[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 169 (Saturday, December 18, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2179]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING NORMAN YOSHIO MINETA

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. DORIS O. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 15, 2010

  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 
1377, which honors the accomplishments of Norman Y. Mineta. Known to us 
as Norm, Mr. Mineta has played an important role in our nation's 
history: completing many firsts; and helping the pave the path for many 
more to follow.
  A distinguished serviceman, he joined the United States Army as a 
young man, and completed tours of duty as an intelligence officer in 
both Japan and Korea.
  Norm served our great state as a Member of this body from 1975 to 
1995, working tirelessly to improve the lives of California families. 
With his support, and that of my late husband Bob Matsui, Congress 
established the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of 
Civilians. Moreover, they were instrumental in passing H.R. 442, the 
Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which served as the official apology for 
sending families of Japanese descent to internment camps and redressed 
the injustices endured by Japanese-Americans during World War II.
  Norm also served as Chairman of the House Public Works and 
Transportation Committee, authored the landmark Intermodal Surface 
Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, and founded the Congressional 
Asian Pacific American Caucus, CAPAC.
  His lists of `firsts' include being the first Asian American mayor of 
a major United States city when he became mayor of San Jose in 1971, 
and he was the first Asian American in a Presidential Cabinet. As many 
of us remember, Norm also served as a Secretary of Commerce under 
President Bill Clinton, and as a Secretary of Transportation under 
President George W. Bush.
  Mr. Speaker, Norm Mineta has had a long and respected career in 
public service. As the resolution before us states, the House of 
Representatives honors the accomplishments and legacy of Norman Yoshio 
Mineta, for his groundbreaking contributions to the Asian American and 
Pacific Islander community and to our Nation as a whole through his 
leadership in strengthening civil rights and liberty for all and for 
his dedication and service.
  I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H. Res. 1377.

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