[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 92 (Thursday, May 26, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S2760]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 660--EXPRESSING THE CONDOLENCES OF THE SENATE ON THE 
                DEATH OF THE HONORABLE NORMAN Y. MINETA

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Mr. Padilla) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 660

       Whereas Norman Yoshio Mineta (referred to in this preamble 
     as ``Norman Y. Mineta'') was born in San Jose, California on 
     November 12, 1931;
       Whereas, as a young child during World War II, Norman Y. 
     Mineta and his family were unjustly sent to Heart Mountain 
     Relocation Camp in Park County, Wyoming by the United States 
     Government due to their Japanese ancestry;
       Whereas Norman Y. Mineta returned to San Jose with his 
     family after World War II, graduated from San Jose High 
     School, and went on to earn a degree in business 
     administration from the University of California, Berkeley;
       Whereas Norman Y. Mineta honorably served as a United 
     States Army intelligence officer in Japan and Korea before 
     returning home and joining the insurance business run by his 
     father;
       Whereas, in 1967, Norman Y. Mineta became the first person 
     of color to serve on the San Jose City Council and, in 1971, 
     was elected as the 59th Mayor of San Jose, becoming the first 
     Asian American to serve as mayor of a major city in the 
     United States;
       Whereas Norman Y. Mineta was elected to the United States 
     House of Representatives in 1974, where he served as 
     president of the freshman class and went on to spend more 
     than 20 years, during which time he never forgot a name;
       Whereas Norman Y. Mineta was a champion of civil rights and 
     cosponsored the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 (50 U.S.C. 4211 
     et seq.), which--
       (1) was signed into law by President Ronald W. Reagan; and
       (2) expressed a formal apology to the thousands of 
     individuals of Japanese ancestry in the United States who 
     were forced into internment camps during World War II and 
     offered $20,000 payments to each individual;

       Whereas Norman Y. Mineta distinguished himself as an expert 
     on transportation issues and an advocate for mass transit, 
     serving as Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure of the House of Representatives;
       Whereas Norman Y. Mineta entered the private sector after 
     leaving Congress, but continued to serve the United States as 
     Chairman of the National Civil Aviation Review Commission;
       Whereas Norman Y. Mineta was nominated by President William 
     J. Clinton in 2000 to be the United States Secretary of 
     Commerce;
       Whereas Norman Y. Mineta was nominated by President George 
     W. Bush in 2001 to serve as the United States Secretary of 
     Transportation;
       Whereas, while serving as Secretary of Transportation on 
     September 11, 2001, Norman Y. Mineta secured the airspace of 
     the United States by ordering all civilian air traffic to 
     land immediately and implemented new security protocols to 
     ensure the safety of air travelers;
       Whereas Norman Y. Mineta was the loving husband of Danealia 
     Brantner Mineta, and father of David Mineta, Stuart Mineta, 
     Robert Brantner, and Mark Brantner; and
       Whereas Norman Y. Mineta was known for his warm 
     personality, commitment to public service, accessibility and 
     accountability, and passion for his work: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the 
     announcement of the death of the Honorable Norman Yoshio 
     Mineta, former member of the United States House of 
     Representatives, former Secretary of Commerce, and former 
     Secretary of Transportation;
       (2) respectfully requests the Secretary of the Senate 
     communicate this resolution to the House of Representatives 
     and transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the 
     family of Norman Yoshio Mineta; and
       (3) when the Senate adjourns today, stands adjourned as a 
     further mark of respect to the memory of the Honorable Norman 
     Yoshio Mineta.

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