Posted on: Friday, May 9, 2003

Bill calls for renaming of Pa'ia post office for Mink

Advertiser Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — Rep. Ed Case has introduced a bill to rename the U.S. Post Office in Pa'ia, Maui, for the late Rep. Patsy Mink.

Mink, who grew up near Pa'ia, died in September from viral pneumonia. She earned a national reputation during her long career in Congress as an advocate for equal rights and better treatment for the poor.

After her death, Congress renamed the Title IX law barring discrimination against women in education after Mink, one of the law's early supporters.

Case, D-2nd Hawai'i, won a special election to serve out the remainder of Mink's term and a second special election to replace Mink in Congress after Mink won re-election posthumously.

"The people of Maui, and indeed of all Hawai'i, have a strong affection and deep admiration for the late Congresswoman Mink," Case said in a letter to colleagues. "It would be a wonderful tribute for this Congress to have this post office, located in the area where she spent her formative years, named in her memory."

Meanwhile, the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies paid tribute to Mink last night at its annual dinner here.