Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 3, 2005 

CONTACT:
Hung Nguyen (877) 592-4140

ON THE PASSING OF CONGRESSMAN ROBERT T. MATSUI

The Washington, D.C. – The Honorable Robert T. Matsui passed away on January 1, 2005 at the age of 63 of Myelodysplastic Disorder, a rare stem cell disorder.

Rep. Matsui was the third ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee and the Ranking Member on the Social Security Subcommittee. Matsui was going to be instrumental in the upcoming deliberations on Social Security reform. He was also the Chairmen of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee which is responsible for electing Democrats to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Matsui’s past accomplishments include the 1988 Japanese-American Redress Act, in which the U.S. government apologized for the World War II internment camps and offered compensation to Japanese American internees. He also fought against anti-immigrant provisions in the 1996 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) legislation.

Representative Bob Matsui represented the 5th Congressional District for 14 two-year terms. His district includes more than 129,046 Asian Pacific Americans, of which 12,541 are Vietnamese Americans. Many of these hard working Vietnamese Americans are employed in the service industries or own small businesses such as restaurants, nail salons and lawn/gardening companies. Robert Matsui served his constituents well.  He will be remembered for his tireless efforts of bridging the partisan gap to make a difference in his district and across the United States.

The National Congress of Vietnamese Americans expresses our sincerest condolences to Doris, his wife; Brian, his son, Amy, his daughter-in-law, and Anna, his granddaughter.

The Matsui family and friends are establishing a charitable fund in memory of the Congressman and ask that all gifts be sent to The Matsui Foundation for Public Service, P.O. Box 1347, Sacramento, CA 95812.

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Founded in 1986, the National Congress of Vietnamese Americans is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community advocacy organization working to advance the cause of Vietnamese Americans in a plural but united America –  e pluribus unum – by participating actively and fully as civic minded citizens engaged in the areas of education, culture and civil liberties.  (www.ncvaonline.org)