[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 660 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 660

Expressing the condolences of the Senate on the death of the Honorable 
                           Norman Y. Mineta.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 26, 2022

 Mrs. Feinstein (for herself and Mr. Padilla) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the condolences of the Senate on the death of the Honorable 
                           Norman Y. Mineta.

Whereas Norman Yoshio Mineta (referred to in this preamble as ``Norman Y. 
        Mineta'') was born in San Jose, California on November 12, 1931;
Whereas, as a young child during World War II, Norman Y. Mineta and his family 
        were unjustly sent to Heart Mountain Relocation Camp in Park County, 
        Wyoming by the United States Government due to their Japanese ancestry;
Whereas Norman Y. Mineta returned to San Jose with his family after World War 
        II, graduated from San Jose High School, and went on to earn a degree in 
        business administration from the University of California, Berkeley;
Whereas Norman Y. Mineta honorably served as a United States Army intelligence 
        officer in Japan and Korea before returning home and joining the 
        insurance business run by his father;
Whereas, in 1967, Norman Y. Mineta became the first person of color to serve on 
        the San Jose City Council and, in 1971, was elected as the 59th Mayor of 
        San Jose, becoming the first Asian American to serve as mayor of a major 
        city in the United States;
Whereas Norman Y. Mineta was elected to the United States House of 
        Representatives in 1974, where he served as president of the freshman 
        class and went on to spend more than 20 years, during which time he 
        never forgot a name;
Whereas Norman Y. Mineta was a champion of civil rights and cosponsored the 
        Civil Liberties Act of 1988 (50 U.S.C. 4211 et seq.), which--

    (1) was signed into law by President Ronald W. Reagan; and

    (2) expressed a formal apology to the thousands of individuals of 
Japanese ancestry in the United States who were forced into internment 
camps during World War II and offered $20,000 payments to each individual;

Whereas Norman Y. Mineta distinguished himself as an expert on transportation 
        issues and an advocate for mass transit, serving as Chairman of the 
        Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives;
Whereas Norman Y. Mineta entered the private sector after leaving Congress, but 
        continued to serve the United States as Chairman of the National Civil 
        Aviation Review Commission;
Whereas Norman Y. Mineta was nominated by President William J. Clinton in 2000 
        to be the United States Secretary of Commerce;
Whereas Norman Y. Mineta was nominated by President George W. Bush in 2001 to 
        serve as the United States Secretary of Transportation;
Whereas, while serving as Secretary of Transportation on September 11, 2001, 
        Norman Y. Mineta secured the airspace of the United States by ordering 
        all civilian air traffic to land immediately and implemented new 
        security protocols to ensure the safety of air travelers;
Whereas Norman Y. Mineta was the loving husband of Danealia Brantner Mineta, and 
        father of David Mineta, Stuart Mineta, Robert Brantner, and Mark 
        Brantner; and
Whereas Norman Y. Mineta was known for his warm personality, commitment to 
        public service, accessibility and accountability, and passion for his 
        work: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the 
        announcement of the death of the Honorable Norman Yoshio 
        Mineta, former member of the United States House of 
        Representatives, former Secretary of Commerce, and former 
        Secretary of Transportation;
            (2) respectfully requests the Secretary of the Senate 
        communicate this resolution to the House of Representatives and 
        transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the family of 
        Norman Yoshio Mineta; and
            (3) when the Senate adjourns today, stands adjourned as a 
        further mark of respect to the memory of the Honorable Norman 
        Yoshio Mineta.
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