H.Res.121, "Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Government of Japan should formally acknowledge, apologize, and accept historical responsibility in a clear and unequivocal manner for its Imperial Armed Force's coercion of young women into sexual slavery, known to the world as "comfort women", during its colonial and wartime occupation of Asia and the Pacific Islands from the 1930s through the duration of World War II," sponsored by Rep Honda, Michael M. [CA-15] on January 31, 2007, with 142 cosponsors, will be voted by the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs June 26.
The resolution, submitted by Mike Honda, a California Democrat of Japanese decent, is expected to be passed. Tom Lantos, chairman of the committee, has indicated he would support the resolution.
It is unclear if the resolution, which demands an official apology from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, will be passed by the House of Representatives. But support for the resolution is gaining momentum, in part because of an advertisement that appeared in The Washington Post defending Japan's stance on the issue (Source: International Herald Tribune, Jun 19, 2007).