Hirono, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing the United States-Japan Alliance, Welcoming Prime Minister Kishida to the U.S.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Jim Risch (R-ID), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mitt Romney (R-UT), and Bill Haggerty (R-TN), in introducing a bipartisan resolution underscoring the strength and importance of the United States-Japan alliance. Introduced in advance of Japanese Prime Minister Kishida’s official state visit to Washington this week, this bipartisan resolution reaffirms the vital role that the U.S.-Japan alliance plays as a cornerstone for peace, security, and prosperity and underscores the unwavering commitment of the United States to Japan and the Indo-Pacific region.

“At a time of global instability, the alliance between the United States and Japan is critical,” said Senator Hirono. “As the only Japanese-American serving in the Senate, I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this resolution recognizing the importance of the relationship between our two countries and our shared commitment to ensuring peace and security throughout the Indo-Pacific. I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Kishida to Washington, D.C. this week as we work to further strengthen our alliance.”

This resolution follows a previous bipartisan letter Senator Hirono led with Senator Haggerty to the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Mike Johnson (R-LA), encouraging him to invite Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to address a Joint Session of Congress during his Official Visit to the U.S. this month.

A companion resolution will be introduced this week in the House of Representatives by Representative Gregory Meeks (D-NY).

Among its provisions, the bipartisan resolution also:

1. Reaffirms the United States’ extended deterrence commitments to Japan;

2. Commits to strengthening and deepening U.S.-Japan diplomatic, economic, security, and people-to-people ties;

3. Acknowledges that 2024 marks the 64thanniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security Between the United States and Japan;

4. Applauds Japan’s recent historic steps to modernize its national security and defense policy, including its commitments to increase defense spending;

5. Celebrates and encourages continued close coordination between the United States, the Republic of Korea, and Japan to address shared challenges;

6. Recognizes Japan for its strong leadership as the G7 host nation in 2023; and

7. Recognizes Japan’s strong and unwavering support for Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion.

The full text of the resolution is available here.

Senator Hirono, a leading champion of U.S.-Japan relations in Congress, previously met with former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe several times in Japan and in the U.S. In 2021, Senator Hirono was honored by the Japanese government with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, in recognition of her work to strengthen bilateral relations and promoting legislative exchanges between Japan and the United States.

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