Timothy Roemer: “I rise to express my heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Congresswoman Patsy Mink, including her husband…”

“I rise to express my heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Congresswoman Patsy Mink, including her husband John and daughter Wendy, and the people of Hawaii's Second Congressional District who share our recent loss. Patsy Mink was a dedicated public servant and an inspiring example of the great strides minority women have achieved in our society. She was a fierce and courageous advocate for women rights and whose powerful voice during political rallies and congressional debate belied her petite frame. I am very proud of my 12 years together with her on the Education and Labor Committee. I always admired her compassion, insight, and extensive knowledge of each matter considered before our committee. My colleagues and I will miss her presence on the dais, but her spirit will live on in the memory of her enduring contributions to her priorities in education, women's rights, housing and health care. I believe Patsy's greatest accomplishment was the addition of Title IX to the Education Act, which she helped write in 1972. This landmark measure has a proven track record for increasing scholarships for women and promoting equality in athletics. Her contributions positively impacted the lives of tens of thousands of young American women. Without her leadership, the Women's National Basketball Association, women's soccer and other athletic endeavors for women would not be flourishing as they do today.”