2022 -- H 8209

========

LC005916

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

____________

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE

NORMAN Y. MINETA

     Introduced By: Representatives Fenton-Fung, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Filippi, Kennedy,
Tanzi, Cortvriend, Fellela, Ajello, and Shallcross Smith

     Date Introduced: May 04, 2022

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, It is with sadness that this House has learned of the passing of the

Honorable Norman Y. Mineta, a former 10-term member of the United States House of

Representatives, and the first Japanese American Cabinet Member who served under Presidents

Bill Clinton and George W. Bush; and

     WHEREAS, Norman Mineta was born in San Jose, California, the youngest of five

children. As a young boy, he was interned with his family during World War II, when the unjust

and tragic directive to remove Americans of Japanese ancestry en masse to Relocation Centers for

the duration of the war was instituted; and

     WHEREAS, Overcoming all obstacles, Mr. Mineta was elected to serve the people of

San Jose, California, as their Representative in the United States Congress, a position he held

from 1975 through 1995. During his more than two decades in the House, he championed bills

for transportation improvements, economic development, trade, the environment, civil rights and

science and technology projects, and in 1988, co-sponsored legislation authorizing payments and

formal apologies to the survivors and heirs of those who had been incarcerated in the WWII

internment camps; and

     WHEREAS, In 1995, Mr. Mineta resigned his seat in the House to become an executive

at Lockheed Martin, and also served as Chair of the National Civil Aviation Review Commission.

In 2000, he was named Secretary of Commerce by President Clinton, and became the first

Japanese American cabinet official. Following the next Presidential election, he was reappointed

to the Cabinet, serving President George W. Bush as Secretary of Transportation, and was the

only democratic appointee in an otherwise republican cabinet; and

     WHEREAS, On the infamous and tragic 9/11, as terrorists attacked America, Mr. Mineta

was part of the team assembled with Vice President Cheney to respond to the emergency; and

     WHEREAS, When Mr. Mineta finally resigned from the Cabinet in 2006, he was the

longest-serving Secretary in his department’s 39-year history and was awarded the Presidential

Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor; and

     WHEREAS, The Honorable Norman Mineta demonstrated a standard for excellence in

public service that inspired this nation and he will forever be remembered for his extraordinary

leadership during a tumultuous hour in our country’s history, and for his deep commitment to

serving the citizens of United States and the world community; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

expresses deepest sympathy on the passing of the Honorable Norman Mineta; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Danealia Brantner and Family.

========

LC005916

========

LC005916 - Page 2 of 2