[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 1184]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING ESTHER G. KEE

 Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I would like to bring to the 
attention of the Senate the work of Mrs. Esther G. Kee as she retires 
from the presidency of the US-Asia Institute. Mrs. Kee came to 
Washington, DC, in 1977 to raise awareness of the unique role Asian 
Pacific Americans could play in facilitating communication and 
interaction between the United States and the countries and people of 
East Asia.
  Following the first national gathering at the White House in 1978 of 
Asian American leaders throughout the United States, Mrs. Kee and her 
colleague, the late Joji Konoshima, were encouraged by then-President 
Jimmy Carter to work closely with the Honorable Richard C. Holbrooke, 
Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. An 
advisory council on East Asia was formed to provide insight to the 
State Department on issues impacting the region. From this, the U.S.-
Asia Institute was established as a nongovernmental organization in 
1979 to serve as an independent voice for the U.S.-Asia relationship. 
Mrs. Kee and Mr. Konoshima played a key role in the historic visit of 
Chinese Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping to the United States, traveling with 
him to New York, Houston, and San Francisco, and represented the U.S. 
overseas on numerous delegations.
  Mrs. Kee has worked steadily and effectively through the years to 
build awareness and foster mutual understanding between the United 
States and countries of East Asia. This quiet diplomacy has earned her 
the respect of many on Capitol Hill, in various administrations and in 
East Asia diplomatic, business, and academic circles. She has asked for 
no public recognition, but as she retires from the organization she 
cofounded, we feel it is time to say thank you for her commitment to 
the U.S.-Asia relationship.
  From small interpersonal exchanges to facilitating contacts through 
international conferences at the U.S. Department of State and on 
Capitol Hill, the Institute has strived to strengthen ties by promoting 
two-way dialogue between the United States and countries of East Asia. 
One cornerstone of the institute's engagement was the establishment of 
congressional staff delegations to Asia. Since 1985, these official 
visits have greatly increased the awareness, knowledge and 
understanding of Asian and U.S. views, providing invaluable 
opportunities for U.S. congressional advisers to gain a firsthand view 
of the region, its culture, its governments, and its people. More than 
800 staff members have traveled to China alone since 1985 on 70 
delegations.
  Mrs. Kee leaves an important legacy of mutual communication and 
understanding, and even in her retirement, she remains determined the 
work she began almost 30 years ago will continue. The U.S.-Asia 
Institute will carry on Mrs. Kee's work, promoting dialog on 
international issues of common interest to the United States and 
participating Asian nations, whenever and however possible.
  As she retires, we say thank you to Mrs. Kee for her sage counsel, 
her vision, her quiet behind-the-scenes diplomacy, and her unwavering 
commitment to the U.S.-Asia relationship.

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