Lynn C. Woolsey: “I am proud to stand here and recognize the many contributions that Patsy Takemoto Mink made to the people of this…”

“I am proud to stand here and recognize the many contributions that Patsy Takemoto Mink made to the people of this country, particularly to the girls and women of this country. And I am equally proud that she will be honored by a post office in her home State named after Patsy Mink. I was privileged to serve with Patsy on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce from the beginning of my tenure in 1992. She was my mentor and my friend, and I miss her every day. Besides being the first woman of color to serve in the House of Representatives, Patsy Takemoto Mink helped craft landmark legislation for girls and women across the country during her 24 years in Congress. In the early seventies, Patsy played the central congressional role in the enactment of title IX, prohibiting gender discrimination by federally funded institutions. But title IX was not Patsy's only contribution to girls and women of America. Patsy also authored the Women's Educational Equity Act, WEEA. WEEA remains the primary resource for teachers and parents seeking information on proven methods to ensure gender equity in their schools and their communities. In fact, while this Congress is reauthorizing Head Start, I can hear Patsy's passionate and intelligent voice demanding that we not decimate this successful program by block granting any or all of it to the States. Her voice is missed. I hear it in my ears.…”