This resolution condemns the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, extends condolences to the family of former Prime Minister Abe and the people of Japan, honors the life and legacy of former Prime Minister Abe, and calls for a renewed commitment to the U.S.-Japan alliance.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1259 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1259
Condemning the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo
Abe and honoring his life and legacy.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 26, 2022
Mr. Chabot (for himself, Mr. Meeks, Mr. McCaul, Mr. Bera, and Mr. Smith
of Nebraska) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Condemning the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo
Abe and honoring his life and legacy.
Whereas Shinzo Abe, a towering figure of Japan, was horrifically assassinated on
July 8, 2022, in the Japanese city of Nara while delivering a campaign
speech as part of Japan's electoral democracy;
Whereas the late former Prime Minister of Japan was born on September 21, 1954,
in Tokyo, Japan, the child of Yoko Abe and Shintaro Abe, and grew up in
Tokyo;
Whereas Shinzo Abe graduated from Seikei University in Tokyo in 1977, and
studied political science at the University of Southern California in
Los Angeles;
Whereas, after returning to Japan, Shinzo Abe won a seat in the lower house of
the Japanese Parliament in 1993 and was appointed Chief Cabinet
Secretary in 2005, before becoming Prime Minister in 2006;
Whereas September 20, 2006, Shinzo Abe was elected as President of the Liberal
Democratic Party (LDP) and on September 26, 2006, was inaugurated as
Prime Minister of Japan for the first time;
Whereas Shinzo Abe regained leadership of the LDP on September 26, 2012, and was
reelected as Prime Minister for a second time on December 26, 2012;
Whereas on December 24, 2014, Shinzo Abe was re-elected as Prime Minister for a
third term;
Whereas on November 1, 2017, Shinzo Abe was re-elected as Prime Minister for a
fourth term;
Whereas Shinzo Abe was the longest serving Prime Minister of post-World War II
Japan and leader of the LDP, holding those offices for more than 8
years;
Whereas Shinzo Abe was a stalwart champion of the United States-Japan alliance;
Whereas Shinzo Abe, in his capacity as Prime Minister, visited the United States
more than ten times to help strengthen the relationship;
Whereas, as Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe promoted peace, security, and prosperity
in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world;
Whereas Shinzo Abe supported the United States in many shared challenges,
including by sanctioning North Korea for nuclear testing, bolstering
multilateral cooperation with Taiwan, providing logistics support for
international peacekeeping missions, and conducting disaster relief
through Japan's Self Defense Forces;
Whereas Shinzo Abe is widely credited with creating the vision of a ``Free and
Open Indo-Pacific'', linking the like-minded democracies of the Indian
and Pacific Oceans to work together to advance prosperity and security,
a framework that the United States and other countries adopted as a
shared concept;
Whereas Shinzo Abe raised Japan's global stature through new partnerships and
diplomatic initiatives in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and beyond;
Whereas Shinzo Abe advanced regional economic integration and shared prosperity
in the Indo-Pacific region through numerous economic initiatives;
Whereas Shinzo Abe bolstered the relationship between the United States, Japan,
Australia and India by initiating the Quadrilateral grouping and
championing ``the Quad'';
Whereas Shinzo Abe led a pivotal improvement in Japan's relations with Taiwan,
describing Taiwan as ``an important partner and a precious friend of
Japan'', and taking up a leadership role in multilateral cooperation
with Taiwan by cosponsoring the Global Cooperation and Training
Framework;
Whereas, on April 29, 2015, Shinzo Abe became the first and only Japanese Prime
Minister to address a joint meeting of the United States Congress;
Whereas, in his address to the joint meeting of the United States Congress,
Shinzo Abe described how the United States and Japan, ``Enemies that
fought each other so fiercely have become friends bonded in spirit''
calling it ``a miracle of history'';
Whereas Shinzo Abe made lasting and historic contributions to Japan's security
policy, including the 2014 reinterpretation of Japan's constitution to
allow participation in collective self-defense, and the 2017 decision to
move Japan's defense spending beyond the traditional limit of 1 percent
of gross domestic product;
Whereas Shinzo Abe made it his priority to revitalize the Japanese economy, spur
growth, and make it more resilient to shocks through his economic
policies, known as ``Abenomics'';
Whereas Shinzo Abe championed the concept of ``Womenomics'' to include and
elevate more Japanese women in the workforce and to provide a place
where ``women could shine'';
Whereas, under Shinzo Abe's leadership, the United States and Japan completed a
major update of the United States-Japan bilateral defense guidelines to
accelerate security cooperation;
Whereas Shinzo Abe symbolically embraced the accomplishment of United States-
Japan reconciliation by visiting Pearl Harbor with former President
Barack Obama and joined former President Obama in Hiroshima;
Whereas Shinzo Abe became the first head of state to meet then-President-elect
Donald Trump in November 2016, and went on to have more conversations
with President Trump than any other foreign leader;
Whereas Shinzo Abe received numerous honors and awards over the course of his
long and distinguished career, including the Legion of Merit award from
the United States in 2020 and Japan's highest honor, the Collar of the
Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum, which was awarded posthumously; and
Whereas Shinzo Abe leaves behind a legacy of democratic service, sacrifice, and
national pride: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) condemns the heinous assassination of former Japanese
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the strongest possible terms;
(2) extends its deepest sympathy and condolences to the
family of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and to all the
people of Japan in this moment time of tragedy;
(3) honors the life and legacy of former Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe for his commitment to--
(A) strengthening the United States-Japan alliance;
(B) safeguarding global peace and security; and
(C) advancing a vision for a free and open Indo-
Pacific region; and
(4) proclaims that--
(A) Shinzo Abe served the people of Japan
continually for nearly 40 years with an unwavering love
for his country;
(B) Shinzo Abe was instrumental in shaping modern
Japan and has left a clear mark on Japan's future; and
(C) the United States will honor the legacy of
Shinzo Abe with a renewed and redoubled commitment to
the United States-Japan alliance.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
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