[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 87 (Thursday, May 23, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3113-S3114]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
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SENATE RESOLUTION 219--HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF PATSY TAKEMOTO
MINK, THE FIRST WOMAN OF COLOR TO SERVE IN CONGRESS
Ms. HIRONO (for herself, Mr. Schatz, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Booker, Ms.
Cantwell, Ms. Cortez Masto, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. Feinstein, Mrs.
Gillibrand, Ms. Harris, Ms. Hassan, Ms. Klobuchar, Mrs. Murray, Ms.
Rosen, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Smith, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms.
Warren, Ms. Sinema, and Mr. Kaine) submitted the following resolution;
which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:
S. Res. 219
Whereas Patsy Takemoto Mink was born in Paia, Hawaii, to
Japanese-American parents, Suematsu and Mitama Tateyama
Takemoto;
Whereas Patsy Takemoto Mink overcame gender discrimination
to become the first Japanese-American woman to practice law
in Hawaii;
Whereas Patsy Takemoto Mink devoted her life to public
service;
Whereas Patsy Takemoto Mink served in--
(1) the Hawaii territorial House from 1956 to 1958;
(2) the Hawaii territorial Senate from 1958 to 1959;
(3) the Hawaii State Senate from 1962 to 1964; and
(4) the Honolulu City Council from 1983 to 1987;
Whereas Representative Mink became the first Asian-American
woman and the first woman of color to be elected to Congress
in 1964;
Whereas Representative Mink served 12 terms as a Member of
Congress;
Whereas Representative Mink fought throughout her life for
fundamental rights and equity for women, children, Asian
Americans, and other minority and disenfranchised groups;
Whereas Representative Mink--
(1) introduced the first childcare bill; and
(2) co-authored and championed the landmark title IX of the
Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.) to
promote equal access and equal treatment for women and girls
in educational settings;
Whereas Representative Mink maintained a national focus on
issues affecting Asian Pacific Americans, notably educating
people of the United States about the internment of Japanese
Americans during World War II;
Whereas Representative Mink was a committed advocate for
many progressive causes, including--
(1) ending gender and racial discrimination;
(2) promoting social and economic justice;
(3) improving access to high-quality education and
affordable child care;
(4) protecting civil liberties; and
(5) ensuring government accountability;
Whereas Representative Mink was the first Democratic woman
to deliver a State of the Union response in 1970;
Whereas Representative Mink was a co-founder and chair of
the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus;
Whereas Representative Mink served as the Secretary of the
House Democratic Caucus;
Whereas Representative Mink served as the co-chair of the
Democratic Women's Caucus;
Whereas, in 1977, President Jimmy Carter nominated Patsy
Takemoto Mink to serve as Assistant Secretary of State for
Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific
Affairs;
Whereas, in 2003, Patsy Takemoto Mink was inducted into the
National Women's Hall of Fame;
Whereas, on November 24, 2014, Patsy Takemoto Mink was
posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the
highest civilian honor of the United States;
Whereas November 3, 2019, marks the 55th anniversary of the
election of Representative Mink to the House of
Representatives; and
Whereas Patsy Takemoto Mink was a trailblazer who not only
pioneered the way for women and minorities, but also embodied
the true definition of leadership as a ``national
legislator'': Now, therefore be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) acknowledges the 55th anniversary of the election to
the House of Representatives of Patsy Takemoto Mink, the
first woman of color in Congress;
(2) pays tribute to the service and dedicated work of
Representative Mink--
(A) to improve the lives of women and minorities;
(B) to advance justice and equality; and
(C) to promote the rights of all individuals in the United
States, particularly in education, the workforce, and
democratic processes; and
(3) recognizes the extraordinary work and legacy of
Representative Mink, which has inspired and empowered many to
devote their lives to public service.
Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, I rise today, during Asian Pacific
American Heritage month, in remembrance of Representative Patsy
Takemoto Mink. Representative Mink was elected 55 years ago to
represent Hawaii's second congressional district. In 2006, I had the
privilege of filling the seat that my friend, Representative Mink,
honorably held for 24 years.
Patsy Mink was a trailblazer, whose career embodied a series of
firsts. She was the first woman of color, and first Asian American
woman elected to Congress in 1964. She became the first Asian American
woman to practice law in Hawaii and the first Asian American woman
elected to the Hawaii territorial legislature. No matter how many times
she was excluded from traditionally male spheres, Representative Mink
persevered and took risks. She overcame gender and racial
discrimination and pursued a career during which she fought the
injustice that she had endured. She devoted nearly 50 years of her life
to be a champion for those who had no one to stand up and speak for
them.
Representative Mink maintained a national focus on issues facing the
Asian Pacific American community. Twenty-five years ago, she helped
found the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. She also worked
with members of Hawaii's congressional delegation to educate Americans
about the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
Representative Mink fought throughout her life for the principles of
equity, fairness, and integrity. She was a leader on women's rights,
social and economic justice, health care, child care,
[[Page S3114]]
and education. She introduced the first childcare bill in the House.
Patsy's name is forever linked with the passage of Title IX of the
Education Amendments of 1972, which she coauthored and fought for
relentlessly. This act is now named the Patsy T. Mink and Louise M.
Slaughter Gender Equity in Education Act. Title IX provides women and
girls equal access to higher education and protection from sexual
harassment, and prohibits gender discrimination in all educational
activities, notably in athletics. Representative Mink often said, ``It
is easy enough to vote right and be consistently with the majority. But
it is more often more important to be ahead of the majority.'' I know
our country can remain forward-thinking by ensuring that young women
and minorities are given equal opportunity.
Representative Mink was one of only eleven women to serve in the
House of Representatives in 1964, and she became one of the longest-
serving women in Congress. She shattered the glass ceiling during a
time when women were not seen as leaders, especially not in Congress.
Representative Mink continues to be an inspiration to many, and her
legacy lives on in schools, universities, and here, in Congress. Last
year, a record number of women ran for public office and were elected.
With 102 women elected to serve in the House of Representatives and 25
women in the Senate, the 116th Congress is the most diverse yet. Patsy
would have been delighted.
In 2007, upon my election to the U.S. House, I was proud to cast my
first vote in support of Nancy Pelosi for speaker and did so in memory
of Patsy Mink. Earlier, Speaker Pelosi told me that Representative Mink
was the first person to tell her that ``one day, you're going to be
speaker.'' Patsy would have loved to have been there to see her words
come true for her friend, Nancy.
The last time I saw Patsy was when both of us were in the Kailua 4th
of July parade in 2002. She asked me to have lunch with her. I have a
picture of us from that day and it is a poignant reminder of my friend
Patsy and her attitude of never giving up and persevering because our
work is not done. She is a continuing inspiration to me.
I yield the floor.
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