U.S. Reps. Young Kim (R-CA) and Michael McCaul (R-TX) signed on as original cosponsors of a bipartisan resolution introduced on April 9 that recognizes the importance of the United States-Japan alliance and welcomes the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to America.
President Joe Biden is currently hosting the state visit by the prime minister, who yesterday morning addressed a joint meeting of Congress, a day after his government upgraded Japan’s security alliance with the U.S. and ahead of a trilateral leaders’ summit later today with the U.S. and Philippines. The U.S. and Japan also announced they will form a military-industrial council to explore the kinds of weapons they can jointly produce.
“We warmly welcome Prime Minister Kishida to the United States and the deepening of ties with our friend and ally Japan,” said Rep. Kim, Rep. McCaul, and their Democratic colleagues in a joint statement issued on Tuesday. “Our alliance remains the cornerstone of a free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific.”
House Resolution (H.Res.) 1118, which the members cosponsored alongside sponsor U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), also welcomes Kishida to the U.S., and underscores the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance for ensuring peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond, according to a summary provided by the lawmakers.
“This resolution is a testament to our mutual resolve to strengthen our diplomatic, economic, security, and people-to-people ties as we face global challenges and uphold a rules-based international order,” according to the statement released by Reps. McCaul, Kim, Meeks, and U.S. Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA), who also cosponsored H.Res. 1118.
“We look forward to hearing Prime Minister Kishida’s vision for advancing our alliance for the benefit of the American and Japanese people,” they said.