Congressional Record, Volume 149 Issue 84 (Tuesday, June 10, 2003)

[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 84 (Tuesday, June 10, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H5120-H5127]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

PATSY TAKEMOTO MINK POST OFFICE BUILDING

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the bill (H.R. 2030) to designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 120 Baldwin Avenue in Paia, Maui, Hawaii, as
the ``Patsy Takemoto Mink Post Office Building''.
The Clerk read as follows:

H.R. 2030

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. PATSY TAKEMOTO MINK POST OFFICE BUILDING.

(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 120 Baldwin Avenue in Paia, Maui, Hawaii,
shall be known and designated as the ``Patsy Takemoto Mink
Post Office Building''.
(b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be
a reference to the Patsy Takemoto Mink Post Office Building.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).

General Leave

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend
their remarks on H.R. 2030.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be part of the consideration of H.R. 2030,
a bill introduced by the distinguished gentleman from Hawaii (Mr.
Case), that designates the postal facility in Paia, Maui, Hawaii, as
the Patsy Takemoto Mink Post Office Building.
Mr. Speaker, Congresswoman Patsy Mink was a devoted public servant
and a friend to all who served here in the House. She was a passionate
representative for her Hawaiian constituents for 26 years, despite
having to make the 10-hour flight home almost every weekend. For that
alone, she deserves commendation.
Congresswoman Mink was a particular advocate of health, education,
and civil rights issues during her tenure in the House; but her career
was perhaps best known for her tireless work for gender equality.
Congresswoman Mink authored the Women's Education Equity Act, and she
was a coauthor of the original title IX legislation. She was an
esteemed member of the Committee on Government Reform, the committee
that just last month passed by voice vote this bill that honors her. I
am pleased that this bill has now come up for consideration by the
whole House.
Congresswoman Patsy Mink sadly passed away last September 28 during
her 13th congressional term. Patsy Mink won her first election to the
House in 1964 and only two current Members of this body were first
elected earlier. A long congressional career never took the spring out
of her exuberant step or the warmth from her caring heart; and even
after her passing, her remarkable service in this House for the people
of Hawaii and this entire Nation will certainly never be forgotten.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 2030
that honors the life and career of Congresswoman Patsy Mink. I
congratulate my colleague, the gentleman from Hawaii, for introducing
this meaningful and important legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
might consume.
Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Government Reform,
I am pleased to join my colleague, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms.
Ros-Lehtinen), in consideration of H.R. 2030, which names a postal
facility after the late Congresswoman Patsy Mink.
H.R. 2030, which was introduced by the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr.
Case) on May 8, 2003, has met the committee policy and has been
cosponsored by more than just the State delegation. The bill currently
lists 115 cosponsors, truly a testament to the accomplishments of our
late colleague, the Honorable Patsy Mink, who sadly passed away on
September 28, 2002.
Congresswoman Mink was first elected to Congress in 1964 and served
until 1976. She took a 14-year hiatus from national politics and
returned to her congressional seat in 1990, where she remained unto her
death in 2002.
Congresswoman Mink served on the Committee on Government Reform for a
year in 1991 before being assigned to the House Committee on the
Budget. She returned to our committee in 1999 where she served until
her death last year. As a distinguished member of the Committee on
Government Reform, Congresswoman Mink was committed to writing
important legislation, such as the bill that would increase the
mandatory retirement age of law enforcement officials.
As a member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce,
Congresswoman Mink fought hard for the rights of women and children.
She co-sponsored title IX, the Early Childhood Education Act and the
Women's Educational Equity Act.
During her last few years in Congress, Congresswoman Mink continued
to work on such important issues as immigration, Social Security, and
health care. Throughout her brilliant career, the Congresswoman
provided the strong voice to those who needed one. Her accomplishments
will continue to benefit Americans for generations to come. It is only
fitting that we share our gratitude by honoring her in this manner.
I would also urge my colleagues to remember our late colleague as a
fighter for children and the working class. I note she would have
joined us in our push to bring the child tax credit bill to the floor.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend my colleague, the gentleman from
Hawaii (Mr. Case), for honoring Patsy Mink with the postal designation.
I would also like to thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis),
the chairman, and the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), the
ranking member, for moving this bill to the House floor and Anne
Stewart of the gentleman from Hawaii's (Mr. Case) staff for her hard
work.
I urge swift passage of this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers at this
moment. Therefore, I will reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the
gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case), the author of this legislation.
(Mr. CASE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)

[[Page H5121]]

Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I thank both of my colleagues for their very
fine comments.
Mr. Speaker, just 9 months ago, in the middle of her campaign for a
13th House term, a campaign which she most certainly would have won
resoundingly and, in fact, did win posthumously, the late United States
Representative Patsy Takemoto Mink was tragically lost to her beloved
Hawaii, this Congress, our country, and our world.
The days, weeks, and months that followed witnessed a massive
outpouring of first shock and disbelief, then sorrow and regret and,
finally, remembrance and gratitude for this singular life.
As just a few representative examples, we had a deeply moving
memorial service in the U.S. Capitol here as well as in the Hawaii
State capitol back in Hawaii attended by many of our colleagues here.
This House published a beautiful memorial volume that memorialized
the many eulogies given to Mrs. Mink on this floor and a volume for
which I want to relay the deep gratitude of the Mink family, husband
John, daughter Wendy, brother Eugene.
The students at the University of Hawaii Law School Richardson School
of Law, on their own initiative, created and funded the Patsy Mink
Memorial Fellowship for the purpose of providing an internship here in
the U.S. Congress each year to a person in Mrs. Mink's liking.

{time} 1415

I am very proud to say the first Mink fellow, Van Luong, joined my
office last week, and she reminds me a lot of Mrs. Mink.
There also were and continue to be a multitude of testimonials on her
lasting legislative accomplishments, and I want to leave to the
colleagues that come after me to document those one more time because
they know better than I do what she accomplished here.
But maybe what struck me the most, when I went out to campaign to
take over the representation that she had so well provided to the
Second Congressional District in what is still to this day referred to
as Patsy Mink's seat, the testimonies from the ordinary people, the
people that she touched during her life, the people that she
represented, like the longtime friend in Lihue who was sick and who
Patsy visited in the hospital just 2 days before she went into the
hospital herself; like the taro farmers in Kipahulu on Maui, they
wanted to show her their lo'i, and the only way for her to do that was
to put on boots and walk out there in a very remote part of our
district, and she did that. And the pig hunter in Waimen on the Big
Island; he had an issue, and the only way to show her what that issue
was was to take her into the forest where he lived. She went.
These testimonials are the testimonies that really count, but they
can really only give testament to the fact that her remembrances are
her best legacy. But it is entirely appropriate that we honor her with
a more tangible reminder that will serve as a constant physical
remembrance of her and cause us to reflect on what she stood for.
So as I talked about this with John Mink after my election, he
relayed his wish, later endorsed by others such as the Maui County
Council, that the U.S. Post Office at Paia be renamed the Patsy
Takemoto Mink Post Office. I want to tell Members about Paia very
briefly. Paia is on the north shore of Maui on the slopes of Haleakala.
Near Paia, only about a mile away, is a town called Hamakuapoko. It
used to be a thriving plantation village. It is not quite that anymore,
a time when sugar and pine were prevalent, and this is where Patsy
Takemoto Mink was born in 1927 and was raised in all of the good and
not so good of Hawaii in the 1930s and the 1940s, the community where
the old Maui High School is located where Mrs. Mink's political career
began when she ran successfully for student body president, the first
woman to accomplish that position, the first of many firsts along those
lines.
In short, this is where she came from, where her values were forged,
where her spirit was lit, and it represents the people's traditions and
beliefs that she never forgot. This is a fitting memorial for Patsy
Takemoto Mink, and I urge my colleagues' full support, and I thank them
for further consideration of a great Hawaiian and a great American.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman
from Massachusetts (Mr. Tierney).
Mr. TIERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I am proud cosponsor of this legislation
here today, a bill to commemorate the remarkable life and tremendous
achievements of a woman who served with great distinction in the House
of Representatives. To Patsy's friends, to her husband John, her
daughter Wendy, and her brother Eugene, I offer my condolences as we
remember her today.
Over the past few months, we have all missed the presence of her in
our lives, and we know if she was still with us today, Patsy would be
fighting for the rights of women and girls through Title 9, and
fighting to see that this country lives up to its responsibilities to
provide economic opportunity for all Americans, and she would be
promoting democratic values and human rights and international
cooperation abroad in Iraq and throughout the world.
She leaves a powerful legacy, and I will leave it to others to go on,
item by item, but we know she broke down many, many barriers, first for
herself and then for others. She left a legacy for millions of working
families that she helped lift out of poverty with education and job
training programs, ranging from the war on poverty to welfare reform.
And she helped a whole generation of female student athletes for whom
she drafted and implemented title IX.
I was proud to serve with Patsy on both the Committee on Education
and the Workforce and on the Committee on Government Reform where she
gave voice to the voiceless every day that she served. Patsy provided
vision, courage and leadership, speaking out on all of the vital issues
of the day and inspiring those of us who served with her with her fiery
oration and a mastery of education, economic, and labor issues.
Mr. Speaker, she mixed her persuasive powers with the chocolate
macadamia nuts that she used to pass out to all. Her memory will long
remain here and in Hawaii for another generation of young women and
Americans for the work she did.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON).
(Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas asked and was given permission to
revise and extend her remarks.)
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of
H.R. 2030, the legislation to designate a Post Office in Hawaii for
Patsy Mink. I know I am not alone in support of honoring our dear
friend and former colleague, Congresswoman Patsy Mink.
Mr. Speaker, Patsy Mink fought tirelessly during her career for
improved education. Ms. Mink's coalition-building ability for
progressive legislation continued during her tenure in Congress. She
introduced the first comprehensive Early Childhood Education Act and
authored the Women's Educational Equity Act. Patsy was knowledgeable
and courageous and she was committed to people. I am certainly proud to
have had the opportunity to serve with her and learn from her example.
I miss her, and the people of Hawaii miss her, and her colleagues
fondly remember her commitment and devotion to public service.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2030, legislation to designate
a post office in Hawaii as the Pasty Mink Post Office Building. I know
I am not alone in support of honoring our dear friend and former
colleague, Congresswoman Patsy Mink.
Throughout her career, Patsy Mink was a trailblazer among Asian-
American women. Born in Maui in December of 1928, she was encouraged to
excel in the world of academia. Her life was a continuous breaking down
of barriers: the first woman to be elected to the Territorial House,
the first Asian-American woman to practice law in Hawaii, and the first
woman of color elected to Congress.
Mr. Speaker, there was no hurdle our dear friend Patsy could not
overcome. After obtaining her law degree from the University of Chicago
in 1951, she decided to open her own law practice when no one was
willing to hire her. During this time, getting a job in the legal field
for women was very difficult. She seamlessly combined her work,
marriage, and life as a new mother.
In 1965, Patsy Mink was elected to Congress and began the first of
six consecutive terms in the House of Representatives.

[[Page H5122]]

Mr. Speaker, Patsy fought tirelessly during her career for improved
education. Mink's coalition-building ability for progressive
legislation continued during her tenure in Congress. She introduced the
first comprehensive Early Childhood Education Act and authored the
Women's Educational Equity Act.
Patsy Mink was a trailblazer and fighter for her constituents in
Hawaii, as well as the rest of the nation. She was a solid supporter of
the Congressional Black Caucus and for that I am grateful. As a
disciplined and focused advocate for the voiceless, she will be forever
etched in our hearts and commitment to this body.
Patsy was a knowledgeable, courageous women--committed to people. I
am certainly proud to have had the opportunity to serve with her and
learn from her example. I will miss her, and the people of Hawaii will
miss her and her colleagues will fondly remember her commitment,
determination, and devotion to public service.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson).
(Ms. WATSON asked and was given permission to revise and extend her
remarks.)
Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2030
that will designate the Patsy Takemoto Mink Post Office Building in
Hawaii. I want to thank the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case) for
introducing this bill so we may once again pay tribute to an
outstanding United States Congresswoman.
I was deeply saddened by the passing of Patsy Mink last year. Working
with Patsy has been one of the highlights of my short time in Congress.
As the first minority woman elected to Congress, Patsy Mink has always
been an inspiration to me as an elected official. I learned firsthand
the remarkable work Patsy was doing 30 years ago when title IX was
passed, and as a member of the Los Angeles Unified School Board at the
time, I was charged with implementing a title IX plan for the Los
Angeles Community College system.
Ever since then, I followed Patsy Mink's public service career
closely, including her tireless fight on behalf of the Economic Justice
and Civil Rights for All. During the 107th Congress, I had the
opportunity to work with Patsy in putting together a comprehensive
welfare reform program. I was able to spend quality time with her
during a trip to Sacramento to collect data on our welfare reform
program we had written in California. During the process of putting her
legislation together, Patsy never backed down and never compromised on
protecting and addressing the needs. Although our efforts were
unsuccessful, it was a great honor to work with a true champion for
American values and ideas. Thank you, Patsy, for all you have done for
all of us.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie).
Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, it is kind of an amazing thing that all
of us are coming down to the floor with 1 minute or 2 minutes to try to
summarize our feelings about Patsy. I could not possibly even begin to
do that. Forty-three years of my life was involved with Patsy when I
was a student and supporter of hers, and then as a colleague. To say
that the people coming down to this floor loved Patsy, admired her and
respected her, hardly does justice to those words.
There will never, ever be another person on this floor like Patsy
Mink. When the history of the House of Representatives is written, she
will be in the pantheon of heroes, those who exemplify the People's
House. If there was ever anyone who embodied what it was that made this
country great, someone who came from immigrant circumstances to the
highest echelons of government, and never forgot where she came from
and who she was and what and who she represented, it was Patsy Mink.
She was more than a friend and more than a colleague. She was a
beacon to all of us who serve here hope to be. We all take our oath of
office here to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States,
and we are only here because of the faith and trust of the people in
our districts. Never, ever, has anyone upheld better that faith and
trust that our constituents have given to us than Patsy Mink. Patsy,
you live with us and you live in this House, the people's House,
forever.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
(Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise
and extend her remarks.)
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Davis) for yielding me this time, and I thank the
gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case) for the generosity and attitude that
you have brought to this House following such a giant legacy, and of
course to the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie) who has always
been a champion on the issues of social justice, alongside his very
dear friend, Patsy Mink.
We have been honored by allowing us to have an opportunity to say a
few words again about the Honorable Congresswoman Patsy Mink. We were
honored to have shared in her home-going service in Hawaii, getting to
see her family members and all of her friends. But more importantly,
you have given us an opportunity once again to tell America what a
champion, what a hero, what an enormous giant of a woman, the first
minority woman who served in the United States Congress.
I close simply by saying this is the appropriate honoring. I hope we
will honor her more, not only with Post Office buildings, but with
legislation commemorating her valiant service. Finally, we would not be
here, equal as women and equal as athletes in performance, if it had
not been for Patsy Mink, title IX, her love of women's causes and her
love of education. This is an appropriate tribute.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2030 to pay tribute to a great
colleague and personal friend, the Honorable Patsy Takamoto Mink.
Congresswoman Mink passed away on September 28, 2002, after serving 12
terms in the House of Representatives. She was posthumously re-elected
in November 2002 for a thirteenth.
Congresswoman Mink was a remarkable woman in this chamber and
throughout her life. Her interest and activism in politics started
early, at the University of Nebraska, where she fought and won a battle
against race segregated student housing. After gender discrimination
kept her from prestigious medical schools, she was accepted to the
University of Chicago Law School. Congresswoman Mink joined the NAACP
in the early days of the civil rights movements in the 1960s. She was
one of the few Asian American members of the organization. Then, in
1965, Hawaii elected her the first woman of color in Congress.
Congresswoman Mink was an outspoken advocate for women, children,
laborers, minorities and the poor. He visions of bettering this country
lead to legislation supporting early childhood education and family
medical leave. She also authored and ardently supported the Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) bill that provided special
protections for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
One of Congresswoman Mink's most significant actions in this House
was her role as co-author of the Title IX legislation, prohibiting
gender discrimination. Title IX requires equal support fro men and
women in academics and athletics at any institution receiving federal
money. This legislation has affected every school and college campus
across the country for the better.

Recently, the Administration has threatened to dismantle Title IX and
the progress that has been made to create equal opportunities for women
and girls. We have come too far in the struggle for fairness to turn
back now. Congresswoman Mink not only helped to create the Title IX
legislation but she fought to maintain it. Consequently, after her
death, Title IX was renamed the ``Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in
Education Act.''
Congresswoman Mink was a fighter. She knew what it was to knock down
doors and worked to keep them open for the women who would follow her.
She changed the course of history and caused transformation in the
lives of millions of men and women, boys and girls. For that reason, it
is my privilege to stand in support of this bill to name a post office
in her honor.
Many of us have witnessed Congresswoman Mink's fiery style,
particularly when she spoke out about social causes. Patsy Mink wanted
to see society become more equitable. She worked tirelessly to promote
policies that truly addressed the realities of poverty and to promote
education that would allow individuals to attain self-sufficiency.
Without question, she was an effective leader. In 1992, McCall's
magazine named Congresswoman Mink one of the 10 best legislators in
Congress. Recently, in 2002, the National Organization for Women (NOW)
named her a ``Woman of Vision.''
I wish Congresswoman Mink were here with us today, still leading the
crusade to help children and the working poor. She would not

[[Page H5123]]

stand idly by while those on the other side of the aisle exclude
millions of low-income families from the Child Tax credit while giving
away tax benefits to the wealthy. In this chamber, we could only
benefit from her wisdom and her voice on this issue, to protect the
real interests of all Americans, and not simply the wealthy elite.
Congresswoman Patsy Mink is dearly missed, not only as a
Congresswoman and friend, but also as a tireless advocate for positive
change in this country. We must not lose sight of her vision to promote
equity among the differing segments of society.
I support H.R. 2030 to honor Congresswoman Patsy Takemoto Mink. I
will work to continue her legacy. I will start now, by working to
prevent the Administration from trying to pry open the gaps in equity
that Congresswoman Mink worked so tirelessly to close.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the
gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo).
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2030
authored by the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case) honoring the late
Congresswoman Patsy Takemoto Mink and naming the Post Office in Maui
for her.

{time} 1430

My association with, and admiration for, Patsy Mink goes back many
years to the time that her husband, John, had done some work on Guam.
Those of us living in the Pacific islands heard many stories of the
legendary Patsy Mink, and it was my good fortune to know her as a
friend and a role model. She blazed trails as a woman leader and
Pacific Islander that we have eagerly followed and showed us that women
can make a huge difference for children and families in our islands.
She endorsed my candidacy for Congress just before the November
election, 2002. Guam will always remember Congresswoman Patsy Mink, and
we will always be grateful for all the causes that she championed on
our behalf.
Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in honoring her for her service and
for being a true inspiration for women throughout the Pacific.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters).
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois for
yielding me this time and thank the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case)
for offering this important and very well-deserved tribute.
Patsy Mink was a friend of mine. We worked on many projects together
long before I was ever elected to the Congress of the United States.
Mr. Speaker, our dear departed friend and colleague, Patsy Mink, was a
giant. No one among our elected officials stood taller in addressing
the needs of the poor, the disenfranchised, and the workers of this
country than Patsy Mink.
As the first minority woman elected to the Congress and the first
Japanese-American woman admitted to the bar in Hawaii, Patsy was a
pioneer who shattered the glass ceiling, a trailblazer who cleared the
path for women and minorities to take their rightful place in all
aspects of public life.
As always, had she been here with us, Patsy would be leading the
fight to restore the child tax credit for low-income working Americans
and to reorient our priorities to protecting the vulnerable, not
rewarding the privileged. We Democrats will fight this battle for a
child tax credit for low-income working Americans and their children in
Patsy's memory and we will not rest until it is won.
While she probably would have been embarrassed by the attention, it
is wonderful that this House will take time to honor Congresswoman Mink
and her constituents by renaming the post office for her.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield
1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey).
(Ms. WOOLSEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend her
remarks.)
Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand here and recognize the
many contributions that Patsy Takemoto Mink made to the people of this
country, particularly to the girls and women of this country. And I am
equally proud that she will be honored by a post office in her home
State named after Patsy Mink. I was privileged to serve with Patsy on
the House Committee on Education and the Workforce from the beginning
of my tenure in 1992. She was my mentor and my friend, and I miss her
every day.
Besides being the first woman of color to serve in the House of
Representatives, Patsy Takemoto Mink helped craft landmark legislation
for girls and women across the country during her 24 years in Congress.
In the early seventies, Patsy played the central congressional role in
the enactment of title IX, prohibiting gender discrimination by
federally funded institutions.
But title IX was not Patsy's only contribution to girls and women of
America. Patsy also authored the Women's Educational Equity Act, WEEA.
WEEA remains the primary resource for teachers and parents seeking
information on proven methods to ensure gender equity in their schools
and their communities. In fact, while this Congress is reauthorizing
Head Start, I can hear Patsy's passionate and intelligent voice
demanding that we not decimate this successful program by block
granting any or all of it to the States. Her voice is missed. I hear it
in my ears. I hope the people on the other side of the aisle can hear
it in their ears so that we will do the right thing.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Solis).
(Ms. SOLIS asked and was given permission to revise and extend her
remarks.)
Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today also to join with my colleagues
in celebrating Patsy Mink. We are going to honor her by naming a post
office after her, but she deserves so much more. She was a wonderful
human being whom I had a chance to know in my first term here in
Congress. She was a warrior, a warrior in the sense that she fought for
those who were voiceless. She was a champion for women's rights,
equality, civil rights and environmental justice, someone whom I
believe will always be remembered in the halls here of Congress. She
was a role model not only to women of color but also to the many, many
young women who were striving for equality in the sports field, to even
the playing field. Today with much honor, I wear a symbol of shattering
the glass ceiling. This pin that I am wearing, this brooch, symbolizes
women breaking through and challenging and shattering the glass
ceiling. Patsy Mink was one of those warriors, someone who was always
constantly testing our tenacity, encouraging us as women and new
Members here in the House to step forward. She was tremendous in the
arguments and debates that occurred on welfare reform. Even though we
did not get what we wanted, she was there.
I commend the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case) and the gentleman from
Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie), who are paying tribute to her. She is a
wonderful individual. I would ask our colleagues to support this
measure.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 1
minute to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones), the first African
American woman on the Committee on Ways and Means.
(Mrs. JONES of Ohio asked and was given permission to revise and
extend her remarks.)
Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, this afternoon I am so pleased to
have an opportunity to join with my colleagues on both sides of the
aisle to celebrate Congresswoman Patsy Mink. As a trial lawyer, I used
to litigate equal employment opportunity cases. One of the cases I had
involved a school system wherein the women coaches were claiming that
they were not paid the same amount of money as male coaches for doing
lots of work. I remember doing some research and learning about Patsy
Mink. Little did I know that I would ever have the opportunity to serve
in the House of Representatives with such a great woman.
Patsy, I want you to know that I am keeping the faith and working on
your behalf and working to keep your name in high regard. I hosted
previously the NCAA women's volleyball championships in the city of
Cleveland back in 1998; but I want you to know that in 2006, your
girlfriend will be hosting the NCAA women's basketball finals in the
city of Cleveland. I am going to do it in your name and in your
support. Thank you, Patsy, for all you do.

[[Page H5124]]

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time
I have left.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Duncan). The gentleman from Illinois has
1 minute remaining.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the
gentlewoman from Florida if we might be able to use some of the time on
her side.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would be glad to yield 10 minutes to
the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from
Illinois will control an additional 10 minutes.
There was no objection.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for
yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, we have heard speaker after speaker take to the floor
and talk about the virtues and attributes of Patsy Mink. To a person,
they have all talked about how fiery, how dynamic, how pointed and how
relevant she was and how much she meant to this institution.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from
Ohio (Ms. Kaptur).
Ms. KAPTUR. I thank the distinguished gentleman from Illinois for
yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, in 1 minute I cannot possibly do justice to our dear
colleague and friend, Patsy Mink. But the other day in Ohio I had an
experience; and I said, Patsy, if your amendment had passed, we would
not be in this situation where we have hundreds, indeed thousands, of
students lined up in our community awaiting admission to nursing school
and they cannot be admitted because the Workforce Investment Act does
not allow the funds to be used for education for career training, only
for storage of people at bottom feeder jobs in this economy. I thought,
Patsy, if your amendment had passed, thousands and thousands and
thousands of people across this country who are in the unemployment
lines, who are unable to advance their careers, would already be in the
workforce. I thought, I miss you so much. You tried so hard.
What a great woman. She accomplished so much--Title IX, her
leadership here on education issues, the first woman of color ever
elected to the Congress of the United States. What an incisive
intellect, what an intelligent and persevering woman and someone who
made a difference in the lives of people across this country. It is my
deepest, deepest privilege to say I support the proposal to name the
post office in Hawaii in her name. She is missed every day here. We
thank her, and we thank her family for her devoted service to our
country.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie) for some further reflections.
Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I indicated in my previous remarks that
we were limited in our opportunities to be able to speak about Patsy
and I thought perhaps that it might offer an opportunity had we been
able to extend our time, and I want to say how much we appreciate that
we have had this opportunity to have a few more minutes to do it.
Not everyone may recognize the side of Patsy that was so familiar to
us in Hawaii, because obviously we saw her as the dynamo of legislative
activity here in Washington. But I think perhaps not everyone
recognized or understood until they came to Hawaii and had the
opportunity to see from whence Hawaii Patsy came as to what molded her
as a person.
For the young people that are here today observing the remarks here
on the floor, they may not fully comprehend what it was to be female
and Japanese-American and smart and have to try and come up. We take a
lot of these things for granted. She was in fact the pioneer, not just
in Hawaii but throughout the Nation, for indicating what could be
accomplished with those kinds of strikes against her. She turned that
adversity into accomplishment. For that reason, if for that reason
alone, she stands as the standard for which every young woman and every
young man who comes from humble circumstances can aspire. With Patsy
Mink, you had someone who was not just a friend, not someone who was
just a standard bearer, but you had someone who set the foundation for
all those who came after.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure now to yield 4
minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the Democratic
leader and a longtime friend and associate of Patsy Mink's.
Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Davis) for yielding me this time and for his leadership
in bringing this to the floor. I want to commend the gentleman from
Hawaii (Mr. Case), the author of this legislation, and the gentleman
from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie). I am pleased to join both of them in
honoring Patsy Takemoto Mink.
I rise in support of naming the post office on Maui, Hawaii, as the
Patsy Takemoto Mink Post Office Building. Everyone who knew Patsy or
worked with her on a daily basis had his or her day brightened by her
presence. With her wonderful family and her magnificent education,
Patsy could have led a comfortable life, away from the rough and tumble
world of politics. But as has been said of Eleanor Roosevelt, Patsy had
a ``burdensome conscience.'' She dedicated her life to helping people
and challenging our consciences.
Our colleagues have spoken, as I heard the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr.
Abercrombie) speak, to the obstacles that Patsy Mink had to overcome,
as she was the first woman, the first Japanese-American in her law
school, in her class; the first Asian-American woman attorney in
Hawaii. She broke so many barriers. She was a pioneer.

{time} 1445

As I said, she considered public service a noble calling, and her
public service was distinguished by deep patriotism and love of
America. She loved America because of our freedoms, which are the envy
of the world. She loved America because of its people, whose diversity
is the strength of our country. She loved America because of the beauty
of our country, which she worked so hard to preserve on the Committee
on Resources.
Patsy worked on the Committee on Education and the Workforce and was
dedicated to improving the quality of education and the quality of life
for children. When Patsy said ``It is not right'' about something,
Members would follow her anywhere.
I had the privilege of speaking at Patsy's funeral service, and I
told a story then that I think speaks to how irresistible she was and
how she would never take no for an answer and how we were all at the
mercy of her smile and the twinkle in her eye.
She had said to me one day, ``I need you to come speak in Hawaii at
my testimonial dinner, 25 years of service in the Congress.'' How
exciting and honored I was, except it was on the day of my town meeting
in San Francisco. It was a Saturday evening for her then.
She said, ``What time is your town meeting?''
I said, ``It is 10 o'clock in the morning and it lasts 2 hours.''
She said, ``Fine. You can be on the 1 o'clock to Hawaii.''
I said, ``I have another town meeting on Sunday.''
She said, ``Fine. You can be on the red-eye to go back.''
So I took the 1 o'clock flight to Hawaii, got there at 5 o'clock, got
to the event at 6, left at 9, and was on the 10 o'clock flight home to
San Francisco, as Patsy had decided for me. That was sandwiched in
between flights to and from Washington, D.C. But there was no way to
say no to her, because she had done so much for our country, because
she meant so much to all of us. She had championed so many issues. We
all loved her, respected her, and miss her terribly.
So I cannot help but think that if Patsy were here today, she would
be concerned about the expansion of the child tax credit and saying it
is not right for us not to extend it to all the children of our men and
women in uniform, as well as our working families in America. I wish
she were here today.
I know she would be proud of the representation of Hawaii that is
here now, in the person of the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case), and,
of course, her close pal and buddy and former colleague for many years,
the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie).
Patsy Mink left a powerful legacy. Again, with a twinkle in her eye,
her dazzling smile and her wonderful laugh,

[[Page H5125]]

Patsy worked her magic on our country, making history and progress
along the way. We were all privileged to call her ``colleague,'' and it
is an honor to have this building named for the great Patsy Mink, and,
important to her family, the Patsy Takemoto Mink Postal Building in
Maui, Hawaii.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from California for her
remarks and comments.
Mr. Speaker, I do want to express my appreciation to you for your
accommodation and to the gentlewoman from Florida. Patsy Mink was a
great American, a great representative for this body, and thousands of
people all over the world were inspired by her. Long before I became a
Member of Congress, I was inspired by Patsy Mink.
Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. I yield to the gentlewoman from California.
Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, in my friendship with the Case family, which
includes the recently departed Dan Case, he was a great person in our
country and came from a beautiful, magnificent family of leaders, and
among them was Dan Case and is Steve Case. But we are blessed in this
House for Patsy to have been followed by the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr.
Case). The Case family is a family I know well, and Hawaii is well
represented by the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case).
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, again I want to thank the gentleman from Hawaii for
introducing this important legislation. We all worked with
Congresswoman Patsy Mink and respected her. She will always be in our
prayers, and her family as well.
I urge all Members to support the adoption of this important
resolution.
Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege today to
come to the podium in support of the measure to honor a truly memorable
colleague, the Honorable Patsy Takemoto Mink by naming the post office
in Paia, Maui for her.
When I came to Congress as a freshman member, it was so inspiring to
serve on a committee with a role model who has made a real mark on our
society through her lengthy service in the House of Representatives.
Whenever Patsy took the microphone in the Education and the Workforce
Committee, everyone knew that her comments would be principled,
measured from the institutional knowledge of years working on
persistent issues, and delivered with articulate passion. I admired her
penchant for considering strategy--was it better to accept half a loaf
this year or wait until next year to try to get the whole loaf. I
respected her willingness always to stand up for people who were
disadvantaged. Her priorities for education, housing, and health care
match mine, and I valued her leadership in keeping that focus clear.
It was an honor for me to join her at this podium on June 19, 2002 in
the commemoration of the thirtieth anniversary of Title IX. Seldom does
one get to join forces with one of the original sponsors of legislation
that was not only landmark legislation for our country but was so
formative for my children's generation. When I was a local school board
member, we had to work hard to change the culture of our society to
implement the equality embodied in this bill.
As we all spoke that day of the importance of this legislation,
little did we imagine that her influence on the national conscience was
soon to end. But, surely, she lived the battle for equal opportunity
that Title IX codified.
I am awed by the fact that in 1951 she earned a law degree from the
University of Chicago, one of the country's premier institutions. Most
of us know that the two women members of the Supreme Court who
subsequently earned their law degrees struggled to find openings to
practice their profession. She, too, demonstrated that equal
opportunity was right for women in a field where women were not well
appreciated.
It is important that in addition to practicing law, her skills were
valued so that President Carter invited her to serve the executive
branch in the Department of State.
Naming a post office in her beloved Maui in her honor will remind us
all of the issues which empowered her life--working for children--their
education, their homes and their health care. I thank her for showing
us the way.
Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 2030, a resolution
designating the facility of the United States Postal Service located at
120 Baldwin Avenue in Paia, Maui, Hawaii, as the ``Patsy Takemoto Mink
Post Office Building''.
Patsy was an outstanding leader, woman, mother, and friend, and I
believe that naming a post office after her is a great tribute to a
people's champion.
I believe Patsy spoke not only for the forgotten, the
disenfranchised, and the poor, but also to the conscience of all
Americans. She was my colleague and dear friend who helped lead the
charge on providing real reforms that helped all people across the
country.
Patsy stood as the standard for all legislators to rise to. Over the
span of her career, she was particularly proud of the leading role she
played in 1972 during the passage of Title IX of the Federal Education
Act. She helped open many opportunities for women, which reflected a
long-standing concern for equality, liberty and justice for people.
I also shared her passion for peace and mediation. She once said,
``America is not a country which needs to demand conformity of all its
people, for its strength lies in all our diversities converging in one
common belief, that of the importance of freedom as the essence of our
country.''
I loved and respected Patsy for her courage and fortitude.
A great woman in Congress, Patsy Mink was brilliant, full of
compassion, and passion; always working tirelessly for equal justice,
liberty, and the value of a diverse legislative body.
I'm proud to have served beside Congresswoman Patsy Mink and miss her
tremendously. I ask that all of my colleagues support passage of H.R.
2030.
Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 2030, the Patsy
Takemoto Mink Post Office Building offered by Representative Ed Case.
Congresswoman Patsy Mink was a trailblazer who fought for the passage
of the Women's Educational Equity Act--landmark legislation. This
groundbreaking legislation, Title IX, promoted educational equity and
opened the playing fields for millions of girls and women. Patsy Mink
stood up and spoke up for girls and women.
She was a member of the Government Reform Committee and I am please
that I had the opportunity to work with her. She will be missed but her
legacy will continue not only in the naming of this post office but in
the legislative policies she supported.
I join my colleagues in honoring Patsy Mink for her service and for
being a true role model for women and all Americans.
Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, in the nine months since we lost the
irrepressible Congresswoman Patsy Takemoto Mink, my colleagues and
communities across the Nation have celebrated the incredible ``firsts''
and the numerous battles that Patsy waged on the behalf of Americans
who needed a voice in federal policymaking the most.
Congresswoman Mink's record as an advocate for civil rights is
unassailable, a crowing achievement being the passage of Title IX of
the federal education amendments in 1972. This landmark legislation
banned gender discrimination in schools, both in academic and
athletics.
She awakened all of our social consciousness through her tireless
advocacy, work and dedication; inspiring students, community leaders,
political appointees and especially elected officials of the Asian
Pacific American communities and beyond.
Anyone who was fortunate enough to have been touched by her life
knows that this nation has lost a true warrior in the constant struggle
for justice. We will all miss her counsel and guidance, as well as her
friendship.
Patsy Mink was there at the beginning of many things. She was born at
the time when women and minorities were not given fair opportunities to
achieve their dreams. She remains a role model for countless women, as
well as those of us from the Asian American and Pacific Islander
community.
Though she is not physically present, her spirit and legacy will live
on through those of us who believe that the fight for fairness and
equity is never over. I find it a very fitting tribute to pass H.R.
2030. This post office located in Pa`ia, Maui will be a constant
reminder to us of our great friend Patsy Mink and is the least we can
do to ensure her legacy continues.
Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, today I want to speak in favor
of renaming the U.S. Postal Service office in Paia, Hawaii the ``Patsy
Takemoto Mink Post Office Building.'' We do this in honor of the legacy
of a pioneering woman and one of the most distinguished and honorable
Members of the House of Representatives, my colleague and my friend--
Congresswoman Patsy Mink. I am so pleased to have had an opportunity to
know her and serve with her.
Without Patsy's leadership, the passage of the hallmark Title IX of
the Federal Education Act of 1972 would never have come to pass. Thanks
to Patsy's hard work, Title IX created

[[Page H5126]]

opportunities for women and girls in athletics and all operations of
college and university programs.
I shall remember her as a giant who spoke in gentle but very fierce
and deliberate tones, and whose stature allowed her to tower above the
crowds. Patsy challenged us all the time with the question ``Does it
matter whether women are involved in politics?'' Her career exemplifies
the answer. Her voice is now stilled, but her ideals and the challenges
she left for us will forever be etched in our memory.
Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2030, a bill
to designate the United States Postal Service facility located at 120
Baldwin Avenue in Paia, Maui, Hawaii, as the ``Patsy Takemoto Mink Post
Office Building.'' I want to thank my colleague from Hawaii, Mr. Case,
for introducing this bill, and ask all of my colleagues to join with me
in supporting this legislation to ensure that the people of Hawaii and
all those who visit there remember this remarkable woman.
I cannot say enough about Patsy Mink. She was a trailblazer--the
first woman of color elected to Congress in 1964, the first Asian-
American woman to practice law in Hawaii, the first woman president of
the Americans for Democratic Action, the list goes on . . . By the time
I was elected to Congress in 1978, she had already won passage of a
major piece of civil rights legislation: Title IX expanded
opportunities to female student athletes across the United States.
Mindful of the beautiful region she represented, Patsy was also
fiercely committed to protecting our natural resources and fought to
ensure a healthy environment for all Americans. And her work on welfare
reform later in her career reflected her fundamental belief that
families living in poverty deserve the opportunity to share in the
America dream. The country has benefited tremendously from Patsy's
dedication to her values and her devotion to social progress. And those
who had the privilege to know her benefited from her warmth, kindness,
and friendship.
Patsy Mink's unyielding commitment to issues of social justice and
equality will be deeply missed in the House, as will her friendship and
leadership. I urge my colleagues to support this bill as a small token
of appreciation for all that Patsy Mink gave to this body, the people
of Hawaii, and our great nation. As we remember her today, let us hope
that naming this building in her honor will inspire others to follow
her example of tireless dedication to public service.
Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this
bill, which designates a post office in Paia, Maui County, Hawaii as
the Patsy Takemoto Mink Post Office Building. Patsy Mink served in the
House of Representatives from 1964 to 1977 and again from 1990 to 2002.
The world lost one of its greatest citizens, and I lost a good friend
when she passed away on September 28, 2002.
One of her greatest legislative accomplishments, she felt, was the
passage of Title IX, which led to expanded opportunities for women and
girls in athletics and academics. In the last decade of her political
leadership, she was a tireless advocate on behalf of poor families,
working to promote policies that addressed the realities of poverty.
During the 107th Congress, she garnered substantial support for
legislation to provide additional educational opportunities for the
nation's welfare recipients. Patsy Mink also helped write environmental
protection laws safeguarding land and water in communities affected by
coal strip mining.
It is certainly fitting that we acknowledge this outstanding woman's
accomplishments by naming a post office in her honor, and I thank
Representative Ed Case for his stewardship of this bill. Patsy Mink's
life of public service spanned six decades, beginning in 1956 when she
was elected to the Territorial House in Hawaii. In 1964 she was elected
to the House of Representatives and was one of the early opponents of
the Vietnam War. President Jimmy Carter appointed her as assistant
secretary of state for oceans, international, environmental and
scientific affairs from 1977 to 1978, and she served as the national
president for Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) from 1978 to 1981.
Following her tenure as ADA president, she returned to politics,
serving on the Honolulu City Council, and in a 1990 special election,
she regained her Congressional seat.
Patsy Mink was an exemplary role model for women and minorities, and
it is a pleasure and an honor to pay homage to a cherished colleague,
who is no longer here, but certainly not forgotten.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2030, a bill
to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service in Paia,
Maui, Hawaii as the Patsy Takemoto Mink Post Office Building. Patsy
served as my mentor, my teacher, my advisor and most importantly, my
friend. Congresswoman Mink was a woman of courage and determination who
wore the mantle of leader with ease.
Born to immigrant parents in Hawaii, Patsy developed an appreciation
for education at a young age. She obtained a Bachelor's degree from the
University of Hawaii and, as we all know, it was Patsy's intent to
attend medical school upon completion of her bachelor's degree.
However, Patsy never realized this dream as none of the 20 medical
schools to which she applied would accept women.
Not one to stand idly by, Patsy decided to attend the University of
Chicago's Law School. Upon graduating from law school, Patsy returned
to Hawaii where she became the first Asian-American woman to practice
law in Hawaii. This was just one of many firsts Patsy would accomplish.
Congresswoman Patsy Mink was the first woman of color elected to
Congress and introduced the first comprehensive Early Childhood
Education Act. Most notably, Patsy was a co-author of Title IX of the
Higher Education Act, an Act which has played a pivotal role in
expanding women's educational and sports opportunities in colleges and
universities throughout our country.
Patsy also faced life's hardships with dignity, integrity and honor.
I believe it is only fitting that we now honor Patsy by designating the
U.S. Postal facility in Paia, Maui in her name. I urge my colleagues to
support H.R. 2030.
Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2030, a bill to
designate a post office in Paia, Maui, Hawaii in honor of dear
colleague and friend, Patsy Mink.
Congresswoman Mink was an advocate, mentor, and inspiration for Asian
American and Pacific Islander communities. Mrs. Mink was the first
Asian American woman elected to Congress, and she served the APA
community as chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.
She blazed trails for many of us, and encouraged students, community
leaders, and APA elected officials to get involved with the legislative
process.
Mrs. Mink's career in public service was defined by her commitment to
giving a voice for those who needed it most. A prominent member of
Congress, she worked tirelessly on behalf of women and minorities,
focusing on issues such as civil rights, education, the environment,
and poverty.
I am honored to have served with her, both in the Congressional Asian
Pacific American Caucus and in the Education and Work Force Committee.
Her endless dedication to public service was a guiding example to all
of us. Above all, I will miss her friendship.
I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 2030.
Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, just nine months ago, in the middle of her
campaign for a thirteenth House term, which she most certainly would
have won resoundingly and in fact did win posthumously, the late United
States Representative Patsy Takemoto Mink was tragically lost to her
beloved Hawai`i, this Congress, our country, and our very world.
The days, weeks, and months that followed witnessed a massive
outpouring of first shock and disbelief, then sorrow and regret, and
finally remembrance and gratitude for this singular life.
As just a few examples:
A deeply moving memorial service was held in our Hawai`i State
Capitol, graciously attended by many of Mrs. Mink's colleagues from
this House, including now-Minority Leader Pelosi and Education and the
Workforce Ranking Member Miller, and thousands of grateful citizens of
Hawai`i and beyond;
This House published a beautiful memorial volume containing the many
eulogies delivered by Mrs. Mink's colleagues on this House floor, and I
want my colleagues to know how deeply grateful the Mink family--husband
John, daughter Wendy, brother Eugene--are for that gesture; and
The students at the University of Hawai`i Richardson School of Law,
on their own initiative, created and funded the Patsy T. Mink Memorial
Fellowship for the purpose of providing an internship here in our
Congress each year to a person in Mrs. Mink's making; the first Mink
Fellow, Van Luong, joined my office last week and, you know, she
reminds me of Mrs. Mink.
There also were and continued to be a multitude of testimonials on
her lasting legislative accomplishments. My colleagues that will follow
me and know of her exploits in this arena can tell this story best.
But perhaps what struck me most amidst this outpouring were the
simple testimonials I heard, as I sought election to what is still
referred to as ``Patsy Mink's seat,'' from the ordinary people out
across Hawai`i's great Second District; the people she represented and
lived for, like:
The longtime friend in Lihu`e on Kaua`i, who Patsy, herself sick,
visited in the hospital there just days before she herself was
admitted;
The taro farmers in Kipahulu, Maui, about as remote a place as there
is in Hawai`i, who asked Patsy to come and see their problem
personally, and she did, donning boots and walking through their lo`i;
and

[[Page H5127]]

The pig hunter in Waimea on the Big Island; he was concerned that she
understand an issue and the only way, he thought, was to show her the
issue up in the forest; she went.
These testimonials, of course can never replace Patsy Mink, although
they do demonstrate that our remembrances of her are her own best
legacy. But it is entirely appropriate that we all provide a more
tangible reminder of her life and times, a memorial that will serve as
a constant physical reminder that will cause us to reflect on what she
stood for.
And so, as I talked about this with John Mink after my election, he
relayed his wish, also endorsed by others such as the Maui County
Council, that the U.S. Post Office at Pa`ia, Maui be renamed the
``Patsy Takemoto Mink Post Office Building.'' And when you understand
Pa`ia where it is and what it represented to Patsy Mink, you understand
how entirely appropriate it is that we take this action.
Pa`ia is a town on the north shore of Maui, on the slopes of
Haleakala, a town built on sugar and pineapple. It is located about a
mile from what was once the thriving plantation village of Hamakua
Poko, a village of immigrants of Japanese, Portuguese, Filipino and
other origins; a village where Patsy Takemoto was born in 1927 and
raised in all of the good, and not so good, of Hawai`i and our country
in the 1930s and 1940s; a community in which bonds were deep but needs
were great. It is also the community in which the old Maui High School
was located, the school where Mrs. Mink's political career began when
she was elected its first woman student body president, the first of
many such firsts, and from which she graduated in 1944 as valedictorian
and went on to the incredible life she led.
In short, Pa`ia is where this great American was born, where her
values were forged, where her spirit was lit. And it represents, both
physically and figuratively, the peoples, traditions, and beliefs that
she never ever forgot.
There is no more fitting memorial to Patsy Takemoto Mink than that
she be remembered by us all here in her hometown. For the Mink family
and Hawai`i, I thank my 115 co-sponsors. I thank Chair Davis and
Ranking Member Waxman for moving this bill through the committee so
quickly, I thank those who came here to speak, and for Hawaii I thank
this House.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Duncan). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) that the
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2030.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

____________________