Political Quotes

“this decision clearly disregards the wishes of the House and Senate. I taught history and civics when I was a teacher. I always taught my students that conference committees were intended to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions. There is not difference in this case. Let me read from the report: The conference agreement does not include language proposed in both the House and Senate bills regarding civil actions against Japanese corporations for compensation in which the plaintiff alleges that, as an American prisoner of war during World War II, he or she was used as slave or forced labor. There was no difference between the two versions, just a decision by a small group of conferees to impose their own will on both Houses of Congress. This is not the way things should work. The House passed this amendment in July with a 393-33 vote. The Senate later passed the exact same provision with a 58-34 vote. Congress should not turn its back on the 700 prisoners of war and their families who are seeking long-delayed justice. They have gone to court to demand compensation from the Japanese companies that used from for slave labor. Throughout the war, these Americans worked in mines, factories, shipyards, and steel mills. They labored every day for as long as 10 hours a day in dangerous working conditions. They were beaten on a regular basis. They were given no compensation by these companies.”