[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 81 (Thursday, May 12, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E489]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





            PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE NORMAN Y. MINETA

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 11, 2022

  Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, California, the Congress and the Country 
are mourning the loss of a pioneering leader, a legendary statesman and 
a patriotic American: Secretary Norm Mineta.
  Thank you to Congresswoman Judy Chu and the leadership of CAPAC, for 
hosting this Special Order. It is fitting that we pay tribute to their 
Co-Founder here on the House Floor, where he served for two decades.
  Over the course of his long, distinguished and barrier-breaking 
career, Norm Mineta was a man of many titles:
  An intelligence officer in the United States Army;
  Mayor of San Jose--the first Asian American mayor of a major city;
  Mr. Chairman here in the House--not only of the powerful Committee on 
Public Works & Transportation, but also a strong voice in the creation 
of CAPAC;
  and Mr. Secretary: the first Asian American to hold a Cabinet post--
and he did so in not one, but two Administrations.
  But as Norm told us himself, there was one title he always held 
dearest. He said, quote: ``I cherish the word citizen because my own 
government . . . wasn't willing to use that word to describe us.''
  Indeed, all Americans are in awe of how--after enduring the cruelty 
of internment at just ten years old--Norm still chose to devote his 
life to serving the Nation that had turned its back on him.
  Norm's lifelong public service will forever be remembered as a 
profound act of extraordinary courage, grace & patriotism: fighting to 
correct injustice and ensure America's founding promise for all.
  Those of us who served with Norm in the House had the privilege of 
seeing this firsthand in his relentless mission for justice with the 
Civil Liberties Act of 1988.
  He was the driving force behind this long-overdue law, in which the 
United States finally apologized for incarcerating Japanese American 
families like his own; and took a step to make amends for this stain on 
our Nation's history.
  Who could forget Secretary Mineta' s visionary, tireless and 
patriotic leadership in the wake of the September Attacks--helping 
strengthen our Nation with the establishment of the TSA.
  Personally, I will miss my dear friend, Norm, who treated all 
fortunate enough to know him with sincere kindness, humanity and 
respect.
  And I join my fellow Californians in taking great pride in the fact 
that the San Jose International Airport continues to bear his name.
  May it be a comfort to his loving wife, Deni, his sons David and 
Stuart, stepsons Robert and Mark, and his many grandchildren that a 
grateful Nation prays for them and mourns with them during this sad 
time.
  God blessed our Nation with the life and leadership of Norm Mineta. 
May he rest in peace.

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