Nashville Standard

United States Senators Bill Hagerty and Mazie Hirono have written a bipartisan letter to Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson, urging him to invite Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to address a Joint Session of Congress during his Official Visit to the United States in April 2024. The letter, signed by 27 senators, emphasizes the significance of the U.S.-Japan Alliance and the shared strategic interests between the two nations.

In the letter, the senators highlight the important milestones in the U.S.-Japan relationship, including the 64th anniversary of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty and the 5th anniversary of the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement and U.S.-Japan Digital Trade Agreement. They argue that inviting Prime Minister Kishida to address Congress would be a timely expression of the United States' unwavering commitment to the Alliance and to a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.

The senators underscore the crucial role of the U.S.-Japan Alliance in ensuring stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. They highlight Japan's status as the fifth-largest goods trading partner with the United States and emphasize the strong people-to-people ties between the two countries. Additionally, they note that Japanese firms are the second-largest source of foreign direct investment in the United States.

The letter also acknowledges the Alliance's response to critical challenges in the region, such as the North Korean nuclear and missile threats and the aggressive actions of the Chinese military. The senators emphasize that a strong U.S.-Japan Alliance is more important than ever and that inviting Prime Minister Kishida to address a Joint Session of Congress would further enhance bilateral diplomatic ties.

The senators express their gratitude to Speaker Johnson for considering this important matter and conclude the letter with their signatures. The co-signers of the letter include Senators Dan Sullivan, Dick Durbin, Chuck Grassley, Tim Kaine, Bill Cassidy, Tammy Duckworth, John Barrasso, Brian Schatz, Mitt Romney, Michael Bennet, Mike Crapo, Angus King, John Cornyn, Tammy Baldwin, Lisa Murkowski, Kirsten Gillibrand, Todd Young, Richard Blumenthal, Jim Risch, Chris Van Hollen, Steve Daines, Amy Klobuchar, Marsha Blackburn, Jeff Merkley, Thom Tillis, Ted Cruz, and Lindsey Graham.

The request from Senators Hagerty and Hirono, along with their colleagues, reflects the importance of the U.S.-Japan Alliance in maintaining stability and promoting shared values in the Indo-Pacific region. The invitation for Prime Minister Kishida to address a Joint Session of Congress would serve as a significant gesture of support and strengthen the diplomatic ties between the United States and Japan.