Celia Israel: “This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. We are at a critical juncture in America's rebalance to…”

“This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. We are at a critical juncture in America's rebalance to the Asia- Pacific region, and I really believe that further cooperation between the United States, Japan, and Korea will play a pivotal role towards peace and prosperity throughout the world. Next week, Japanese Prime Minister Abe will make a historic visit to Capitol Hill as the first ever Japanese Prime Minister to deliver an address to a joint session of Congress. That address must be honest. That address has to address Japan's wartime history. It has to honestly address Japan's atrocities and enslavement of thousands of women who have been forced to work as sex slaves, or comfort women. To ignore past atrocities, Mr. Speaker, is to ensure a very troubling future. These wounds need to be closed, and they need to be healed. Prime Minister Abe can attain that closure, can attain that healing by exposing those wounds to the light of the truth--and an apology. I am hopeful that he will do this on this floor when he addresses us next week. ____________________”