Political Quotes

“President, I rise today in support of this resolution honoring former World War II U.S. POWs from the Pacific theater and acknowledging the steps the Japanese Government has made to heal the wounds of the past. My friend and colleague from California, Representative Mike Honda, introduced this resolution in the House and I am proud to follow suit here in the Senate. I applaud his leadership on this important matter. Our resolution welcomes and commends the Government of Japan for extending an official apology to all U.S. former prisoners of war from the Pacific War and establishing in 2010 a visitation program to Japan for surviving veterans, their families, and descendants. The resolution appreciates the recent efforts by the Government of Japan toward historic apologies for the war crimes of Imperial Japan. The resolution requests that the Government of Japan continue its new Japanese/American POW Friendship Program of reconciliation and remembrance. It requests that the Government of Japan respect the wishes and sensibilities of the United States former prisoners of war by supporting and encouraging programs for lasting remembrance and reconciliation that recognize their sacrifices, history, and forced labor.…”