Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission Thomas S. Foley Legislative Exchange
The Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission Thomas S. Foley Legislative Exchange (Foley Exchange) is public-private partnership between the JUSFC and the Mansfield Foundation, which merges three pre-existing legislative exchange programs: the Thomas S. Foley Legislative Exchange, the U.S.-Japan Legislative Exchange Program (LEP) and the U.S.-Japan-South Korea Trilateral Legislative Exchange Program (TLEP).
Program Background
The Thomas S. Foley Legislative Exchange program was established in 2014 to honor the late Ambassador Thomas S. Foley, known for his long commitment to public service and his leadership in strengthening U.S.-Japan relations as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1965-1995), 57th Speaker of the House (1989-1995), and ambassador of the United States to Japan (1997-2001). Ambassador Foley believed in the importance of dialogue and regular exchanges between elected officials from the United States and Japan.
From 1989 to 2015, with funding from the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission, the George Washington University Elliott School of International Studies organized the U.S.-Japan Legislative Exchange Program (LEP). This longstanding initiative brought together more than 300 members of the U.S. Congress and members of Japan’s National Diet on a semi-annual basis for in-depth and informal discussions. The exchanges covered a broad range of political, economic, and security issues affecting U.S.-Japan relations. The LEP was later expanded to include South Korean National Assembly members (Trilateral LEP).
In 2016 these important programs were merged together under a vibrant public-private partnership between the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission and the Mansfield Foundation, resulting in the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission Thomas S. Foley Legislative Exchange. Funding for the program is provided by the JUSFC, the Mansfield Foundation, the Japan Economic Foundation (JEF), and the Korean National Assembly Parliamentary Office.
Program Structure
Each year since the spring of 2016, the Mansfield Foundation has organized two Foley exchange meetings, including a spring meeting in Washington, D.C. and a winter meeting in Asia. The Spring meeting welcomes legislators from Japan and Korea (roughly eight and four, respectively) to Washington, D.C. Participants meet with their counterparts in the U.S. Congress as well as with representatives from the executive branch, the policy community, and the private sector. The winter meeting brings U.S. members of Congress (between two and five each year) to Tokyo (and, on alternating years, also Seoul) to interact with their counterparts in Japan and Korea. The exchange offers participants a unique opportunity for frank interactions with their counterparts as well as with each other.
Program Objectives
The objectives of the Foley Exchange are to:
♦ Build lasting relationships among U.S., Japanese, and Korean elected officials and policy experts, with a primary emphasis on the U.S.- Japan bilateral relationship
♦ Help cultivate a “next generation” of U.S.-Asia leadership among legislators from the United States, Japan, and Korea
♦ Contribute to the participants’ understanding of policymaking processes and practices in each other’s countries
♦ Explore opportunities for cooperation on issues of mutual interest

Participants: Members of the U.S. Congress, the Diet of Japan, and the National Assembly of Korea
Sponsor: The Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission
Program Updates
Joint Statement from U.S.-ROK-Japan Legislative Exchange
The Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission-Thomas S. Foley Legislative Exchange represented by legislators from the United States, the Republic of Korea, and Japan met on August 10, 2022, and released the following joint statement after their meeting: As democratically...
Legislators from United States, Japan, and Republic of Korea Participate in Fourth Virtual Foley Exchange
On Wednesday, February 23, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation was honored to host the fourth virtual meeting of the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission Thomas S. Foley Legislative Exchange. The session welcomed legislators from the U.S. House of Representatives,...
Legislators from the United States, Japan, and Republic of Korea Participate in Second Virtual Foley Exchange
On Monday, November 9th, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation was honored to host the second virtual meeting of the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission Thomas S. Foley Legislative Exchange. The session welcomed legislators from the U.S. House of Representatives,...

Legislators from United States, Japan, Korea Meet in Washington for Foley Exchange
Members of Japan’s National Diet and Korea’s National Assembly traveled to Washington this week to take part in the latest Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission Thomas S. Foley Legislative Exchange, which began with U.S.-Japan bilateral meetings on July 25. "The Maureen...

Foley Exchange Meeting: March 2019
From March 18-23, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation welcomed five members of the United States Congress to the Tokyo and Seoul meetings of the 2019 Foley Exchange. Representatives Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Mark Takano (D-CA), participants in last year’s...

2018 Foley Exchange Concludes with Washington Trilateral Session
Legislators from Korea’s National Assembly, Japan’s National Diet, and and current and former members of the U.S. House of Representatives gathered for trilateral dialogues in Washington as part of the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission Thomas S. Foley Legislative Exchange

Legislators Meet in Washington for Spring Meeting of the Foley Exchange
The Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission Thomas S. Foley Legislative Exchange began with the arrival of eleven members of Japan’s National Diet in Washington April 29 and 30.

Foley Exchange Meeting: April 2018
U.S. Representatives Jim Sensenbrenner (Republican-Wisconsin) and Mark Takano (Democrat-California) traveled to Tokyo on April 2, 2018 for meetings with their counterparts from Japan’s National Diet and Korea’s National Assembly. This was the second Asia visit under...

Foley Exchange Meeting: May 2017
Nine members of Japan’s National Diet were in Washington for the third round of the new Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission Thomas S. Foley Legislative Exchange. The delegation included House of Councillors members Yukihisa Fujita (Democratic Party, DP), Iwao Horii...

Foley Exchange Meeting: February 2017
U.S. Representatives Jim Sensenbrenner (Republican-Wisconsin) and Joaquin Castro (Democrat-Texas) arrived in Tokyo for the start of the first Asia trip under the new Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission (JUSFC) Thomas S. Foley Legislative Exchange. The first day of the...

Foley Exchange Meeting: May 2016
The Mansfield Foundation and the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission (JUSFC) welcomed the first delegation of legislators to visit Washington under the new Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission Thomas S. Foley Legislative Exchange. Seven members of Japan’s National Diet and...

Foley Exchange Meeting: April 2015
The Foundation hosted the third Foley Exchange delegation that included Masako Mori (House of Councillors, LDP); Akihisa Nagashima (House of Representatives, DPJ); and Masahiko Shibayama (House of Representatives, LDP). Participants served as expert panelists at a...

Foley Exchange Meeting: September 2014
The five members of the second delegation to Washington, D.C. included Toru Ishizaki (House of Representatives, LDP); Takaaki Katsumata (House of Representatives, LDP); Shingo Miyake (House ofCouncillors, LDP); Ken Saito (House of Representatives, LDP); and Yuji...

Thomas S. Foley Legislative Exchange
The Thomas S. Foley Legislative Exchange was launched in May 2014, with an inaugural delegation visit to Washington, D.C. This first delegation of five members of Japan’s House of Representatives included TatsuoFukuda (Liberal Democratic Party, LDP); Motohisa Furukawa...