BARR JOINS CONGRESSIONAL STUDY GROUP ON JAPAN AS NEW HOUSE REPUBLICAN CO-CHAIR

Washington, DC — Today, Former Members of Congress (FMC) announced that U.S. Representative Andy Barr (R-KY) will join FMC’s Congressional Study Group on Japan (CSGJ) as its new House Republican Co-Chair. Barr will lead the group alongside long-time House Democratic Co-Chair Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), as well as Senate Co-Chairs Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).

“I’m honored to take on the position of Co-Chair of FMC’s Congressional Study Group on Japan,” said Barr. “Japan is one of America’s strongest allies in the Pacific region, and now more than ever it is imperative we maintain steadfast in our solidarity with them. Kentucky has a long history of partnership and investment with Japan, and I’m proud to continue representing the interests of my state in this role. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work alongside Rep. Diana DeGette in this mission and feel confident we will make great strides in the Transpacific alliance.”

“I offer my congratulations to Congressman Barr on becoming Co-Chair of CSGJ,” said DeGette. “The United States’ friendship with Japan continues to be one of our most important, and CSGJ allows us to advance this partnership and work to find bipartisan solutions for the challenges facing our nations. I look forward to working with Congressman Barr to strengthen ties between Japan and the United States.”

“FMC and our Congressional Study Groups are incredibly excited for Congressman Barr to take the responsibility of becoming Republican Co-Chair of CSGJ,” said the Hon. Barbara Comstock, FMC President. “His experience and record in Congress have established him as a leader in Transpacific affairs, and we’re grateful to add his insight to our co-chair team at a time when the Pacific region is more in focus than ever before.”

Barr has served as the Representative for Kentucky’s Sixth Congressional District since 2013. He holds a law degree from the University of Kentucky Law School, and prior to being elected worked in former Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher’s administration. He has been a member of the House

Foreign Affairs Committee for the past two terms, as well as a member of the Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific.

The state of Kentucky hosts nearly 200 Japanese companies, and Barr’s own district is home to Toyota’s first wholly-owned manufacturing plant in the United States. Japan is also the largest international investor in the state of Kentucky.

The Congressional Study Group on Japan was established in 1993, making it FMC’s second oldest Congressional Study Group. It was created after recognizing the need for American legislators to better understand our alliance, our trade partnerships, and the geopolitics of the region.

CSGJ welcomes Members of the Japanese Diet to the United States, conducts Member of Congress and senior staff study tours to Japan, and has brought Members of Congress to meet the Japanese Prime Minister in Tokyo for more than a decade. CSGJ also provides education on Capitol Hill regarding critical bilateral issues, including security and trade, for both Congressional Members and staff.

The CSGJ House Republican Chair position was previously held by Congressman Larry Bucshon (R-IN), who announced at the beginning of 2024 that he was not seeking re-election and would retire from Congress at the end of his term.

Comstock continued, “Larry Bucshon has been an exemplary Co-Chair, and consistently showcases his dedication to the U.S.-Japan relationship, as well as to FMC as an organization. We thank him wholeheartedly for his willingness to share his time and knowledge with us. CSGJ and Congress itself will miss his strong work ethic, commitment to bipartisanship, and leadership in advocating for the U.S.-Japan partnership.”

DeGette continued, “I had the pleasure of serving in this role alongside Congressman Bucshon for the past four years, and I’m proud to call him my Co-Chair and friend. Our work together has not only helped strengthen U.S.-Japan relations, but also provided us with the foundation to produce bipartisan legislation together. I wish him nothing but the best during his time after Congress.”

“It’s been an honor serving as the Republican House Co-Chair of CSGJ, and an experience that truly made my time in office memorable,” said Bucshon. “Traveling to Japan with FMC and our bipartisan delegations of Members of Congress are some of my fondest memories, and I’m proud of the progress we made in Trans-Pacific relations. I’m confident Congressman Barr will do an excellent job continuing this legacy, and I look forward to seeing his success!”

FMC is a non-advocacy, nonpartisan group founded in 1970 and chartered by Congress in 1983. It is a voluntary alliance of Former U.S. Senators and Representatives, working to strengthen Congress in the conduct of its Constitutional responsibility through promoting a collaborative approach to policy making; and to deepening the understanding of our democratic system.

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