.S. courthouse in Sacramento after Bob Matsui. This courthouse is a symbol of Bob's commitment to his district. Here in Congress, he was able to secure $142 million that was used and needed to build that courthouse. The courthouse not only created 1,200 new jobs in the Sacramento area, but it was the anchor for redevelopment and revitalization of downtown Sacramento, California. It is more than fitting that we name this important building in honor of a very important figure in our history and our friend, Bob Matsui. I urge everyone to cast a vote for this bill. Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson). Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for the time. I rise to recognize the life and work of Bob Matsui and to support this legislation which will name the courthouse after him. Bob was truly a remarkable individual, intellectually very smart but, more importantly, humanly, deeply in touch with the challenges that America has faced over his many years of service here. He focused on the fundamentals. Often they were not sexy, often they did not attract a great deal of attention in the press, but, for example, he spent many years working with me and others on trying to build the R&D tax credit into our Tax Code in a way that would recognize the dependence of American companies on invention to maintain their position in an intensely competitive global economy. He understood the big issues and he understood the small steps that had to be taken for us to be successful in the macro arenas, whether the macro arena of economics, the macro arena of strengthening and supporting families struggling through difficult matters, the security of our retirees. On so many fronts, Bob Matsui was a thoughtful voice, profoundly in touch with the challenges our society faces today and over the many years of his long service. I salute him and I thank the gentleman for bringing forward this legislation to name a courthouse after him in his home base. Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Stark), the dean of the delegation. Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise just to comment. My colleagues will hear a lot of people talking about our friend Bob Matsui and his legislative accomplishments. I want to remind everybody that his name on this Federal courthouse will remind people that it was 6099 that interned Japanese Americans in the 1940s in violation of what we then thought were human and civil rights. As we proceed to violate people's human and civil rights under the PATRIOT Act, I think it will be appropriate that the Matsui courthouse will be the place where, hopefully, these rights will be corrected and restored to the American citizens and residents who deserve them. I think it is most fitting that this building is named for Robert Matsui. Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, we have no speakers at this time, and I continue to reserve the balance of my time. Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel), my friend. Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation, and I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson) and those others who [[Page 6188]] thought about doing this for our friend Bob Matsui. So often we read about outstanding Americans who make great contributions to the country, and yet some of us have never heard of them. So I feel indeed so privileged and so honored of having served with one of those people. Notwithstanding how his country treated him, he decided to make his country treat other people so much better. Here is a person that served on the Committee on Ways and Means, which is a privilege to serve, but he enjoyed each and every minute of it. He was involved in every debate, whether it was fairness in taxes, Medicare, Social Security, providing assistance to those people who have less than most people in this country. His compassion was always mixed with a lot of humor, to make certain that people would take time out to listen to him when he was serious and at the same time to know that he was not a politician but was someone who was a patriot who loved this country. I really think that he has set an example for so many people who have reasons to be bitter but certainly can make a better contribution to life as Bob Matsui has made to his country, to his Congress and to his family. I thank God that I had the privilege to know and to be his friend. Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady). Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege of serving with Bob Matsui on the Subcommittee on Social Security, and it was a real privilege. You always hope that we will send to Congress men and women of just great decency, who love their country, love their community, love their family so dearly and are willing to give back to all that and do it in such a good, positive way. That is what Bob Matsui stood for and still stands for in my mind. There is a saying that you make a living by what you get; you make a life by what you give. By that measure, Bob Matsui had a very rich life because he gave back so much to this body. He gave back so much in his example to other Members like myself, and he truly gave back to his family and his Nation, and I consider it a privilege to have served with him. Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin). Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, Bob Matsui was a pillar of his beloved Sacramento. He was a pillar of the congressional community. So it is truly fitting that the courthouse in his beloved city be named after him. I think today we should pause and ask what would be the best monument to Bob Matsui here in Washington, and I think it is clear and that is that we join together with his wife Doris, who is now a colleague, to try to carry out his hopes, to fulfill his dream that everybody in this country counts, and when it comes to our work here, everybody should count equally. So I am pleased to join with my colleagues and this is another moment of emotion. We very much remember Bob. Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott). Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity in Seattle to help bring about the renaming of a courthouse there for a man who won the Congressional Medal of Honor, a Japanese American. He served in the 422nd and died, and it is very fitting on the West Coast that we find another courthouse, and we put Bob Matsui's name up. He was also a hero. He was a Congressional Medal of Honor winner in the civilian society because he stood for the principle that we are all in this together, and we are not going to let the past stand in our way of moving forward. He was one who was reluctant to come forward on the whole issue of repayment to Japanese who suffered losses. He felt that once the war was over it was his job to help the community move forward and be one Nation, where we all stand together and look after everybody. The monument to Bob Matsui will be what we do with the PATRIOT Act in this House in a few weeks. It will be a statement about whether we learned the message that guys like Bob Matsui tried to teach us. Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis). {time} 1115 Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 787, to designate the United States Courthouse located in Sacramento, California, as the Robert T. Matsui United States Courthouse. It is so fitting and appropriate that we honor Bob Matsui. In spite of what the American Government did to him and his family, this good and decent man never lost faith in America. He loved America. He loved the people of his district. He was a wonderful human being. Every day he tried to do his best to bring America together, to create one America, one family, one House, the American House. Mr. Speaker, with this legislation I think we are doing the right thing by honoring Bob Matsui. Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones). Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I say to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui), it gives me great pleasure to speak on the floor this morning with regard to Bob Matsui. As a former judge, I do not believe a better name could be placed upon a courthouse for someone who stood for justice and integrity and looking out for the little people. I am pleased to have an opportunity to be here this morning to support the legislation, and I bring something no other Member has brought to the gentleman from California yet: my sister and her husband are moving to Sacramento and are building a house. I am bringing the gentlewoman two more votes, and I will introduce them to the gentlewoman when I have an opportunity. Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Emanuel). Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill to name this courthouse the Robert Matsui Courthouse. I cannot think of anything more fitting, as others have said, the notion of a courthouse where justice is weighed and issued for a person who had injustice done to him and never lost his sense of right and justice. It would have been easy for Bob to be angry, but he always sought fairness both personally and professionally. I think it is quite fitting and it has a sense of poetic justice that we are naming a courthouse for a gentleman who was not treated fairly at one time by his country, but who always sought fairness and justice and equality throughout his life. It is fitting to remember him this way, someone who will always be part of our family here; and I thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui) for allowing us to be part of his family. Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui), the wife of Bob Matsui. Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank, first of all, the gentleman from California (Mr. Doolittle) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson) for sponsoring this legislation. I know that Bob would have been so proud to know how much effort his two colleagues have put in to bring this bill to the floor to honor him. This courthouse, which symbolizes equal justice for all, was a major accomplishment for Bob personally, but also for the city of Sacramento. It is such an appropriate way to honor him and his many years in public service, for the city he loved, Sacramento, and the country he absolutely adored. I would also like to thank his other colleagues here, now my colleagues, for honoring him by speaking here today. I would like to thank all Members very [[Page 6189]] much and on behalf of Brian, Amy, and my granddaughter, Anna, for this wonderful honor. Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Mr. Speaker, I thank the leadership for this opportunity to honor Bob Matsui, who sought to make this country a more perfect place, and urge passage of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, it was an honor for me to manage this bill and to serve with Bob Matsui. I know my father and my entire family's thoughts and prayers go out to the Matsui family. As I said, he is a respected colleague, a fine gentleman, and this is a very fitting tribute. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to rise today in support of H.R. 787 and to say a few words for our late colleague, the Honorable Robert T. Matsui. When Bob passed away on January 1, 2005, we lost a friend, his constituents lost their most ardent supporter and America, as a whole, lost a dedicated statesman. Bob was well respected on both sides of the aisle. A brilliant man and an honest and fair politician, his leadership on the House Ways and Means Committee and his expertise and knowledge of Social Security will be sorely missed in the House for many years to come. Naming the Federal courthouse in Sacramento is a fitting tribute for a man who did so much for that city. A member of the Sacramento City Council, vice-mayor and eventual Representative of the city in Congress, Bob served the city of Sacramento in every capacity he could. In Congress, Bob's efforts in securing funding for Sacramento were crucial in the revitalization of that city. Among the projects he was responsible for were the expansion of the city's light rail public transit system, and the courthouse that will soon bear his name. Both projects were crucial in creating new jobs and opportunities for the people of Sacramento. His passing is a great loss for all of us and I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their work in getting this legislation before the House so quickly, so that we can honor a man we all loved and respected. I urge all my colleagues to support this resolution. Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 787, a bill to designate the new United States courthouse located at 501 I Street in Sacramento, California in honor of our friend, my dear and treasured friend and colleague, Congressman Bob Matsui. Congressman Matsui's death this past January deprived this House of one of its most astute, most admired statesman. The headline in the ``Sacramento Bee'' newspaper said it well: ``A Good and Decent Man.'' A lifelong Californian, Bob Matsui served the people of California's Fifth District with dedication, commitment and compassion. I was able to witness Bob Matsui's commitment to his constituents first hand when he and I worked together to address flood control issues for his beloved Sacramento area. No other major metropolitan area faces as severe a flood risk as Sacramento. Congressman Matsui believed, as do I, that the capital city of the world's fifth largest economy deserved to know that it would not face severe threats from flooding. Following the high flows of 1986, when the levees almost failed, Congressman Matsui worked tirelessly to improve flood protection. He examined every option. He worked to forge agreement to complete a dam at Auburn, California. It was to be a multipurpose dam, then a dry dam, and then ultimately, no dam, but assurance of adequate water supply for up-country users represented by Congressman John Doolittle. Because of Bob Matsui's persistence, original thinking, flexibility and collegiality, we were able to develop a comprehensive proposal that strengthens levees, makes use of the existing Folsom Dam, and preserves the beautiful American River Canyon. As this project comes to completion over the next few years, every spring, when the snows melt and rains come, and the State Capitol in Sacramento stays dry, the people of California and the Nation will owe a debt of gratitude to Bob Matsui for his persistence and wisdom on behalf of flood control. Flood control is just one example of Bob Matsui's dedication and effectiveness. There are countless other examples. In his first congressional race in 1978, Congressman Matsui campaigned as an underdog who vowed to bring new statesmanship to public office. His campaign was enriched by literally hundreds of volunteers that helped him achieve victory. Bob Matsui did not disappoint his constituents. He brought not only statesmanship, but also dedication, competence, innovation, and integrity to public service. Elected to 14 consecutive terms in the House, Bob Matsui rose through the ranks to be a member of the leadership team. Under his quiet demeanor lay a man of keen intellect who was a trusted friend and a formidable competitor. As a senior member of the Committee on Ways and Means, Congressman Matsui was substantially involved with all the complex policy issues placed before the committee including international trade, health care, welfare reform, and tax issues. Congressman Matsui helped create the Research and Development Tax Credit in 1981 to fuel innovation in the American economy. In 1986, he spearheaded efforts that resulted in extensive reform of the Tax Code. His work on the Earned Income Tax Credit helped extend the tax credit for working poor families. Most recently, Congressman Matsui was preparing to lead the discussions regarding the future of social security and his desire to preserve social security for future generations. Bob Matsui truly understood the varied complexities of the Social Security Program, and he was determined that any reform of social security would provide for its long-term solvency without compromising its fundamental purposes. Bob Matsui was intellectually curious and honest. He was fair minded and even handed. His legacy is one of compassion, commitment to do the right thing, hard work, and wisdom. Congressman Matsui is ably succeeded by his wife Doris Matsui. She has already done an admirable job of representing the people of California's Fifth District and I am confident that she will continue to do so. It is most fitting and proper that the career of this truly outstanding member be honored with the designation of the new courthouse in his hometown of Sacramento, California, as the ``Robert T. Matsui United States Courthouse.'' I urge the bill's passage. Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a cosponsor of this legislation, which will name the Federal courthouse in Sacramento after our former colleague and friend, the late Representative Bob Matsui. As many of you know, we both arrived in Washington in 1979 as newly elected Congressmen from opposite ends of California's vast Central Valley. For more than 20 years, we worked together on issues of importance to California, such as securing funding to combat drug trafficking and to gain a better understanding of the challenges posed by California's air quality. Through these efforts, as well as through his work on the Committee on Ways and Means, I saw first-hand Bob's commitment to, and strong advocacy of, his principles and how he served his constituents with honor and distinction. Naming a Federal courthouse, where our Nation's laws and constitution are used to dispense justice, is a fitting way to remember Bob. Notwithstanding his service as a Member of the U.S. Congress, he was one of the more than 120,000 persons of Japanese ancestry who, pursuant to Executive Order 9066, were forcibly removed from their homes by our government and detained during World War II. Undoubtedly, this experience had a profound impact upon his life and career. Accordingly, I now ask my colleagues to pass this legislation in honor Bob's service to his constituents and Nation. Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this resolution to name the United States courthouse in Sacramento, California, after my dear friend and our beloved former colleague, Bob Matsui, who passed away so suddenly on New Year's night. Time and time again, Bob's constituents elected him to serve as their Representative in the United States Congress. As all of us know, he rose to national prominence as a senior member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, a national spokesman for Social Security, and as the first Asian American in leadership of the Congress. Bob was a living combination of intellect and passion--someone who understood the complexities of the Social Security system, and who never forgot what it meant to the lives of America's seniors. As an architect for a better America, Bob expanded opportunities for our county's children, built a more secure future, and protected precious freedoms for all of us. In our more than 30 years of friendship, I deeply admired Bob's personal courage. Despite being imprisoned in an internment camp as a very young boy during WorId War II, Bob always had hope in the promise of America. He loved America enough to want to make it better. In fact, he worked tirelessly to pass legislation that awarded payments and an apology from the government to Japanese [[Page 6190]] Americans who had been sent to internment camps. When it came to politics, Bob was a maestro, orchestrating campaigns across the country that addressed the aspirations of the American people, particularly on his signature issues of economic opportunity, civil liberties, and retirement security. It seems like only yesterday that Bob was among us, doing the people's work here in Congress. Bob's spirit and energy have been greatly missed. We are saddened by the loss of our dear friend and colleague, but we are fortunate to have his wife Doris here to continue and build on Bob's outstanding work. President Bush rightly called him a ``dedicated public servant and a good and decent man who served with distinction and integrity.'' I know that our friends on the other side of the aisle miss Bob as well, and join in paying him this tribute. Bob Matsui was a true patriot who had a dream for a better America. I urge my colleagues to support naming this courthouse in his beloved Sacramento in his honor. Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 787. The question was taken. The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of those present have voted in the affirmative. Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays. The yeas and nays were ordered. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed. ____________________