Doug Bereuter: “Mr. Speaker, the people of Japan have spoken to their government officials about the need for economic reform. It is now…”

“Mr. Speaker, the people of Japan have spoken to their government officials about the need for economic reform. It is now more important than ever that the House of Representatives send a clear and unequivocal message seconding that call for reform by unanimously approving House Resolution 392. The House resolution emphasizes the importance of U.S.-Japan relations and stresses the urgent need for Japan to more effectively address its economic and financial problems and open its markets by eliminating informal barriers to trade and investment. This resolution's arrival on the floor is particularly timely, I would think, for, as Clyde Prestowitz said in his July 17, 1998, opinion piece in the Washington Post, 'It is important that the United States and other countries move quickly to reinforce and elaborate the message of the Japanese electorate.' That message, of course, was a demand for change in light of the continuing Asian economic crisis. The Asian financial crisis represents a serious threat to the economic growth of the United States and the global economy.”