[Pages S7782-S7783]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

WELCOMING AND COMMENDING THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN

Mr. LEVIN. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the
immediate consideration of S. Res. 333 which was submitted earlier
today by Senator Feinstein.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The bill clerk read as follows:

A resolution (S. Res. 333) welcoming and commending the
Government of Japan for extending an official apology to all
United States former prisoners of war from the Pacific War
and establishing in 2010 a visitation program to Japan for
surviving veterans, family members, and descendants.

There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. 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.
It acknowledges the work of the Department of State in advocating for
the United States Prisoners of War from the Pacific war, and it
applauds the persistence, dedication, and patriotism of the members and
descendants of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor.
According to the Congressional Research Service, approximately 27,000
U.S. prisoners of war were held by Imperial Japanese forces during
World War II.
They were often subject to brutal and inhumane treatment.
They were starved and denied adequate medical care and were forced to
perform slave labor for private Japanese companies.
American POWs toiled in mines, factories, shipyards, and steel mills
for hours every day under extremely dangerous conditions. Many suffered
health problems long after their time as POWs had ended.
Some 40 percent of POWs perished and never returned home to their
loved ones.
We owe these brave heroes a debt that can never be fully repaid. It
is critical that we never forget their sacrifice.
A lot has changed since the end of the war.
Japan has emerged from the ashes of war to develop into one of our
closest friends and allies and a responsible member of the
international community.
Our relationship is sustained by shared values of democracy, human
rights, and the rule of law.
The American POWs--those that survived--returned home and tried to
move on with their lives.
They completed their education, got married, started families, began
new

[[Page S7783]]

careers and participated in all aspects of civic life.
But one thing was missing: recognition from the Japanese Government
about how they were treated as POWs.
In the simplest terms, they wanted an apology.
In order for Japan to fully rejoin the international community, it
had to acknowledge its treatment of POWs during the ware.
And groups like the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor and
its Descendants Group worked tirelessly for this recognition.
And I am pleased to say that Japan has taken historic actions in this
area.
On May 30, 2009, Japan's Ambassador to the United States, Ichiro
Fujisaki, told the last convention of the American Defenders of Bataan
and Corregidor:

We extend a heartfelt apology for our country having caused
tremendous damage and suffering to many people, including prisoners of
wars, those who have undergone tragic experiences in the Bataan
Peninsula, Corregidor Island, in the Philippines, and other places.

On September 13, 2010, in a message to all U.S. former POWs, Japan's
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said:

You have all been through hardships during World War II,
begin taken prisoner by the Japanese military, and suffered
extremely inhumane treatment. On behalf of the Japanese
government and as the foreign minister, I would like to offer
you my heartfelt apology.

The Government of Japan has also created a new program for former
U.S. POWs and their family members to come to Japan for remembrance and
reconciliation.
I commend the Government of Japan for taking these actions. Our
former POWs waited long enough.
There are fewer than 500 surviving POWs still alive today.
Let us take a moment today, while we still can, to honor them and pay
tribute to their service to their country during difficult and trying
times.
Let us also acknowledge the steps Japan has taken to come to terms
with its past and strengthen the friendship between our two peoples.
I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be
laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any
statements relating to the measure be printed in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 333) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

S. Res. 333

Whereas the United States and Japan have enjoyed a
productive and successful peace for over six decades, which
has nurtured a strong and critical alliance and deep economic
ties that are vitally important to both countries, the Asia-
Pacific region, and the world;
Whereas the United States-Japan alliance is based on shared
interests, responsibilities, and values and the common
support for political and economic freedoms, human rights,
and international law;
Whereas the United States-Japan alliance has been
maintained by the contributions and sacrifices of members of
the United States Armed Forces dedicated to Japan's defense
and democracy;
Whereas, from December 7, 1941, to August 15, 1945, the
Pacific War caused profound damage and suffering to
combatants and noncombatants alike;
Whereas, among those who suffered and sacrificed greatly
were the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who
were captured by Imperial Japanese forces during the Pacific
War;
Whereas many United States prisoners of war were subject to
brutal and inhumane conditions and forced labor;
Whereas, according to the Congressional Research Service,
an estimated 27,000 United States prisoners of war were held
by Imperial Japanese forces and nearly 40 percent perished;
Whereas the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor and
its subsequent Descendants Group have worked tirelessly to
represent the thousands of United States veterans who were
held by Imperial Japanese forces as prisoners of war during
the Pacific War;
Whereas, on May 30, 2009, an official apology from the
Government of Japan was delivered by Japan's Ambassador to
the United States Ichiro Fujisaki to the last convention of
the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor stating,
``Today, I would like to convey to you the position of the
government of Japan on this issue. As former Prime Ministers
of Japan have repeatedly stated, the Japanese people should
bear in mind that we must look into the past and to learn
from the lessons of history. We extend a heartfelt apology
for our country having caused tremendous damage and suffering
to many people, including prisoners of wars, those who have
undergone tragic experiences in the Bataan Peninsula,
Corregidor Island, in the Philippines, and other places.'';
Whereas, in 2010, the Government of Japan through its
Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established a new program of
remembrance and understanding that, for the first time,
includes United States former prisoners of war and their
family members or other caregivers by inviting them to Japan
for exchange and friendship;
Whereas six United States former prisoners of war, each of
whom was accompanied by a family member, and two descendants
of prisoners of war participated in Japan's first Japanese/
American POW Friendship Program from September 12, 2010, to
September 19, 2010;
Whereas Japan's Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada on September
13, 2010, apologized to all United States former prisoners of
war on behalf of the Government of Japan stating, ``You have
all been through hardships during World War II, being taken
prisoner by the Japanese military, and suffered extremely
inhumane treatment. On behalf of the Japanese government and
as the foreign minister, I would like to offer you my
heartfelt apology.'';
Whereas Foreign Minister Okada stated that he expects the
former prisoners of war exchanges with the people of Japan
will ``become a turning point in burying their bitter
feelings about the past and establishing a better
relationship between Japan and the United States'';
Whereas Japan's Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Tetsuro
Fukuyama on September 13, 2010, apologized to United States
former prisoners of war for the ``immeasurable damage and
suffering'' they experienced;
Whereas the participants of the first Japanese/American POW
Friendship Program appreciated the generosity and hospitality
they received from the Government and people of Japan during
the Program and welcomed the apology offered by Foreign
Minister Okada and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Fukuyama;
Whereas the participants encourage the Government of Japan
to continue this program of visitation and friendship and
expand it to support projects for remembrance, documentation,
and education; and
Whereas the United States former prisoners of war of Japan
still await apologies and remembrance from the successor
firms of those private entities in Japan that, in violation
of the Third Geneva Convention and in unmerciful conditions,
used their labor for economic gain to sustain war production:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) welcomes and commends the Government of Japan for
extending an official apology to all United States former
prisoners of war from the Pacific War and establishing in
2010 a visitation program to Japan for surviving veterans,
their families, and descendants;
(2) appreciates the recent efforts by the Government of
Japan toward historic apologies for the maltreatment of
United States former prisoners of war;
(3) requests that the Government of Japan continue its new
Japanese/American POW Friendship Program of reconciliation
and remembrance and expand it to educate the public and its
school children about the history of prisoners of war in
Imperial Japan;
(4) 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;
(5) acknowledges the work of the Department of State in
advocating for the United States prisoners of war from the
Pacific War; and
(6) applauds the persistence, dedication, and patriotism of
the members and descendants of the American Defenders of
Bataan and Corregidor for their pursuit of justice and
lasting peace.

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