5932 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 153, Pt. 4 March 8, 2007 American causes, many of the immigrants are his father.’ My husband couldn’t speak, fort Women, of which I am a proud co-spon- hesitated, said Bing Cardenas Branigin, 50, a but I could tell that he understood, because sor. Given recent events, the necessity and former regional chairman of the Filipino there were tears in his eyes.’’ imperative to pass H. Res. 121 by the full American federation. Now Romulo worries that her son may ‘‘There was this sense that you shouldn’t never gain entry to the United States, be- House of Representatives is now more impor- make trouble, that you shouldn’t contradict cause if a sponsor dies while the visa applica- tant than ever. It is my hope that this non- the government,’’ she said. ‘‘You should just tion is pending, there is a chance that the binding resolution will signal to our friend and pay your taxes and send your kids to school application will be annulled. ally, the Government of Japan, that working to and keep quiet.’’ But she said she is still praying that Con- officially resolve its longstanding historical That began to change in the mid-1970s gress will pass the legislation for the sake of issues will not only restore honor and dignity when anger spread over the repressive poli- those veterans who remain alive. to the Comfort Women survivors, but bring out cies of the Filipino president, Ferdinand ‘‘If that happens, I know my husband will greater trust and cooperation among our other Marcos. As much as their opposition to be very happy about it, even if he is already Marcos galvanized the Filipino American in heaven,’’ she said. friends and allies in the region. A formal apology by the Japanese govern- community, it also caused rifts with those f who supported Marcos. ment would help bring a sense of peace and After Marcos was ousted, community lead- THANKING MICHAEL GORMAN FOR healing to the women who were abused as ers looked to refocus their newfound energy HIS YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE well as to their families. Many of these inno- on a more unifying issue. The fight for vet- cent women were taken at a young age and erans’ equity was a natural choice. suffered unspeakable and disgusting crimes Since then, the veterans have won some of HON. MICHAEL E. CAPUANO OF MASSACHUSETTS that destroyed their lives. An apology cannot the benefits they lost after the war. Most no- undo this damage, but it is important for the tably, in 1990, Congress granted Filipino IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES victims to know that the Japanese government World War II veterans the same opportunity Wednesday, March 7, 2007 to naturalize offered to all other foreign na- has accepted responsibility in a clear an un- tionals who served in the U.S. armed forces. Mr. CAPUANO. Madam Speaker, I rise equivocal manner. I believe an official apology But the Filipino veterans remain ineligible today to honor and to thank my District Direc- would help strengthen and improve relations for a military pension, forcing many of the tor, Michael Gorman, for his years of public between our friends and allies in the Northeast more than 24,000 elderly veterans who be- service. Mr. Gorman has worked by my side Asian region. came U.S. citizens after 1990 to live off food since I was first elected Mayor of Somerville, Without objection, I wish to insert into the stamps and Supplemental Security Income CONGRESSIONAL RECORD an editorial on this payments. Massachusetts in 1989. Our city was facing Joaquin Tejada, 84, a former guerrilla difficult times: significant demographic issue that appeared in the Times on fighter who survived two years resisting the changes and a potentially crippling cutback in Tuesday, March 6, appropriately entitled: ‘‘No Japanese from jungle hideouts, said he now state aid. Michael Gorman worked tirelessly to Comfort.’’ struggles to get by with his $545 monthly SSI help me meet those challenges and to keep [From , March 6, 2007] check. The rent for the two-bedroom apart- Somerville safe and neighborly as it became NO COMFORT ment he shares with another Filipino World an increasing desirable place to live. We spent What part of ‘‘Japanese Army sex slaves’’ War II veteran in Columbia Heights takes nine years together, improving the schools, does Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, $275. have so much trouble understanding and ‘‘By the end of the month, it’s hard to buy providing dependable and cost-effective public services, diversifying the city’s police and fire apologizing for? even basic food,’’ said Tejada, who proudly The underlying facts have long been be- sported an American flag tie during an inter- departments, creating green space and plant- yond serious dispute. During World War II, view. ing thousands of trees. His dedication to the Japan’s Army set up sites where women Then there is the l6–year wait veterans City of Somerville was evident every hour of rounded up from Japanese colonies like face if they wish to bring over their adult every day in the work he did and the causes Korea were expected to deliver sexual serv- children, an unintended consequence of the he championed. ices to Japan’s soldiers. 1965 law lifting the quotas that had pre- Mike was instrumental in helping me to These were not commercial brothels. vented most Asians from immigrating. Force, explicit and implicit, was used in re- In their place, Congress introduced a com- make the decision to seek Congressional of- fice. When I was elected in 1998, Mike agreed cruiting these women. What went on in them plicated system meant to offer every country was serial rape, not prostitution. The Japa- the same number of family reunification to bring his considerable talents to my District nese Army’s involvement is documented in visas. But because Filipino applicants far Office, serving as Director and utilizing his the government’s own defense files. A senior outnumber the yearly slots allotted to them, skills for the benefit of the entire 8th Congres- Tokyo official more or less apologized for they face the longest delays—22 years to sional District. this horrific crime in 1993. The unofficial sponsor an adult brother or sister, for in- For the past eight years, Mike has devoted fund set up to compensate victims is set to stance, compared with 11 years for appli- himself to our constituents. Whether it has close down this month. cants of most other nationalities. been helping an individual with a problem or And Mr. Abe wants the issue to end there. Candida Romulo, 72, said she and her hus- articulating my policy positions to a community Last week, he claimed that there was no evi- band, Bayani, a veteran who became a law- dence that the victims had been coerced. yer in Manila, would not have naturalized group, Mike has served the 8th Congressional Yesterday, he grudgingly acknowledged the and moved to Oxon Hill had they known that District with distinction. 1993 quasi apology, but only as part of a pre- the wait to sponsor their grown children After almost two decades, Mike is leaving emptive declaration that his government would be so long. public service for the private sector. I wish him would reject the call, now pending in the ‘‘We did it because we wanted to give them every success and thank him for his political , for an official apol- the opportunities of living in this country. It acumen, his hard work, and his selfless dedi- ogy. America isn’t the only country inter- was going to be our gift to them,’’ Romulo cation to the people he has helped me rep- ested in seeing Japan belatedly accept full said during an interview in a living room resent. responsibility. Korea and China are also in- crammed with photographs of her four chil- furiated by years of Japanese equivocations dren. f over the issue. Soon after the couple’s arrival, Bayani de- NO COMFORT FOR COMFORT Mr. Abe seems less concerned with repair- veloped a medical condition requiring fre- ing Japan’s sullied international reputation quent dialysis, making visits to the Phil- WOMEN SURVIVORS OF WORLD than with appealing to a large right-wing ippines impossible. Because of their pending WAR II faction within his Liberal Democratic Party residency applications, his children were un- that insists that the whole shameful episode able to get visas to visit him. HON. VITO FOSSELLA was a case of healthy private enterprise. One When Bayani suffered a severe stroke in ruling party lawmaker, in his misplaced zeal OF NEW YORK September, his eldest son wasn’t able to to exculpate the Army, even suggested the relay his final words to his father over the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES offensive analogy of a college that phone before he died. Wednesday, March 7, 2007 outsourced its cafeteria to a private firm. ‘‘The receiver couldn’t reach his bed in the Japan is only dishonored by such efforts to ICU,’’ Candida Romulo said. ‘‘So I told my Mr. FOSSELLA. Madam Speaker, on Janu- contort the truth. husband, ‘Your son says that he loves you ary 31, 2007, my good friend and colleague, The 1993 statement needs to be expanded very much and that he’s so proud that you Mr. HONDA, introduced H. Res. 121 on Com- upon, not whittled down. Parliament should

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