John Buechner: “Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Staff has notes here: ``Do not trip during exchange of places.'' Thank you for your report, Jim.…”

“Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Staff has notes here: ``Do not trip during exchange of places.'' Thank you for your report, Jim. We are all very excited about this new undertaking. Mr. Speaker, the association also serves as the Secretariat for the Congressional Study Group on Japan and the Congressional Study Group on Mexico. Founded in 1993 in cooperation with the East-West Center in Hawaii, the Congressional Study Group on Japan is a bipartisan group of 71 sitting Members of the House and Senate, with an additional 36 Members having asked to be kept informed of study group activities. The Congressional Study Group on Japan arranges opportunities for Members of Congress to meet with their counterparts in the Japanese Diet, in addition to organizing discussions for Members to hear from American and Japanese experts. The Congressional Study Group on Japan is funded via a generous grant from the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission. Last, but not least, the association administers the Congressional Study Group on Mexico. U.S-Mexican relations are a priority, and not solely defined by the issue of immigration. The Congressional Study Group on Mexico is a unique organization in that it serves as a bipartisan forum for U.S. legislators from both the House and Senate to engage on issue-specific dialogue with Mexican elected officials and government representatives.…”