Boise City Wire

U.S. Senator Jim Risch, along with Senators Bill Hagerty, Mazie Hirono, and a bipartisan group of 26 colleagues, have sent a 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 highlights the significance of the U.S.-Japan relationship, particularly in the context of 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. The senators argue that inviting Prime Minister Kishida to address Congress would demonstrate the unwavering commitment of the United States to the alliance and to a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.

The senators emphasize the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance for stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. They point out that Japan is the fifth-largest goods trading partner with the United States and that Japanese firms are the second-largest source of foreign direct investment in the country. Additionally, the senators highlight the collaboration between the United States and Japan in building critical multilateral partnerships, such as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue with India and Australia, and the Trilateral partnership with South Korea.

The senators conclude their letter by stating that a strong U.S.-Japan alliance is more important than ever. They believe that inviting Prime Minister Kishida to address a joint session of Congress would further enhance bilateral diplomatic ties and highlight the shared strategic interests and values between the two nations.

The letter was co-signed by a bipartisan group of senators, including 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, Chris Van Hollen, Steve Daines, Amy Klobuchar, Marsha Blackburn, Jeff Merkley, Thom Tillis, Ted Cruz, and Lindsey Graham.

The request to Speaker Johnson is a testament to the strong bipartisan support for strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance and reinforcing the shared values and strategic interests between the two nations. The joint address by Prime Minister Kishida to Congress would serve as a significant milestone in further deepening the diplomatic ties between the United States and Japan.