Elected in 1964, Patsy T. Mink was sworn in on January 4, 1965,
as the first Asian – American woman and first woman of color
to serve in the U.S. Congress.

Throughout her career, the U.S. representative for Hawaii was
a strong supporter of civil and women’s rights, as well as an
advocate for children, labor unions and education.

Serving as a member of the Committee for Education and Labor,
Mink was vocal in her opposition to the Vietnam War and was
a supporter of a national daycare system, Head Start and the
Women’s Educational Equity Act.

She was again elected to Congress in 1990, serving until her
death at age 74 in 2002. Soon after her death, Title IX was
renamed the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education
Act.         


    
    
    
    
       
        
       

1972

Patsy Matsu Mink (December 6, 1927 – September 28, 2002)