Posted on: Thursday, October 10, 2002

Federal education law renamed after Mink

• Rep. Mink's name to stay on general election ballot

Advertiser Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives voted yesterday to rename a landmark equal rights amendment after the late U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink, D-Hawai'i.

Mink, who died Sept. 28 from viral pneumonia brought on by chicken pox, was instrumental in the passage of Title IX, a 1972 amendment to federal education law that prohibits discrimination against women in education.

Title IX is credited with lowering barriers for women in education and increasing opportunities for women in school sports.

The resolution, sponsored by Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., praised Mink as "one of the country's leading voices for women's rights, civil rights and working families."

The vote was 410-0 to rename the amendment the "Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act."