May 23, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 87 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[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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