FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 05, 2005

CONTACT: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider 202-226-7616

Pelosi Remarks at Memorial Service for Robert T. Matsui

Washington, D.C. – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi spoke today at a memorial service in the Capitol for Congressman Robert T. Matsui of California. Below are her remarks:

“Mr. President. Mr. Speaker. Doris, Brian, Amy, and Anna. Listening to the music of America the Beautiful -- God truly shed his grace on America with the light and leadership of Bob Matsui. In one of the further verses of America the Beautiful, it proclaims, ‘O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years.’ That has always been my favorite line. How much it applies to Bob Matsui, a true patriot who had a dream for America, a better America that saw beyond the years.

“He was a true patriot. He loved America. He wanted to be an architect when he was young, and indeed he was an architect for a better America. Others have referenced his efforts to build a better future for America’s children, to expand opportunity for them, to have a more secure future for America’s seniors, and to protect our precious freedoms for all of us.

“We all know about his work in 1988 on the Japanese American Redress Act, working with Norm Mineta and with Danny Inouye, who are both here. We know about it, and we hear about it, and we know what the provisions of the bill are. It’s hard for some to remember, though, how really necessary it was, and what a struggle it was for a number of years. It’s hard to understand how someone as a child who went with his family -- he was third generation, they were second -- to an internment camp and came out with this spirit, to love America enough to want to make it better.

“And Danny Inouye, of the same Japanese American heritage, was fighting in World War II, defending the country, was such a remarkable thing. But to listen to them during the debate -- Norm, and Danny, and others. To listen to Bob during the debate speak from the heart and from the head on this subject was probably the most American thing we’d ever be involved in. It was saying: ‘We made a mistake. We’ll make it right. We’ll make the future better.’

“Can you imagine when his family was in an internment camp that they would ever have dreamed that their son would have a memorial service in the Capitol? That over the Capitol of the United States flags would fly at half-mast in his honor speaks to how special he is. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for making that possible.

“Bob was so proud of his Japanese American heritage, and I was proud to appoint him as the first Asian American in leadership in the House of Representatives. He loved his parents. He talked about them a lot lately. Maybe it was in relationship to the Social Security bill that was coming up. But whatever it was, he spoke with great pride, and we knew they had to be great people to have produced such a wonderful son.

“We all know how much he loved Doris. They were a team. They worked together in public service, for awhile, in two branches of government. And I know he loved Doris so much. She was a source of strength to him, an inspiration to him. And Brian, as the Speaker said, we saw him grow up on the Christmas cards, and now we see him with Amy, so happy.

“Yesterday, we had the swearing-in, and Bob was going to bring Anna for the first time. She’s 17 months old. The swearing-in was going to be a happy day for him and for all of us. When Anna is old enough to read about her grandfather -- and according to Bob, that won’t be long, this magnificent child and source of so much happiness to him -- she will read of how respected he was, how talented he was, how kind he was to people, this beautiful, gracious man. I hope it is a comfort to you, Doris, Brian, Amy, and Anna, that so many people mourn your loss and are praying for you at this sad time.

“I just want to recall for some of you who may not have known Bob at the time when he ran for Congress 27 years ago. It was a really tough race. This was no easy thing. There were stiff competitors racing in that race. He went into the race, and I remember being with him at an event in Chinatown in San Francisco where the Asian American community embraced him with such great pride. He was in his thirties. He had an aura about him of such grace. Perhaps it was from his parents, this self-confidence, grace, an aura of kindness and graciousness, which was lovely, but in a campaign it was very tough. It was a wonder to behold that he would be so gracious to his opponent, and that was before he won.

“He had an aura of inevitability about him in that race, and he came to Congress to represent the people of Sacramento, whom he loved. And every day, he worked so hard for them, and bragged about them, and Doris was by his side all the time. They shared their love for the people of Sacramento, and they gave their all for them.

“It might interest you to know that when he leaves here today, he will go home to California, to Sacramento, to a triumphant welcome. He will lie in state in Sacramento, the State Capitol, for a day and a half. He will be visited by so many people who knew him or respected him, and he will then have ceremonies, all kinds, to honor his memory. It will be very fitting. And he will be laid to rest in the manner of one who is revered. The love he had for his constituents was certainly returned.

“The poet Longfellow wrote, ‘Were a star quenched on high, For ages would its light, Still traveling downward from the sky, Shine on our mortal sight. So when a great man dies, For years beyond our ken, The light he leaves behind him lies Upon the paths of men.’

“Bob Matsui’s words, his deeds, his intellect, and his passion will serve as a light, one that will guide us to a better America that was his dream. He lived up to the words of the scripture, ‘I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.’”

“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi