Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida addresses Congress

WASHINGTON (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida addressed U.S. lawmakers at the Capitol on Thursday, urging them to consider the importance of global commitments at a time of tension in the Asia-Pacific and deep skepticism in Congress about U.S. involvement abroad.

Kishida is in Washington this week visiting President Joe Biden as the White House completes hosting each leader of the Quad — an informal partnership between the U.S. Japan, Australia and India that is seen as important to countering China's growing military strength in the region. Kishida highlighted the value of the U.S. commitment to global security and offered reassurances that Japan is a strong partner.

On Capitol Hill, his audience included many Republicans who have pushed for the U.S. to take a less active role in global affairs as they follow the "America First" ethos of Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. The Republican-controlled House has sat for months on a $95 billion package that would send wartime funding to Ukraine and Israel, as well as aid to allies in the Indo-Pacific like Taiwan and humanitarian help to civilians in Gaza and Ukraine.

"As we meet here today, I detect an undercurrent of selfdoubt among some Americans about what your role in the world should be," Kishida told Congress.

He sought to remind lawmakers of the leading role the U.S. has played globally since World War II. After dropping two nuclear weapons on Japan to end the war, the U.S. helped rebuild Japan, and the nations transformed from bitter enemies to close allies.

"When necessary, it made noble sacrifices to fulfill its commitment to a better world," Kishida said of the U.S.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said earlier this week that he hoped Kishida's visit would underscore "that we're in a worldwide situation here against the enemies of democracy — led by China, Russia and Iran."

Japan has taken a strong role in supporting Ukraine's defense against Moscow as well as helping humanitarian aid get to Gaza. It is also seen as a key U.S. partner in a fraught region where China is asserting its strength and North Korea is developing a nuclear program.

(Continued from Page 1) toward education and is related to a law Sanders signed last year that created a new school voucher program.

Sanders touted the education law and other priorities from her first year as governor, including a measure that would have required parents' OK for minors to open new social media accounts. That measure has been blocked by a federal judge.

Sanders said one of the state's next priorities should be finding other ways to address the impact of social media on youth. She didn't call on lawmakers to enact more restrictions, and legislative leaders said they didn't expect the issue to be part of the session. But Sanders cited ideas such as phone-free schools and not allowing children on social media before they are 16.

"Big Tech might take us to court, but we'll fight them," Sanders said. "Because our children's future depends on it."

The session kicked off as lawmakers await the release of an audit on the $19,000 lectern that was purchased for Sanders. The purchase last year prompted national attention and scrutiny over its high cost, as well as questions about the handling of public records surrounding it.

The co-chairman of the legislative committee that ordered the audit this week said he expected it to be released to the public within the next 10 days.

Since the session is intended to focus on the budget, any nonfiscal bills will need a two-thirds vote to even be introduced.

Legislative leaders have said they expect a debate over efforts to scale back or repeal a law enacted last year that limited local governments' ability to regulate cryptocurrency mines, which are data centers requiring large amounts of computing power and electricity. The law has prompted backlash from some communities who say it has prevented them from addressing the large amount of noise generated by the mines.

House Speaker Matthew Shepherd said there wasn't a need for Sanders to lay out more policy proposals given the limited agenda for the fiscal session. He noted that lawmakers had already held hearings on her budget plan.

"Most of it has been discussed," Shepherd said. "Now I anticipate there are some details and things, as we move forward in terms of implementation, that there may be some things additionally put out there."

Democrats have said, however, that they still hope to highlight concerns they have about the cost of the voucher program and their criticism that Sanders' budget plan is leaving other needs underfunded.

"We've got some issues in Arkansas that we need to start addressing, and I don't believe that budget prioritizes some things we need to be doing," House Minority Leader Tippi McCullough said.