[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 128 (Thursday, October 3, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1737-E1738]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 EXPRESSING SORROW OF THE HOUSE AT THE DEATH OF THE HONORABLE PATSY T. 
           MINK, MEMBER OF CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF HAWAII

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. JOHN A. BOEHNER

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 1, 2002

  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, last weekend, the members of our committee 
lost a friend and colleague. The people of Hawaii lost a strong and 
trusted voice. And the people of our country lost a leader.
  Patsy Mink was a vibrant, passionate, and effective voice for the 
principles she believed in. She spent most of her life serving her 
beloved state of Hawaii and the people of the United States. Her 
service to the nation as a member of this House came in two chapters: 
she first served here from January 1965 to January 1977; then she 
returned more than a decade later, in 1990, to resume her work on 
behalf of her constituents.
  I was elected to the House that same year--1990. As incoming members 
of the Education and the Workforce Committee, we didn't see eye to eye 
on many issues. Our committee was the scene of some of the nastiest 
partisan sparring in the House, and there wasn't a lot of communication 
between members from different parties.
  Over the years, I went up against Patsy directly several times, on 
the issue of the Native Hawaiian Education Programs and Hawaii's Bishop 
Estate Trust. I won't mince words: I lost--each and every time. During 
those debates I learned first-hand what a fierce advocate she could be. 
Take it from me: when Patsy Mink decided she was going to fight for 
something, it wasn't much fun being on the receiving end.
  As I mentioned, there wasn't much opportunity to get to know Patsy 
when I first joined our committee in the early 1990s. But our committee 
is a different place than it was 10 years ago. And on days like today, 
it's a little bit easier to understand why that's so important. 
Republicans on our committee eventually got the opportunity to not only 
know Patsy Mink, but to work with her side-by-side on issues like 
education reform. I know I speak for all the Republican members of our 
committee when I say I'm sincerely grateful we got that chance.
  Patsy Mink's passionate commitment to the issues she believed in gave 
our committee a spark that will not be easily replaced. Many of the 
bills we've moved in the last year and a half bear her unmistakable 
imprint. As ranking member of the subcommittee on 21st Century 
Competitiveness, Patsy played a key role in passing the No Child Left 
Behind Act, the bipartisan education bill signed in January by

[[Page E1738]]

President Bush. And this year, she worked closely with the gentleman 
from California, Mr. McKeon, on legislation to reduce federal red tape 
in higher education.
  I'm truly disappointed we won't have the chance to continue this 
partnership with Patsy. We'll never know exactly where it might have 
led, or the things that might have been accomplished. But I do know one 
thing. I'm very grateful for the chance to have served with her, and to 
have worked alongside her to achieve some of the goals for which she 
strived.
  Patsy Mink's passing is a significant loss for our committee, the 
people of Hawaii, and the people of the United States. I offer my 
sincere condolences to her family and constituents. She will be greatly 
missed.

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