[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 166 (Wednesday, December 15, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H8495-H8500]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING NORMAN YOSHIO MINETA

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the resolution (H. Res. 1377) honoring the accomplishments of Norman 
Yoshio Mineta, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1377

       Whereas, in 1931, Norman Yoshio Mineta was born in San 
     Jose, California, to Japanese immigrant parents, Kunisaku and 
     Kane Mineta;
       Whereas, in 1942, during World War II, when President 
     Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, 
     branding individuals of Japanese descent as ``enemy aliens'' 
     solely on the basis of their ancestry and authorizing the 
     relocation and incarceration of 120,000 individuals of 
     Japanese descent, Norman Yoshio Mineta and his family were 
     forced to leave their home and live in the Santa Anita 
     racetrack paddocks for 3 months before they were sent to 
     their permanent assignment for the following years, the Heart 
     Mountain internment camp near Cody, Wyoming;
       Whereas, in 1953, upon graduation from the University of 
     California Berkeley's School of Business Administration, 
     Norman Yoshio Mineta joined the United States Army and served 
     as an intelligence officer in Japan and Korea;
       Whereas, in 1967, Norman Yoshio Mineta was appointed to a 
     vacant seat on San Jose's city council, making him the first 
     minority and first Asian American city council member in San 
     Jose, and he was subsequently elected to that seat;
       Whereas, in 1971, Norman Yoshio Mineta was elected mayor of 
     San Jose, making him the first Asian American mayor of a 
     major United States city, during which time he provided 
     leadership for all communities of San Jose, including 
     minority communities, strengthening community relations 
     between racial and ethnic minorities and the city, including 
     the San Jose Police Department;
       Whereas, from 1975 to 1995, Norman Yoshio Mineta was 
     elected to the House of Representatives to represent 
     California's 15th District in the heart of Silicon Valley, 
     serving as chairman of the Committee on Public Works and 
     Transportation of the House of Representatives, the 
     Committee's Aviation Subcommittee, and the Committee's 
     Surface Transportation Subcommittee, where he was a key 
     author of the landmark Intermodal Surface Transportation 
     Efficiency Act of 1991, taking politics out of funding for 
     transportation and infrastructure by creating a new 
     collaborative approach to planning;
       Whereas Silicon Valley is the home of the Norman Y. Mineta 
     San Jose International Airport;
       Whereas, in 1977, Norman Yoshio Mineta, along with Frank 
     Horton, then a Republican Member of Congress from New York, 
     introduced into Congress a bipartisan resolution that 
     established the first 10 days of May, the month when the 
     first Japanese immigrants arrived in the United States in 
     1843 and when Chinese laborers completed the transcontinental 
     railroad in 1869, as Asian Pacific American Heritage Week, 
     which later was made into an annual event;
       Whereas, in 1990, the entire month of May was proclaimed to 
     be Asian Pacific American Heritage Month;
       Whereas, in 1978, under the leadership of Norman Yoshio 
     Mineta, Congress established the Commission on Wartime 
     Relocation and Internment of Civilians and passed the most 
     important reparations bill of our time, H.R. 442, the Civil 
     Liberties Act of 1988, by which the United States Government 
     officially apologized for sending families of Japanese 
     descent to internment camps and redressed the injustices 
     endured by Japanese-Americans during World War II, including 
     by making available a total of $1,200,000,000, which included 
     the creation of the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund to 
     educate the public about lessons learned from the internment;
       Whereas, in 1994, Norman Yoshio Mineta founded and chaired 
     the bicameral and bipartisan Congressional Asian Pacific 
     American Caucus (CAPAC), comprised of Members of Congress who 
     have strong interests in promoting Asian American and Pacific 
     Islander issues and advocating the concerns of Asian 
     Americans and Pacific Islanders;
       Whereas CAPAC continues to advance the full participation 
     of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community in our 
     democracy, particularly in the arena of public policy;
       Whereas, in 2000, Norman Yoshio Mineta became the first 
     Asian American to hold a post in a Presidential Cabinet as 
     Secretary of Commerce under President William J. Clinton and, 
     in 2001, he became the first Asian American to serve as 
     Secretary of Transportation under President George W. Bush, 
     again displaying his honor and ability to serve his country 
     in a bipartisan manner;
       Whereas Norman Yoshio Mineta has founded, served as a board 
     member of, or been a key supporter of many community 
     organizations critical to the infrastructure of the Asian 
     American and Pacific Islander community, including the 
     Japanese American Citizens League Norman Y. Mineta Fellowship 
     Program, the Asian Pacific American Institute for 
     Congressional Studies, the National Council for Asian Pacific 
     Americans, the APIA Vote's Norman Y. Mineta Leadership 
     Institute, the Asian American Action Fund, the Asian Academy 
     Hall of Fame, the Asian Leaders Association, Nikkei Youth, 
     Organizing for America, the United States Asia Center, and 
     the America's Opportunity Fund;
       Whereas Norman Yoshio Mineta received the Presidential 
     Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United 
     States, in 2006 from President George W. Bush, and the Grand 
     Cordon, Order of the Rising Sun from the Japanese Government, 
     which was the highest honor bestowed upon an individual of 
     Japanese descent outside of Japan; and
       Whereas after experiencing one of the worst examples of 
     Government-sanctioned racial discrimination in our Nation's 
     history, Norman Yoshio Mineta dedicated the greater part of 
     his working life to the service of his community and his 
     country, and carried out his service with exemplary dignity 
     and integrity: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) honors the accomplishments and legacy of a great 
     American hero, Norman Yoshio Mineta, for his groundbreaking 
     contributions to the Asian American and Pacific Islander 
     community and to our Nation through his leadership in 
     strengthening civil rights and liberty for all and for his 
     dedication and service to the United States; and
       (2) memorializes the sacrifices and suffering that many 
     Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and others like Norman 
     Yoshio Mineta endured so that we may unite with compassion 
     and pursue truth, liberty, justice, and equality for all in 
     the United States and the world.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) and the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Daniel E. Lungren) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from American Samoa.


                             General Leave

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include extraneous material on the resolution now under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from American Samoa?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to yield all 
the time that he may want to consume to the distinguished author of 
this proposed resolution, the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda).
  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, as the chair of the Congressional Asian 
Pacific American Caucus, I rise in support of House Resolution 1377 and 
to pay tribute to my dear friend and mentor, Norman Yoshio Mineta.
  Throughout his career, Norm, a distinguished former Member of this 
House, has broken through many glass ceilings, not just for himself, 
but also for the rest of us.
  Norm was the first Asian American mayor of a major city, the first 
Asian American to hold a Presidential Cabinet position, trusted by both 
Democratic and Republican administrations.
  Norm has dedicated and continues to dedicate much of his energy 
toward the building of the infrastructure needed for the Asian American 
and Pacific Islander communities to grow and thrive to what they are 
today.
  When I think of Norm's legacy in our community, Mr. Speaker, I am 
reminded of the poem, ``Footprints in the Sand.'' The poem's last line 
reads: ``During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only 
one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.''
  Norm was one of the first in our community to see a light at the end 
of our path, a path cleared by so many greats before him, and to lead 
us forward. As with many movements, at times we

[[Page H8496]]

stumbled and wanted nothing more than to forget the past and bury our 
heads in shame. But Norm never let us stop from moving forward on our 
path to claim our rights as Americans. In good times, Norm marched 
beside us. When times were tough, Norm carried us, strengthened only by 
his vision of the possible and his undying patriotism and loyalty to 
this country.
  Norm had a hand in establishing and strengthening so many of our 
community's key national organizations and, hence, deepened those 
footprints. These span from policy advocacy coalitions like the 
National Health Council of Asian Pacific Americans, to voter engagement 
organizations like APIA Vote, to organizations and fellowship programs 
that develop the future leaders of our community, such as the Asian 
Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies, to the National 
Japanese American Memorial Foundation and the Japanese American 
Citizens League, to establishing the Congressional Asian Pacific 
American Caucus, which I chair today.
  Some of the national accomplishments, because he is so connected to 
our communities, Mr. Speaker, it is easy to forget what a major player 
Norm has been on a national level.
  During his 20 years in Congress, Norm rose to the chairmanship of the 
House Transportation Committee, where he authored the landmark 
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991.
  And Norm was instrumental in the passage of H.R. 442, the Civil 
Liberties Act of 1988, which provided an official government apology 
and redress for Japanese Americans interned during World War II, people 
like Norm, and the late Congressman Bob Matsui, his wife, Congresswoman 
Doris Matsui and myself.
  In his last year in office, President Clinton appointed Norm 
Secretary of the Commerce Department, making him the first Asian 
American to hold a Cabinet post.
  The following year, when President George W. Bush was organizing his 
Cabinet, he searched the country for the most qualified person on 
transportation issues and a leader who could put the interests of the 
country above party politics. President Bush found that leader in Norm 
and appointed him Secretary of Transportation. Norm served as Secretary 
of Transportation from 2001 to 2006, the longest serving Secretary in 
the history of the Department.
  How fortunate our country was, Mr. Speaker, to have had a tested, 
experienced leader like Norm Mineta at the helm of the Transportation 
Department during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Norm issued a historic 
order to ground all civilian air travel on that fateful day and had the 
skill to get the thousands of planes back up in the air and the 
passengers safely home to their families.
  What impresses me most about Norm's leadership as Secretary of 
Transportation after the attacks, and perhaps what many do not know, is 
his strong opposition to racial and religious profiling. Having grown 
up in a time when Norm and his family were led away from their homes by 
rifles and bayonets and interned in Wyoming solely because of their 
ancestry, he refused to allow the same injustices to happen to innocent 
Muslim and Arab Americans.
  From his time in local government as mayor of San Jose, to his years 
in Congress rising to the chairman of the House Transportation 
Committee, to his leadership as Secretary of Commerce for President 
Clinton and Secretary of Transportation for President Bush, Norm has 
remained rooted in social justice and love of country.
  In 1980, Mr. Speaker, with the help of Norm Mineta, Congress 
established the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of 
Civilians. This commission was charged with the duty of examining 
executive order 9066, which led to the internment of over 120,000 
American citizens during World War II.
  Three years later, in 1983, the commission issued its findings in the 
book ``Personal Justice Denied,'' concluding that the internment was 
based on racial prejudice, war hysteria and a failure of political 
leadership.
  Let me repeat, Mr. Speaker, a failure of political leadership.
  Throughout his long and distinguished service to our Nation, Norm 
Mineta has committed himself to making sure that our country never has 
a failure in political leadership like it did 7 years ago.
  Every time I step into the well of this House, I'm reminded of the 
example Norm set for me and for others throughout his life in public 
service.
  It is telling that during this heated political climate, both 
Republican and Democrats can come together to honor a man whose service 
supersedes party affiliation.
  I thank Norm for his years of friendship and mentorship. I thank his 
family, his wife, Deni, his two sons, David and Stuart, his stepsons, 
Robert and Mark, his grandchildren, and his sister, Etsu, and four 
other brothers and sisters for giving Norm a life outside of work. And 
we know that Norm still has many years of advocacy and leadership still 
in him.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to also thank Chairman Brady and the House 
leadership for bringing this resolution to the floor.
  And before I ask my colleagues to support this passage, and before I 
yield back the balance of my time, I just want to make it clear that 
this is not a memorial resolution. This is a resolution to recognize a 
man and his work while he's still alive and appreciated. And I know 
that, quite frankly, he's not prepared to accommodate a memorial.
  And so with that, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues, the 
leadership, for this opportunity to be able to recognize and honor an 
American first, a man who understands that ethnicity is important, 
nationality is important, our flag is important. But most of all, our 
allegiance to the Constitution is utmost. For that I thank you.

                              {time}  2120

  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1377, 
honoring the accomplishments of Norm Mineta. I am glad the gentleman 
from California made it clear that, while we honor him, Mr. Mineta is 
not yielding back his time; he is very much with us.
  Mr. Speaker, Secretary Mineta has had a distinguished and 
praiseworthy career in public service, and I am pleased to join my 
colleagues in honoring him.
  Born in San Jose, California, in 1931 to Japanese immigrant parents, 
it was during World War II, due to Executive Order 9066, that he and 
his family were deemed enemy aliens and were forced to leave their home 
and live in the Santa Anita racetrack paddocks for 3 months before they 
were then sent to their permanent location at the Heart Mountain 
internment camp near Cody, Wyoming. And as was suggested by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Honda), despite this humiliation, 
Secretary Mineta persevered.
  In 1953, he graduated from the University of California Berkeley 
School of Business Administration and joined the United States Army, 
serving as an intelligence officer in Japan and Korea. In 1967, he 
became the first person of minority descent to serve on the San Jose 
City Council. In 1971, he was elected mayor of San Jose, thereby 
becoming the first Asian American mayor of a major U.S. city.
  In 1975, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, 
representing the 15th District of California. He served in this House 
until 1995. In Congress, he chaired the Committee on Public Works and 
Transportation, and was a key author of the landmark Intermodal Surface 
Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. He also, as was said, helped 
establish the Asian-Pacific American Heritage Week and Asian-Pacific 
American Heritage Month, which rightly recognizes the role and 
participation of Japanese immigrants and Chinese laborers in our 
country.
  It was through his leadership, along with others, including Senator 
Inouye on the Senate side, that the Commission of Wartime Relocation 
and Internment of Civilians was established in 1978, and 10 years later 
the Civil Liberties Act was passed, offering appropriate apology for 
the actions taken against Japanese Americans during World War II.
  Mr. Speaker, I was proud to serve as vice chairman of that 
commission. It was at the urging of Mr. Mineta and Bob Matsui that I 
agreed to serve on

[[Page H8497]]

that commission. I remember with great pride that while the issue was 
somber and tragic, the pursuit of truth and justice was something we 
all shared, guided by the leadership of Norm Mineta.
  In 2000, Secretary Mineta became the first Asian American to hold a 
post in a Presidential cabinet, as he served as Secretary of Commerce 
under President Clinton, and then, of course, in 2001 became the first 
Asian American to serve as our Secretary of Transportation.
  He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2006, that of 
course the highest civilian award given in the United States, and 
granted the Grand Cordon, the Order of the Rising Sun, the highest 
honor bestowed upon an individual of Japanese descent by the Japanese 
government.
  Norm Mineta has lived a great life of service, of sacrifice, and 
dedication to this country. This resolution appropriately honors his 
accomplishments, his legacy, and it also inspires and encourages us to 
reflect upon and remember the lessons of his distinguished life.
  I might say it was a pleasure to serve in the House of 
Representatives during the 1980s with Norm Mineta. You may have 
differences of opinion with him, but he never allowed it to rise to a 
level of being disagreeable. He was someone that you could always speak 
with. And even though you may have different positions on issues on 
this floor, I don't think I ever heard a cross word come from Norm 
Mineta with respect to other Members in this House.
  I certainly thank Congressman Honda and Congresswoman Chu, both from 
the great State of California, for offering this resolution, and I am 
proud to be a cosponsor and urge my colleagues to support this 
resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, there seems to be a California 
conspiracy here in considering this important legislation. But be that 
as it may, I am honored to yield 5 minutes to the distinguished lady 
from California (Ms. Chu).
  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of America's great 
pioneers. Secretary Norman Mineta is a role model for Americans of 
every color, background, and creed. His story is one of sacrifice, 
hardship, dedication, and triumph. His success in the face of adversity 
is not only important to Asian Americans but to all Americans.
  Secretary Mineta was born to Japanese immigrant parents who came to 
America for a better life, even though they faced harsh conditions, 
particularly in the halls of Congress. After passage of the Asian 
Exclusion Act, Japanese immigrants were prohibited from becoming 
citizens, forced to carry papers with them at all times, and often 
harassed and detained. If they couldn't produce the proper documents, 
authorities threw them into prison or even out of the country.
  But it didn't end there. When Mineta was a young boy, he and his 
parents were rounded up, forced out of their home, and shipped off to 
live in the Santa Anita racetrack on the infamous order of President 
Roosevelt during World War II. Three months later, they ended up at 
Heart Mountain internment camp near Cody, Wyoming, where they lived 
surrounded by barbed wire as the war dragged on.
  For some, such treatment would make them abandon their country, but 
not Secretary Mineta. After graduating from business school at Cal 
Berkeley, he signed up for the Army and served the very Nation that 
imprisoned his family, and he served as an intelligence officer in 
Japan and Korea.
  This dedication to service never left him, and when asked to join the 
San Jose City Council he jumped at the chance. With this City Council 
seat, he became the first minority and first Asian American City 
Council member in San Jose. It wasn't long before he was elected the 
first Asian American mayor of a major U.S. city, and thus began a long 
line of major accomplishments for a leader who was ahead of his time.
  It is because of Secretary Mineta, who introduced legislation when he 
was in Congress, that we designate May as Asian-Pacific American 
Heritage Month. Because of that, today all Americans are reminded of 
the many contributions Asian Americans have made to this country. It 
was Secretary Mineta who spearheaded the long push and final passage of 
the Japanese American reparations bill. Because of him, finally there 
was an apology and relief to the 120,000 Japanese Americans who lost 
everything while being interned during World War II just because of 
their ancestry.
  And it was Secretary Mineta who cofounded and cochaired the 
Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. Today, our caucus is 11 
members strong, providing a unified voice for issues unique to the 
Asian American community.
  And that was all before he became Secretary. A decade ago, he was 
appointed by President Clinton as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, 
making him the first Asian American to be a Cabinet member, and then he 
was appointed--the only Democratic Cabinet Secretary under President 
George Bush--to head the Department of Transportation. And, after 5 
years in the post, he became the longest-serving Transportation 
Secretary in the Department's history.
  I can think of no one more deserving for this body to honor than 
Secretary Mineta. He is an inspiration to many, including me, and we 
owe a debt of gratitude for all that he has done to put Asian Americans 
on the map and to put America on the map. It is because of his 
leadership that America is a better and stronger Nation today.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased 
to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble) to 
make sure this is not just an all-California event.

                              {time}  2130

  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from California for having 
yielded.
  As has been mentioned, Mr. Speaker, the distinguished career of Norm 
Mineta included service in the House of Representatives, where he 
represented his district in California. As furthermore has been noted, 
he was subsequently appointed as the U.S. Department of Transportation 
Secretary, having served as George W. Bush's DOT Secretary.
  I met Norm Mineta initially in the well of the people's House. It 
involved one of the first bills that I managed on the floor. In fact, 
it was my first managed bill. Norm and I were on opposite sides of that 
bill, and Norm's side prevailed. Norm then came to me across the aisle 
and expressed his thanks for the manner in which I had managed the 
bill. I was a fledgling rookie, Mr. Speaker; Norm Mineta, a seasoned, 
highly-regarded Member of the United States House of Representatives. 
But this was vintage Mineta, always making others feel special, always 
elevating others.
  Once he became the DOT Secretary, Norm learned that I had previously 
served in the United States Coast Guard. The Coast Guard at that time 
was a Department of Transportation service. Norm Mineta then began 
addressing me simply as ``Coasty.'' To this day, I am known by Norm 
Mineta as ``Coasty.''
  So, Norm, your old ``Coasty'' pal is honored to have participated in 
this resolution recognizing the accomplishments of Norm Mineta. Best 
regards to you, Norm, and to your family.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, from California to Massachusetts, I 
gladly yield 3 minutes to my good friend, the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Frank).
  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I came to the floor to do a 
Special Order, which I will do subsequently, but I then saw that this 
was on the agenda and I was moved to speak.
  I had the great honor of being the chairman of the Subcommittee on 
Administrative Law when the Japanese reparations and apology bill was 
passed. Norm Mineta and the late Bob Matsui approached me when I became 
chairman, this was several years after the report had come out, and we 
talked about it.
  I had, in college, read the case, which appalled me, when the U.S. 
Supreme Court denied any relief to the Japanese Americans who had been 
so brutally mistreated with no justification, so I was well aware of it 
when I came here, and I was very pleased to have the opportunity to 
work with two great men, Norm Mineta and Bob Matsui, to undo this.
  I had the enormous honor, Mr. Speaker, inspired by them, of being

[[Page H8498]]

able to read on the floor of this House the words from that bill, ``On 
behalf of the Nation, Congress apologizes.'' I cannot think of a 
greater example of the true strength of this Nation than for us to have 
voted, Yes, we apologize. We did wrong. So I was very pleased to work 
with Norm.
  But here is the point I wanted to add. I had been the chairman. It 
was my job to do this, and we got the bill through. Several years after 
that, at the Japanese American Citizens League, a group of younger 
people offered an amendment to support the right of gay men and 
lesbians, people like myself, to express their love for each other by 
marrying. That was early in the movement for this, and there was kind 
of a generational divide, I believe, about what should happen.
  Norm Mineta, by then a senior Member of Congress, was involved. Now, 
he got involved voluntarily. Members here will understand. We have 
enough controversy here on the floor. We don't generally seek out 
controversies that don't involve our formal duties. Indeed, we tend to 
duck them.
  Norm Mineta intervened in that debate, not inappropriately, but in 
the formal sense of an intervention, and said, in words that move me to 
this day, that a gay man, myself, had been the chairman of the 
committee that brought forward this bill, and after that, how could he 
and how could an organization in which he played a major role deny our 
basic rights?
  Now, obviously that meant a great deal to me, but it meant something 
of universal appeal. Here was Norm Mineta, having worked hard and led 
us to deal with the grave injustice to which he had been subjected, 
making a point that I hope Members will understand: Injustice cannot be 
divided and fought by some and not by others. It cannot be that people 
will object only when they are treated unfairly but turn their backs 
when others are treated the same.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I yield the gentleman 1 additional minute.
  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Norm Mineta, in a very uncharacteristic 
act, not for Norm, who was a great, generous man, Norm Mineta, in an 
act uncharacteristic for a Member of Congress, involved himself in that 
debate to make the point--not simply about me; I was incidental to the 
broader point he was making--that human rights ought to be treated as 
indivisible, that it is not for this group and that group, and that 
people should, yes, fight for themselves, but having fought for 
themselves, they should not stint from fighting for others.
  That was a lesson that Norm taught a whole lot of people in, as has 
been said, not an obnoxious way, a loud way, but with a genuine warmth 
and sincerity.
  As I look back at some point on my congressional career, having had 
the opportunity to work with Norm Mineta on that bill and having 
watched the way in which he dealt with it, the way in which he turned 
what could have been a source of anger into a lesson for all of us 
about the indivisibility of the fight for justice, will be one of the 
highlights.
  I thank all of those involved for bringing this forward.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. If the gentleman from American 
Samoa has no other speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, not wanting to be repetitious, and I 
think all has been said by our previous speakers, I do want to thank 
the gentleman from California for his support of this legislation, and 
Chairman Brady as well and members of the House Administration 
Committee.
  Mr. Speaker, I learned something that I don't think was ever 
mentioned in my personal and close association and in knowing this 
giant named Norm Mineta and my former colleague, the late Congressman 
Bob Matsui. The interesting thing about the history of these two 
distinguished gentleman, Mr. Speaker, is that they were both 
incarcerated in these relocation camps that I call concentration camps 
when they were in their early years, 5, 6, 7 years of age.
  One of the distinguished things that I always remember that Norm 
shared with us, the story about being in these relocation camps when 
they were in their youth, was the nature of how these machine gun nests 
were being placed within the compound. The interesting thing is they 
asked what is the purpose of having these machine gun nests on these 
compounds where the Japanese Americans were being interned. They were 
told these were to protect them from outsiders who may come to do them 
harm. What is even more ironic about this is the fact that the machine 
guns were pointed inward into the compound, rather than having any 
sense of concern to worry about what may happen outside the compound.
  Mr. Speaker, as a former member of the 100th Battalion, 442nd 
Infantry Group in the State of Hawaii, it has been my privilege to 
serve as a proud member of the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry.
  Just to give you a little sense of history of what the legacy and 
what Norm Mineta represents as far as American history is concerned, 
despite all the height of racism and bigotry that was heaped against 
Americans who happened to be of Japanese ancestry--they were herded 
like cattle, over 100,000 Americans, men, women, and children, put in 
several of these camps for fear that they might cause problems and 
whatever they felt was necessary--but despite all of that, despite all 
of that, some 10,000 Japanese American men volunteered to serve and 
fight our enemy during World War II, and as a result, the 100th 
Battalion, 442nd Infantry were organized. And get a load of this, Mr. 
Speaker, there were 18,000 individual medals, 9,000 Purple Hearts, some 
560 Silver Stars, 52 Distinguished Service Crosses, and only one Medal 
of Honor. Only one Medal of Honor, Mr. Speaker.
  I am so happy that during the Clinton administration this was 
corrected. When there was a review process, 19 additional Medals of 
Honor were awarded to these Japanese American soldiers who fought for 
our country in World War II, and it so happens that Senator Inouye was 
one of those recipients of the Medal of Honor.
  So I want to share that little bit of history with my colleagues. 
Norm Mineta is truly a giant of a man, and among the 15 million Asian 
Pacific Americans, we are so proud to see what he has done, not only as 
a leader, but providing tremendous service to our Nation.

                              {time}  2140

  I want to say that, Mr. Speaker, respectfully, and with my good 
friend from Massachusetts and the delegation from California for their 
support of this proposed legislation.
  We gather today to honor a special man--a dear friend and mentor to 
me--Mr. Norman Yoshio Mineta. I thank the gentleman from California, 
Mr. Honda, for sponsoring this resolution, and I thank my fellow 
Members of Congress who join us today.
  Norman Mineta is a ground-breaker and a pioneer. His accomplishments 
and his character make him a role model to former colleagues, to 
Members of Congress and other government leaders, to his former 
constituents and his community, to Asian-Pacific Americans, and to 
anyone wanting to make a contribution to their country through public 
service.
  As a pioneer, Mr. Mineta is a man of many ``firsts.'' He was the 
first Asian-Pacific American mayor of a major U.S. city, serving as 
mayor of San Jose from 1971-1975. He was also the first Asian American 
to hold a post in the presidential cabinet, appointed as Secretary of 
Commerce in 2000 by President Clinton. In 2001, Mineta was appointed to 
a cabinet post once again as Secretary of Transportation in the Bush 
Administration, also becoming the first Asian-Pacific American to hold 
the position, and the first Secretary of Transportation to have 
previously served in a cabinet position. At the end of his term in 
2006, Mineta was the longest-serving Secretary of Transportation since 
the position's inception in 1967.
  Before his successes in the Clinton and Bush administrations, Mineta 
represented California's Silicon Valley area in the U.S. House of 
Representatives for 20 years. During his years of outstanding 
leadership, Mineta also chaired the House Public Works and 
Transportation Committee between 1992 and 1994. Before becoming 
Committee Chair, he served as Chair for the Committee's Aviation 
Subcommittee from 1981 to 1988, and its Surface

[[Page H8499]]

Transportation Subcommittee from 1989 to 1991.
  In my own life, Mr. Mineta has played an influential role, setting 
the path for future Asian-Pacific Americans who serve in this Chamber. 
In 1994, Mineta founded the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus 
(CAPAC), and served as its first Chair. Since inception, CAPAC has been 
a strong advocate for the Asian-Pacific American community on critical 
issues such as housing, healthcare, immigration, civil rights, economic 
development, and education, just to name a few. I am honored to serve 
with Mr. Honda and our fellow members in this body of advocates, 
continuing the groundbreaking path that Norman Mineta helped to pave 
for the Asian-Pacific American community.
  Truly Norman Mineta's service is remarkable. Yet what makes his story 
even more remarkable is his example of overcoming hardship while 
maintaining a heart of service. Born in San Joe to Japanese immigrant 
parents, a young Mineta, along with thousands of other Japanese 
immigrants and Japanese Americans, spent the early years of his life in 
Japanese internment camps. Yet Mineta continued with a spirit of 
service and excellence, graduating from business school, serving as an 
intelligence officer in the U.S. Army, and later reaching unprecedented 
heights in his service to his Silicon Valley community, the Asian 
American community, and the nation.
  Today I ask my fellow Members of Congress to honor a man whose 
character, patriotism, and heart of service calls for our sincere 
respect and gratitude. Norm, today I celebrate and thank you for your 
service. More importantly, I thank you for your example to the citizens 
of this nation.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is with great enthusiasm that 
I support House Resolution 1377 honoring the accomplishments of the 
Honorable Norman Mineta. Former Congressman Norman Mineta is an 
outstanding leader and a noble American.
  Former Congressman Mineta lived through a dark time in our Nation's 
history when we forced Japanese Americans into internment camps based 
solely on their heritage. He was forced to leave his home and 
eventually sent to the Heart Mountain Internment Camp near Cody, 
Wyoming. This injustice is in part what prompted him to champion the 
struggle against social injustice and oppression. Congressman Mineta 
addressed the injustices Japanese Americans endured during World War II 
with H.R. 442, the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which passed with his 
leadership. He persisted in fighting for justice and equal rights for 
all. He has a human rights legacy worthy of being honored by this 
august body.
  Hence, today as we honor him for his accomplishments, we are reminded 
of the moral imperative to fight against human indignities and 
injustices. Former Congressman Mineta not only understood the value of 
acknowledging our past mistakes but also took meaningful actions to 
ensure that history does not repeat itself.
  Former Congressman Mineta reminds us that collaborative efforts with 
the Asian American community can produce a greater America. This is 
evidenced by his founding the Congressional Asian Pacific American 
Caucus (CAPAC) which continues to use collaborative efforts to promote 
ideals for the well-being of Asian American and Pacific Islanders, as 
well as all Americans.
  The history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders will continue to 
shape our Nation as their contributions make America a greater nation. 
This is why Asian American and Pacific Islander issues must continue to 
be a part of the great American debate.
  Today, we honor Former Congressman Mineta for his accomplishments 
which have strengthened our entire nation. His legacy continues to 
remind us that liberty and justice for all can indeed be a reality for 
all.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1377, 
which recognizes the accomplishments of a great American and a role 
model for the entire American Asian and Pacific Islander community--
Norman Yoshio Mineta.
  Secretary Mineta's long list of accomplishments have and continue to 
be a source of great pride to the Asian American community. At a time 
when few Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders were visible in the 
public sector, Norm was elected to Congress and rose to become Chairman 
of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, on which I 
currently serve. I am always happy to see his face among the many 
portraits of chairmen lining the walls of the committee room. He served 
as Secretary of Commerce under President Bill Clinton and Secretary of 
Transportation under President George W. Bush.
  I especially remember Norm's swearing in as Secretary of Commerce. I 
met Norm shortly after becoming Hawaii's Lieutenant Governor. We 
quickly became friends. I was so thrilled when I learned of his 
appointment as Secretary of Commerce that I flew up to Washington on 
very short notice to attend his swearing-in ceremony.
  In addition to his more publicly acknowledged accomplishments, Norm 
is well recognized as a champion for ensuring the full participation of 
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in American life. He is an 
acknowledged leader in attaining redress for Japanese Americans who 
were interned during World War II. As a child, his family was relocated 
to an internment camp so he understood well how the injustice, 
hardship, and humiliation of this shameful episode impacted the 
Japanese American community. As a member of Congress, he established 
the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), which remains 
active today.
  We are all proud of Norm and thankful for all he did during his many 
years of public and private service. But I also want to say something 
about the man. He is a delight. Norm is a great storyteller; he has 
great comic timing and a wonderful sense of humor. I feel very lucky to 
call him friend.
  Norman Mineta exemplifies the Japanese concept of gaman--to endure 
the seemingly unbearable with patience and dignity. He was dealt a 
difficult hand in being uprooted with his family and forced to live 
behind barbed wire for the sin of being of Japanese ethnicity. But he 
has created a beautiful life full of accomplishment, the love of 
friends and family, and the knowledge that he has truly made a 
difference.
  Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the many achievements, 
years of public service and the tremendous contributions to the Asian 
American and Pacific Islander community made by my friend and former 
colleague, Norman Mineta.
  Norman's remarkable life has taken him from a World War II Wyoming 
internment camp to the Halls of Congress and consecutive cabinet 
positions under two Presidents--one Democrat and one Republican.
  He was still in Congress when I was first elected--and a mentor to 
California newbies like me. When he resigned in 1995 to join Lockheed 
Martin, he did a considerable amount of good in my district and our 
friendship grew.
  In 2000, he was appointed by President Clinton as the Secretary or 
Commerce--the first Asian American to hold a Cabinet post. He then 
became the longest serving Secretary of Transportation in U.S. history, 
under President Bush.
  As the lone Democrat in a Republican Cabinet, Norm was a trailblazer 
for bipartisanship at a time when the Nation was deeply divided.
  When the planes hit the Pentagon and Twin Towers on 9/11, Norm was 
the steady hand that the country needed to issue the unprecedented 
order to ground all civilian aircraft traffic.
  As a public official who has served his country for more than 40 
years, Norm has been an advocate of equal rights and opportunity for 
all Americans, has faced and overcome serious debilitating back 
problems and been devoted to his wife Deni and their blended family.
  Norm is a wonderful man and reflects the best in a public servant.
  Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support 
of H. Res. 1377, honoring the accomplishments of Norman Yoshio Mineta.
  Norm Mineta has had an extraordinary career as a public servant, 
making countless contributions both to our nation and to the city of 
San Jose, which I've had the pleasure of representing since 1995.
  Norm Mineta was born in San Jose in 1931, to Japanese immigrant 
parents who owned a successful insurance company. In 1942, following 
the attack on Pearl Harbor, Executive Order 9066 declared all persons 
of Japanese ancestry to be ``enemy aliens,'' and his family, along with 
many other Japanese-American families, was forced to relocate to an 
internment camp. Despite this treatment, Mr. Mineta's father 
volunteered to teach Japanese to American soldiers, and Mr. Mineta 
himself ultimately participated in the Reserve Officers Training 
Program while at the University of California at Berkeley, and after 
graduating in 1953, served as an Army intelligence officer in Japan and 
Korea. Following his military service, Mr. Mineta returned to San Jose 
to join his father at the Mineta Insurance Agency. He was active in the 
community, serving on the Santa Clara Council of Churches, and the 
city's Human Relations Commission. In 1967, he was appointed to fill a 
vacant City Council seat, which he was later elected to, and in 1971, 
he became the first Asian American mayor of a major U.S. city, when he 
was elected as mayor of San Jose. From 1975 to 1995, an important 
period of growth in Silicon Valley, Norm Mineta represented 
California's 15th district in the U.S. House of Representatives. Over 
the course of his ten-term tenure in Congress, his many accomplishments 
included co-founding the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, 
securing a formal

[[Page H8500]]

apology and financial reparations for interned Japanese Americans, and 
serving as the Chairman of the House Public Works and Transportation 
Committee. In 1995, Mr. Mineta returned to the private sector as a Vice 
President at Lockheed Martin. In addition, he served as Chair of the 
National Civil Aviation Review Commission, which offered a number of 
proposals for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reform that were 
adopted by President Clinton. In 2000, Mr. Mineta became the first 
Asian American to serve in a Presidential Cabinet when he was named as 
President Clinton's Secretary of Commerce. The following year, 
President George W. Bush asked him to serve as his Secretary of 
Transportation, where he played a key role in the nation's response to 
the attacks of September 11. In 2002, the San Jose International 
Airport was renamed the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport 
in honor of this native son. In 2006, President Bush awarded Mr. Mineta 
with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in 
the United States. He has also received the Grand Cordon of the Order 
of the Rising Sun from the Japanese Government.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution and 
honoring Mr. Mineta's contributions and service to our country and to 
the city of San Jose.
  Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1377, a 
resolution honoring the accomplishments of Norman Yoshio Mineta. As a 
proud member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus 
(CAPAC), I think it is important to honor Mr. Mineta, the founder and 
first chair of the organization, and I commend my colleague, Mr. Honda 
for introducing this resolution.
  Despite suffering a great historic injustice and spending several 
difficult childhood years in an internment camp during World War II, 
Norm Mineta has dedicated much of his life to public service. Mr. 
Mineta served our country in the Army as an intelligence officer in 
Korea and Japan before starting his political career as the first 
minority city council member in San Jose, California. He went on to 
serve as San Jose's mayor, after which he became a Member of Congress. 
Mr. Mineta was also a trusted adviser to presidents of both political 
parties, serving as Secretary of Commerce in the Clinton Administration 
and as Secretary of Transportation under President George W. Bush. In 
these capacities, Mr. Mineta achieved many significant accomplishments 
in transportation, technology, national security, commerce, and 
minority rights.
  Norm Mineta is a true leader of our country, and it is only fitting 
that he is honored for his lifetime of commitment and work. I encourage 
my colleagues to support H. Res. 1377, and look forward to its passage.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) that the House suspend 
the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1377.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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