The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“HONORING NORMAN YOSHIO MINETA” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H8495-H8500 on Dec. 15, 2010.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING NORMAN YOSHIO MINETA
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1377) honoring the accomplishments of Norman Yoshio Mineta, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1377
Whereas, in 1931, Norman Yoshio Mineta was born in San Jose, California, to Japanese immigrant parents, Kunisaku and Kane Mineta;
Whereas, in 1942, during World War II, when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, branding individuals of Japanese descent as ``enemy aliens'' solely on the basis of their ancestry and authorizing the relocation and incarceration of 120,000 individuals of Japanese descent, Norman Yoshio Mineta and his family were forced to leave their home and live in the Santa Anita racetrack paddocks for 3 months before they were sent to their permanent assignment for the following years, the Heart Mountain internment camp near Cody, Wyoming;
Whereas, in 1953, upon graduation from the University of California Berkeley's School of Business Administration, Norman Yoshio Mineta joined the United States Army and served as an intelligence officer in Japan and Korea;
Whereas, in 1967, Norman Yoshio Mineta was appointed to a vacant seat on San Jose's city council, making him the first minority and first Asian American city council member in San Jose, and he was subsequently elected to that seat;
Whereas, in 1971, Norman Yoshio Mineta was elected mayor of San Jose, making him the first Asian American mayor of a major United States city, during which time he provided leadership for all communities of San Jose, including minority communities, strengthening community relations between racial and ethnic minorities and the city, including the San Jose Police Department;
Whereas, from 1975 to 1995, Norman Yoshio Mineta was elected to the House of Representatives to represent California's 15th District in the heart of Silicon Valley, serving as chairman of the Committee on Public Works and Transportation of the House of Representatives, the Committee's Aviation Subcommittee, and the Committee's Surface Transportation Subcommittee, where he was a key author of the landmark Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, taking politics out of funding for transportation and infrastructure by creating a new collaborative approach to planning;
Whereas Silicon Valley is the home of the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport;
Whereas, in 1977, Norman Yoshio Mineta, along with Frank Horton, then a Republican Member of Congress from New York, introduced into Congress a bipartisan resolution that established the first 10 days of May, the month when the first Japanese immigrants arrived in the United States in 1843 and when Chinese laborers completed the transcontinental railroad in 1869, as Asian Pacific American Heritage Week, which later was made into an annual event;
Whereas, in 1990, the entire month of May was proclaimed to be Asian Pacific American Heritage Month;
Whereas, in 1978, under the leadership of Norman Yoshio Mineta, Congress established the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians and passed the most important reparations bill of our time, H.R. 442, the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, by which the United States Government officially apologized for sending families of Japanese descent to internment camps and redressed the injustices endured by Japanese-Americans during World War II, including by making available a total of $1,200,000,000, which included the creation of the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund to educate the public about lessons learned from the internment;
Whereas, in 1994, Norman Yoshio Mineta founded and chaired the bicameral and bipartisan Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), comprised of Members of Congress who have strong interests in promoting Asian American and Pacific Islander issues and advocating the concerns of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders;
Whereas CAPAC continues to advance the full participation of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community in our democracy, particularly in the arena of public policy;
Whereas, in 2000, Norman Yoshio Mineta became the first Asian American to hold a post in a Presidential Cabinet as Secretary of Commerce under President William J. Clinton and, in 2001, he became the first Asian American to serve as Secretary of Transportation under President George W. Bush, again displaying his honor and ability to serve his country in a bipartisan manner;
Whereas Norman Yoshio Mineta has founded, served as a board member of, or been a key supporter of many community organizations critical to the infrastructure of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, including the Japanese American Citizens League Norman Y. Mineta Fellowship Program, the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies, the National Council for Asian Pacific Americans, the APIA Vote's Norman Y. Mineta Leadership Institute, the Asian American Action Fund, the Asian Academy Hall of Fame, the Asian Leaders Association, Nikkei Youth, Organizing for America, the United States Asia Center, and the America's Opportunity Fund;
Whereas Norman Yoshio Mineta received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States, in 2006 from President George W. Bush, and the Grand Cordon, Order of the Rising Sun from the Japanese Government, which was the highest honor bestowed upon an individual of Japanese descent outside of Japan; and
Whereas after experiencing one of the worst examples of Government-sanctioned racial discrimination in our Nation's history, Norman Yoshio Mineta dedicated the greater part of his working life to the service of his community and his country, and carried out his service with exemplary dignity and integrity: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) honors the accomplishments and legacy of a great American hero, Norman Yoshio Mineta, for his groundbreaking contributions to the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and to our Nation through his leadership in strengthening civil rights and liberty for all and for his dedication and service to the United States; and
(2) memorializes the sacrifices and suffering that many Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and others like Norman Yoshio Mineta endured so that we may unite with compassion and pursue truth, liberty, justice, and equality for all in the United States and the world.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) and the gentleman from California
(Mr. Daniel E. Lungren) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from American Samoa.
General Leave
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the resolution now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from American Samoa?
There was no objection.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to yield all the time that he may want to consume to the distinguished author of this proposed resolution, the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda).
Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, as the chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I rise in support of House Resolution 1377 and to pay tribute to my dear friend and mentor, Norman Yoshio Mineta.
Throughout his career, Norm, a distinguished former Member of this House, has broken through many glass ceilings, not just for himself, but also for the rest of us.
Norm was the first Asian American mayor of a major city, the first Asian American to hold a Presidential Cabinet position, trusted by both Democratic and Republican administrations.
Norm has dedicated and continues to dedicate much of his energy toward the building of the infrastructure needed for the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities to grow and thrive to what they are today.
When I think of Norm's legacy in our community, Mr. Speaker, I am reminded of the poem, ``Footprints in the Sand.'' The poem's last line reads: ``During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.''
Norm was one of the first in our community to see a light at the end of our path, a path cleared by so many greats before him, and to lead us forward. As with many movements, at times we stumbled and wanted nothing more than to forget the past and bury our heads in shame. But Norm never let us stop from moving forward on our path to claim our rights as Americans. In good times, Norm marched beside us. When times were tough, Norm carried us, strengthened only by his vision of the possible and his undying patriotism and loyalty to this country.
Norm had a hand in establishing and strengthening so many of our community's key national organizations and, hence, deepened those footprints. These span from policy advocacy coalitions like the National Health Council of Asian Pacific Americans, to voter engagement organizations like APIA Vote, to organizations and fellowship programs that develop the future leaders of our community, such as the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies, to the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation and the Japanese American Citizens League, to establishing the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, which I chair today.
Some of the national accomplishments, because he is so connected to our communities, Mr. Speaker, it is easy to forget what a major player Norm has been on a national level.
During his 20 years in Congress, Norm rose to the chairmanship of the House Transportation Committee, where he authored the landmark Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991.
And Norm was instrumental in the passage of H.R. 442, the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which provided an official government apology and redress for Japanese Americans interned during World War II, people like Norm, and the late Congressman Bob Matsui, his wife, Congresswoman Doris Matsui and myself.
In his last year in office, President Clinton appointed Norm Secretary of the Commerce Department, making him the first Asian American to hold a Cabinet post.
The following year, when President George W. Bush was organizing his Cabinet, he searched the country for the most qualified person on transportation issues and a leader who could put the interests of the country above party politics. President Bush found that leader in Norm and appointed him Secretary of Transportation. Norm served as Secretary of Transportation from 2001 to 2006, the longest serving Secretary in the history of the Department.
How fortunate our country was, Mr. Speaker, to have had a tested, experienced leader like Norm Mineta at the helm of the Transportation Department during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Norm issued a historic order to ground all civilian air travel on that fateful day and had the skill to get the thousands of planes back up in the air and the passengers safely home to their families.
What impresses me most about Norm's leadership as Secretary of Transportation after the attacks, and perhaps what many do not know, is his strong opposition to racial and religious profiling. Having grown up in a time when Norm and his family were led away from their homes by rifles and bayonets and interned in Wyoming solely because of their ancestry, he refused to allow the same injustices to happen to innocent Muslim and Arab Americans.
From his time in local government as mayor of San Jose, to his years in Congress rising to the chairman of the House Transportation Committee, to his leadership as Secretary of Commerce for President Clinton and Secretary of Transportation for President Bush, Norm has remained rooted in social justice and love of country.
In 1980, Mr. Speaker, with the help of Norm Mineta, Congress established the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians. This commission was charged with the duty of examining executive order 9066, which led to the internment of over 120,000 American citizens during World War II.
Three years later, in 1983, the commission issued its findings in the book ``Personal Justice Denied,'' concluding that the internment was based on racial prejudice, war hysteria and a failure of political leadership.
Let me repeat, Mr. Speaker, a failure of political leadership.
Throughout his long and distinguished service to our Nation, Norm Mineta has committed himself to making sure that our country never has a failure in political leadership like it did 7 years ago.
Every time I step into the well of this House, I'm reminded of the example Norm set for me and for others throughout his life in public service.
It is telling that during this heated political climate, both Republican and Democrats can come together to honor a man whose service supersedes party affiliation.
I thank Norm for his years of friendship and mentorship. I thank his family, his wife, Deni, his two sons, David and Stuart, his stepsons, Robert and Mark, his grandchildren, and his sister, Etsu, and four other brothers and sisters for giving Norm a life outside of work. And we know that Norm still has many years of advocacy and leadership still in him.
Mr. Speaker, I want to also thank Chairman Brady and the House leadership for bringing this resolution to the floor.
And before I ask my colleagues to support this passage, and before I yield back the balance of my time, I just want to make it clear that this is not a memorial resolution. This is a resolution to recognize a man and his work while he's still alive and appreciated. And I know that, quite frankly, he's not prepared to accommodate a memorial.
And so with that, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues, the leadership, for this opportunity to be able to recognize and honor an American first, a man who understands that ethnicity is important, nationality is important, our flag is important. But most of all, our allegiance to the Constitution is utmost. For that I thank you.
{time} 2120
Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1377, honoring the accomplishments of Norm Mineta. I am glad the gentleman from California made it clear that, while we honor him, Mr. Mineta is not yielding back his time; he is very much with us.
Mr. Speaker, Secretary Mineta has had a distinguished and praiseworthy career in public service, and I am pleased to join my colleagues in honoring him.
Born in San Jose, California, in 1931 to Japanese immigrant parents, it was during World War II, due to Executive Order 9066, that he and his family were deemed enemy aliens and were forced to leave their home and live in the Santa Anita racetrack paddocks for 3 months before they were then sent to their permanent location at the Heart Mountain internment camp near Cody, Wyoming. And as was suggested by the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda), despite this humiliation, Secretary Mineta persevered.
In 1953, he graduated from the University of California Berkeley School of Business Administration and joined the United States Army, serving as an intelligence officer in Japan and Korea. In 1967, he became the first person of minority descent to serve on the San Jose City Council. In 1971, he was elected mayor of San Jose, thereby becoming the first Asian American mayor of a major U.S. city.
In 1975, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing the 15th District of California. He served in this House until 1995. In Congress, he chaired the Committee on Public Works and Transportation, and was a key author of the landmark Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. He also, as was said, helped establish the Asian-Pacific American Heritage Week and Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month, which rightly recognizes the role and participation of Japanese immigrants and Chinese laborers in our country.
It was through his leadership, along with others, including Senator Inouye on the Senate side, that the Commission of Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians was established in 1978, and 10 years later the Civil Liberties Act was passed, offering appropriate apology for the actions taken against Japanese Americans during World War II.
Mr. Speaker, I was proud to serve as vice chairman of that commission. It was at the urging of Mr. Mineta and Bob Matsui that I agreed to serve on that commission. I remember with great pride that while the issue was somber and tragic, the pursuit of truth and justice was something we all shared, guided by the leadership of Norm Mineta.
In 2000, Secretary Mineta became the first Asian American to hold a post in a Presidential cabinet, as he served as Secretary of Commerce under President Clinton, and then, of course, in 2001 became the first Asian American to serve as our Secretary of Transportation.
He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2006, that of course the highest civilian award given in the United States, and granted the Grand Cordon, the Order of the Rising Sun, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual of Japanese descent by the Japanese government.
Norm Mineta has lived a great life of service, of sacrifice, and dedication to this country. This resolution appropriately honors his accomplishments, his legacy, and it also inspires and encourages us to reflect upon and remember the lessons of his distinguished life.
I might say it was a pleasure to serve in the House of Representatives during the 1980s with Norm Mineta. You may have differences of opinion with him, but he never allowed it to rise to a level of being disagreeable. He was someone that you could always speak with. And even though you may have different positions on issues on this floor, I don't think I ever heard a cross word come from Norm Mineta with respect to other Members in this House.
I certainly thank Congressman Honda and Congresswoman Chu, both from the great State of California, for offering this resolution, and I am proud to be a cosponsor and urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, there seems to be a California conspiracy here in considering this important legislation. But be that as it may, I am honored to yield 5 minutes to the distinguished lady from California (Ms. Chu).
Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of America's great pioneers. Secretary Norman Mineta is a role model for Americans of every color, background, and creed. His story is one of sacrifice, hardship, dedication, and triumph. His success in the face of adversity is not only important to Asian Americans but to all Americans.
Secretary Mineta was born to Japanese immigrant parents who came to America for a better life, even though they faced harsh conditions, particularly in the halls of Congress. After passage of the Asian Exclusion Act, Japanese immigrants were prohibited from becoming citizens, forced to carry papers with them at all times, and often harassed and detained. If they couldn't produce the proper documents, authorities threw them into prison or even out of the country.
But it didn't end there. When Mineta was a young boy, he and his parents were rounded up, forced out of their home, and shipped off to live in the Santa Anita racetrack on the infamous order of President Roosevelt during World War II. Three months later, they ended up at Heart Mountain internment camp near Cody, Wyoming, where they lived surrounded by barbed wire as the war dragged on.
For some, such treatment would make them abandon their country, but not Secretary Mineta. After graduating from business school at Cal Berkeley, he signed up for the Army and served the very Nation that imprisoned his family, and he served as an intelligence officer in Japan and Korea.
This dedication to service never left him, and when asked to join the San Jose City Council he jumped at the chance. With this City Council seat, he became the first minority and first Asian American City Council member in San Jose. It wasn't long before he was elected the first Asian American mayor of a major U.S. city, and thus began a long line of major accomplishments for a leader who was ahead of his time.
It is because of Secretary Mineta, who introduced legislation when he was in Congress, that we designate May as Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month. Because of that, today all Americans are reminded of the many contributions Asian Americans have made to this country. It was Secretary Mineta who spearheaded the long push and final passage of the Japanese American reparations bill. Because of him, finally there was an apology and relief to the 120,000 Japanese Americans who lost everything while being interned during World War II just because of their ancestry.
And it was Secretary Mineta who cofounded and cochaired the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. Today, our caucus is 11 members strong, providing a unified voice for issues unique to the Asian American community.
And that was all before he became Secretary. A decade ago, he was appointed by President Clinton as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, making him the first Asian American to be a Cabinet member, and then he was appointed--the only Democratic Cabinet Secretary under President George Bush--to head the Department of Transportation. And, after 5 years in the post, he became the longest-serving Transportation Secretary in the Department's history.
I can think of no one more deserving for this body to honor than Secretary Mineta. He is an inspiration to many, including me, and we owe a debt of gratitude for all that he has done to put Asian Americans on the map and to put America on the map. It is because of his leadership that America is a better and stronger Nation today.
Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble) to make sure this is not just an all-California event.
{time} 2130
Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from California for having yielded.
As has been mentioned, Mr. Speaker, the distinguished career of Norm Mineta included service in the House of Representatives, where he represented his district in California. As furthermore has been noted, he was subsequently appointed as the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary, having served as George W. Bush's DOT Secretary.
I met Norm Mineta initially in the well of the people's House. It involved one of the first bills that I managed on the floor. In fact, it was my first managed bill. Norm and I were on opposite sides of that bill, and Norm's side prevailed. Norm then came to me across the aisle and expressed his thanks for the manner in which I had managed the bill. I was a fledgling rookie, Mr. Speaker; Norm Mineta, a seasoned, highly-regarded Member of the United States House of Representatives. But this was vintage Mineta, always making others feel special, always elevating others.
Once he became the DOT Secretary, Norm learned that I had previously served in the United States Coast Guard. The Coast Guard at that time was a Department of Transportation service. Norm Mineta then began addressing me simply as ``Coasty.'' To this day, I am known by Norm Mineta as ``Coasty.''
So, Norm, your old ``Coasty'' pal is honored to have participated in this resolution recognizing the accomplishments of Norm Mineta. Best regards to you, Norm, and to your family.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, from California to Massachusetts, I gladly yield 3 minutes to my good friend, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank).
Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I came to the floor to do a Special Order, which I will do subsequently, but I then saw that this was on the agenda and I was moved to speak.
I had the great honor of being the chairman of the Subcommittee on Administrative Law when the Japanese reparations and apology bill was passed. Norm Mineta and the late Bob Matsui approached me when I became chairman, this was several years after the report had come out, and we talked about it.
I had, in college, read the case, which appalled me, when the U.S. Supreme Court denied any relief to the Japanese Americans who had been so brutally mistreated with no justification, so I was well aware of it when I came here, and I was very pleased to have the opportunity to work with two great men, Norm Mineta and Bob Matsui, to undo this.
I had the enormous honor, Mr. Speaker, inspired by them, of being able to read on the floor of this House the words from that bill, ``On behalf of the Nation, Congress apologizes.'' I cannot think of a greater example of the true strength of this Nation than for us to have voted, Yes, we apologize. We did wrong. So I was very pleased to work with Norm.
But here is the point I wanted to add. I had been the chairman. It was my job to do this, and we got the bill through. Several years after that, at the Japanese American Citizens League, a group of younger people offered an amendment to support the right of gay men and lesbians, people like myself, to express their love for each other by marrying. That was early in the movement for this, and there was kind of a generational divide, I believe, about what should happen.
Norm Mineta, by then a senior Member of Congress, was involved. Now, he got involved voluntarily. Members here will understand. We have enough controversy here on the floor. We don't generally seek out controversies that don't involve our formal duties. Indeed, we tend to duck them.
Norm Mineta intervened in that debate, not inappropriately, but in the formal sense of an intervention, and said, in words that move me to this day, that a gay man, myself, had been the chairman of the committee that brought forward this bill, and after that, how could he and how could an organization in which he played a major role deny our basic rights?
Now, obviously that meant a great deal to me, but it meant something of universal appeal. Here was Norm Mineta, having worked hard and led us to deal with the grave injustice to which he had been subjected, making a point that I hope Members will understand: Injustice cannot be divided and fought by some and not by others. It cannot be that people will object only when they are treated unfairly but turn their backs when others are treated the same.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I yield the gentleman 1 additional minute.
Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Norm Mineta, in a very uncharacteristic act, not for Norm, who was a great, generous man, Norm Mineta, in an act uncharacteristic for a Member of Congress, involved himself in that debate to make the point--not simply about me; I was incidental to the broader point he was making--that human rights ought to be treated as indivisible, that it is not for this group and that group, and that people should, yes, fight for themselves, but having fought for themselves, they should not stint from fighting for others.
That was a lesson that Norm taught a whole lot of people in, as has been said, not an obnoxious way, a loud way, but with a genuine warmth and sincerity.
As I look back at some point on my congressional career, having had the opportunity to work with Norm Mineta on that bill and having watched the way in which he dealt with it, the way in which he turned what could have been a source of anger into a lesson for all of us about the indivisibility of the fight for justice, will be one of the highlights.
I thank all of those involved for bringing this forward.
Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. If the gentleman from American Samoa has no other speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, not wanting to be repetitious, and I think all has been said by our previous speakers, I do want to thank the gentleman from California for his support of this legislation, and Chairman Brady as well and members of the House Administration Committee.
Mr. Speaker, I learned something that I don't think was ever mentioned in my personal and close association and in knowing this giant named Norm Mineta and my former colleague, the late Congressman Bob Matsui. The interesting thing about the history of these two distinguished gentleman, Mr. Speaker, is that they were both incarcerated in these relocation camps that I call concentration camps when they were in their early years, 5, 6, 7 years of age.
One of the distinguished things that I always remember that Norm shared with us, the story about being in these relocation camps when they were in their youth, was the nature of how these machine gun nests were being placed within the compound. The interesting thing is they asked what is the purpose of having these machine gun nests on these compounds where the Japanese Americans were being interned. They were told these were to protect them from outsiders who may come to do them harm. What is even more ironic about this is the fact that the machine guns were pointed inward into the compound, rather than having any sense of concern to worry about what may happen outside the compound.
Mr. Speaker, as a former member of the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Group in the State of Hawaii, it has been my privilege to serve as a proud member of the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry.
Just to give you a little sense of history of what the legacy and what Norm Mineta represents as far as American history is concerned, despite all the height of racism and bigotry that was heaped against Americans who happened to be of Japanese ancestry--they were herded like cattle, over 100,000 Americans, men, women, and children, put in several of these camps for fear that they might cause problems and whatever they felt was necessary--but despite all of that, despite all of that, some 10,000 Japanese American men volunteered to serve and fight our enemy during World War II, and as a result, the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry were organized. And get a load of this, Mr. Speaker, there were 18,000 individual medals, 9,000 Purple Hearts, some 560 Silver Stars, 52 Distinguished Service Crosses, and only one Medal of Honor. Only one Medal of Honor, Mr. Speaker.
I am so happy that during the Clinton administration this was corrected. When there was a review process, 19 additional Medals of Honor were awarded to these Japanese American soldiers who fought for our country in World War II, and it so happens that Senator Inouye was one of those recipients of the Medal of Honor.
So I want to share that little bit of history with my colleagues. Norm Mineta is truly a giant of a man, and among the 15 million Asian Pacific Americans, we are so proud to see what he has done, not only as a leader, but providing tremendous service to our Nation.
{time} 2140
I want to say that, Mr. Speaker, respectfully, and with my good friend from Massachusetts and the delegation from California for their support of this proposed legislation.
We gather today to honor a special man--a dear friend and mentor to me--Mr. Norman Yoshio Mineta. I thank the gentleman from California, Mr. Honda, for sponsoring this resolution, and I thank my fellow Members of Congress who join us today.
Norman Mineta is a ground-breaker and a pioneer. His accomplishments and his character make him a role model to former colleagues, to Members of Congress and other government leaders, to his former constituents and his community, to Asian-Pacific Americans, and to anyone wanting to make a contribution to their country through public service.
As a pioneer, Mr. Mineta is a man of many ``firsts.'' He was the first Asian-Pacific American mayor of a major U.S. city, serving as mayor of San Jose from 1971-1975. He was also the first Asian American to hold a post in the presidential cabinet, appointed as Secretary of Commerce in 2000 by President Clinton. In 2001, Mineta was appointed to a cabinet post once again as Secretary of Transportation in the Bush Administration, also becoming the first Asian-Pacific American to hold the position, and the first Secretary of Transportation to have previously served in a cabinet position. At the end of his term in 2006, Mineta was the longest-serving Secretary of Transportation since the position's inception in 1967.
Before his successes in the Clinton and Bush administrations, Mineta represented California's Silicon Valley area in the U.S. House of Representatives for 20 years. During his years of outstanding leadership, Mineta also chaired the House Public Works and Transportation Committee between 1992 and 1994. Before becoming Committee Chair, he served as Chair for the Committee's Aviation Subcommittee from 1981 to 1988, and its Surface Transportation Subcommittee from 1989 to 1991.
In my own life, Mr. Mineta has played an influential role, setting the path for future Asian-Pacific Americans who serve in this Chamber. In 1994, Mineta founded the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
(CAPAC), and served as its first Chair. Since inception, CAPAC has been a strong advocate for the Asian-Pacific American community on critical issues such as housing, healthcare, immigration, civil rights, economic development, and education, just to name a few. I am honored to serve with Mr. Honda and our fellow members in this body of advocates, continuing the groundbreaking path that Norman Mineta helped to pave for the Asian-Pacific American community.
Truly Norman Mineta's service is remarkable. Yet what makes his story even more remarkable is his example of overcoming hardship while maintaining a heart of service. Born in San Joe to Japanese immigrant parents, a young Mineta, along with thousands of other Japanese immigrants and Japanese Americans, spent the early years of his life in Japanese internment camps. Yet Mineta continued with a spirit of service and excellence, graduating from business school, serving as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Army, and later reaching unprecedented heights in his service to his Silicon Valley community, the Asian American community, and the nation.
Today I ask my fellow Members of Congress to honor a man whose character, patriotism, and heart of service calls for our sincere respect and gratitude. Norm, today I celebrate and thank you for your service. More importantly, I thank you for your example to the citizens of this nation.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is with great enthusiasm that I support House Resolution 1377 honoring the accomplishments of the Honorable Norman Mineta. Former Congressman Norman Mineta is an outstanding leader and a noble American.
Former Congressman Mineta lived through a dark time in our Nation's history when we forced Japanese Americans into internment camps based solely on their heritage. He was forced to leave his home and eventually sent to the Heart Mountain Internment Camp near Cody, Wyoming. This injustice is in part what prompted him to champion the struggle against social injustice and oppression. Congressman Mineta addressed the injustices Japanese Americans endured during World War II with H.R. 442, the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which passed with his leadership. He persisted in fighting for justice and equal rights for all. He has a human rights legacy worthy of being honored by this august body.
Hence, today as we honor him for his accomplishments, we are reminded of the moral imperative to fight against human indignities and injustices. Former Congressman Mineta not only understood the value of acknowledging our past mistakes but also took meaningful actions to ensure that history does not repeat itself.
Former Congressman Mineta reminds us that collaborative efforts with the Asian American community can produce a greater America. This is evidenced by his founding the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) which continues to use collaborative efforts to promote ideals for the well-being of Asian American and Pacific Islanders, as well as all Americans.
The history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders will continue to shape our Nation as their contributions make America a greater nation. This is why Asian American and Pacific Islander issues must continue to be a part of the great American debate.
Today, we honor Former Congressman Mineta for his accomplishments which have strengthened our entire nation. His legacy continues to remind us that liberty and justice for all can indeed be a reality for all.
Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1377, which recognizes the accomplishments of a great American and a role model for the entire American Asian and Pacific Islander community--
Norman Yoshio Mineta.
Secretary Mineta's long list of accomplishments have and continue to be a source of great pride to the Asian American community. At a time when few Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders were visible in the public sector, Norm was elected to Congress and rose to become Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, on which I currently serve. I am always happy to see his face among the many portraits of chairmen lining the walls of the committee room. He served as Secretary of Commerce under President Bill Clinton and Secretary of Transportation under President George W. Bush.
I especially remember Norm's swearing in as Secretary of Commerce. I met Norm shortly after becoming Hawaii's Lieutenant Governor. We quickly became friends. I was so thrilled when I learned of his appointment as Secretary of Commerce that I flew up to Washington on very short notice to attend his swearing-in ceremony.
In addition to his more publicly acknowledged accomplishments, Norm is well recognized as a champion for ensuring the full participation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in American life. He is an acknowledged leader in attaining redress for Japanese Americans who were interned during World War II. As a child, his family was relocated to an internment camp so he understood well how the injustice, hardship, and humiliation of this shameful episode impacted the Japanese American community. As a member of Congress, he established the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), which remains active today.
We are all proud of Norm and thankful for all he did during his many years of public and private service. But I also want to say something about the man. He is a delight. Norm is a great storyteller; he has great comic timing and a wonderful sense of humor. I feel very lucky to call him friend.
Norman Mineta exemplifies the Japanese concept of gaman--to endure the seemingly unbearable with patience and dignity. He was dealt a difficult hand in being uprooted with his family and forced to live behind barbed wire for the sin of being of Japanese ethnicity. But he has created a beautiful life full of accomplishment, the love of friends and family, and the knowledge that he has truly made a difference.
Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the many achievements, years of public service and the tremendous contributions to the Asian American and Pacific Islander community made by my friend and former colleague, Norman Mineta.
Norman's remarkable life has taken him from a World War II Wyoming internment camp to the Halls of Congress and consecutive cabinet positions under two Presidents--one Democrat and one Republican.
He was still in Congress when I was first elected--and a mentor to California newbies like me. When he resigned in 1995 to join Lockheed Martin, he did a considerable amount of good in my district and our friendship grew.
In 2000, he was appointed by President Clinton as the Secretary or Commerce--the first Asian American to hold a Cabinet post. He then became the longest serving Secretary of Transportation in U.S. history, under President Bush.
As the lone Democrat in a Republican Cabinet, Norm was a trailblazer for bipartisanship at a time when the Nation was deeply divided.
When the planes hit the Pentagon and Twin Towers on 9/11, Norm was the steady hand that the country needed to issue the unprecedented order to ground all civilian aircraft traffic.
As a public official who has served his country for more than 40 years, Norm has been an advocate of equal rights and opportunity for all Americans, has faced and overcome serious debilitating back problems and been devoted to his wife Deni and their blended family.
Norm is a wonderful man and reflects the best in a public servant.
Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1377, honoring the accomplishments of Norman Yoshio Mineta.
Norm Mineta has had an extraordinary career as a public servant, making countless contributions both to our nation and to the city of San Jose, which I've had the pleasure of representing since 1995.
Norm Mineta was born in San Jose in 1931, to Japanese immigrant parents who owned a successful insurance company. In 1942, following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Executive Order 9066 declared all persons of Japanese ancestry to be ``enemy aliens,'' and his family, along with many other Japanese-American families, was forced to relocate to an internment camp. Despite this treatment, Mr. Mineta's father volunteered to teach Japanese to American soldiers, and Mr. Mineta himself ultimately participated in the Reserve Officers Training Program while at the University of California at Berkeley, and after graduating in 1953, served as an Army intelligence officer in Japan and Korea. Following his military service, Mr. Mineta returned to San Jose to join his father at the Mineta Insurance Agency. He was active in the community, serving on the Santa Clara Council of Churches, and the city's Human Relations Commission. In 1967, he was appointed to fill a vacant City Council seat, which he was later elected to, and in 1971, he became the first Asian American mayor of a major U.S. city, when he was elected as mayor of San Jose. From 1975 to 1995, an important period of growth in Silicon Valley, Norm Mineta represented California's 15th district in the U.S. House of Representatives. Over the course of his ten-term tenure in Congress, his many accomplishments included co-founding the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, securing a formal apology and financial reparations for interned Japanese Americans, and serving as the Chairman of the House Public Works and Transportation Committee. In 1995, Mr. Mineta returned to the private sector as a Vice President at Lockheed Martin. In addition, he served as Chair of the National Civil Aviation Review Commission, which offered a number of proposals for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reform that were adopted by President Clinton. In 2000, Mr. Mineta became the first Asian American to serve in a Presidential Cabinet when he was named as President Clinton's Secretary of Commerce. The following year, President George W. Bush asked him to serve as his Secretary of Transportation, where he played a key role in the nation's response to the attacks of September 11. In 2002, the San Jose International Airport was renamed the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport in honor of this native son. In 2006, President Bush awarded Mr. Mineta with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States. He has also received the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun from the Japanese Government.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution and honoring Mr. Mineta's contributions and service to our country and to the city of San Jose.
Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1377, a resolution honoring the accomplishments of Norman Yoshio Mineta. As a proud member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
(CAPAC), I think it is important to honor Mr. Mineta, the founder and first chair of the organization, and I commend my colleague, Mr. Honda for introducing this resolution.
Despite suffering a great historic injustice and spending several difficult childhood years in an internment camp during World War II, Norm Mineta has dedicated much of his life to public service. Mr. Mineta served our country in the Army as an intelligence officer in Korea and Japan before starting his political career as the first minority city council member in San Jose, California. He went on to serve as San Jose's mayor, after which he became a Member of Congress. Mr. Mineta was also a trusted adviser to presidents of both political parties, serving as Secretary of Commerce in the Clinton Administration and as Secretary of Transportation under President George W. Bush. In these capacities, Mr. Mineta achieved many significant accomplishments in transportation, technology, national security, commerce, and minority rights.
Norm Mineta is a true leader of our country, and it is only fitting that he is honored for his lifetime of commitment and work. I encourage my colleagues to support H. Res. 1377, and look forward to its passage.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1377.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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