[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 7114-7115]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING IWAO MATSUDA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JIM McDERMOTT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 4, 2010

  Mr. McDERMOTT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my longtime 
friend and respected colleague, Iwao Matsuda. Matsuda-san is arriving 
in Washington today for a meeting of the United States-Japan 
Legislative Exchange Program, a project he founded to encourage 
meaningful dialogue between our

[[Page 7115]]

two countries. He has a long and honorable history of service to Japan 
as an elected official, first in the House of Representatives and later 
in the House of Councilors in the Diet. Matsuda-san has always been 
interested in resolving tensions and improving the relationship between 
the United States and Japan, and it was this drive that led to the 
creation and continuing success of the Legislative Exchange Program.
  Members of the Diet and the Congress have grown to understand the 
importance of the United States-Japan Legislative Exchange Program. The 
two delegations have had the privilege of getting to know each other, 
and if there is ever a problem, we know who to call to find out more 
about it. These personal connections are vital to creating 
understanding between our legislatures and our nations. But I would 
like to point out another facet of Matsuda-san's contribution. Not only 
has he helped us to know each other and to create personal 
relationships, but his work has transcended his own personal 
relationships and left us all with an enduring legacy.
  I honor my friend Matsuda-san's life and work, and I wish him a 
peaceful retirement. My colleagues and I will never forget his kind 
hospitality, both in official and personal settings, and I look forward 
to continuing our friendship in the years to come.

                          ____________________