{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/a-pioneer-for-womens-equality", "A pioneer for women's equality", "2013-11-19", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Mazie Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "A pioneer for women's equality\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n                \r\n                Hirono remembers her friend and inspiration\u2019s legacy\r\n                \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n                \r\n                    By:\u00a0\r\n                    Senator Mazie K. Hirono\r\n                \r\n            \r\n            \r\n                \r\n                \r\n                \r\n            Tuesday, November 19, 2013\r\n            \n\t\n\r\n            \r\n            When I arrived at the Capitol in 2007 to take my oath as a new member of the U.S. House of Representatives, I had the privilege of filling the seat held for so long and so well by my friend\u00a0Patsy Takemoto Mink, the first Asian-American woman elected to Congress. I was so grateful to her. I felt Patsy\u2019s presence when I cast my first vote in Congress, which was to elect Nancy Pelosi as speaker of the House. I rose and said, \u201cIn memory of Patsy Mink, I cast my vote for Nancy Pelosi.\u201d I remember Speaker Pelosi turning around in her chair upon my vote and flashing me a knowing smile. Earlier, Nancy told me that Patsy was the first person to tell her that \u201cone day, you\u2019re going to be speaker.\u201d And that day had arrived! On that occasion, there were a lot of people with tears in their eyes remembering Patsy. Many came up to me then and thereafter, sharing their stories and memories. But I am sure she wouldn\u2019t have wanted to be idolized or put on a pedestal. Instead, she would want us to work hard to build on the legacy she left behind.\r\nA major part of Patsy\u2019s legacy is the landmark Title IX legislation, which she co-authored and relentlessly fought for. It has been renamed the Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act. This legislation gives women and girls equal access to higher education, protection from sexual harassment and prohibits gender discrimination in all educational activities. No longer could universities and institutions of higher learning reject a woman because they had \u201cfulfilled their quota of female students,\u201d as many women were told, including Patsy\u2019s daughter\r\nRead the entire piece at:\u00a0http://www.politico.com/story/2013/11/a-pioneer-for-womens-equality-100009.html", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/a-pioneer-for-womens-equality"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0503847151994705, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}