U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) issued the following statement on the death of Congresswoman Patsy T. Mink:

"I am deeply saddened by the passing of my friend and colleague, Patsy Mink. My thoughts and prayers are with John and Wendy and their ohana.

"Patsy was a petite woman with a powerful voice and a peerless reputation as a champion for equal opportunity, civil rights, and education. She was a courageous and tenacious leader whose lifetime of public service made Hawaii a better place. Her leadership in health, education, child welfare, and social services will endure and continue to benefit Hawaii's people and all Americans.

"In the course of her life Patsy was a pioneer, a trailblazer for women , workers, minorities, the poor, and the powerless. She is one of the giants whose vision of hope and passion for justice led Hawaii to statehood and whose labor broke down barriers and opened doors to opportunity for everyone, regardless of race, gender, or faith. Her passing silences a dynamic voice, but her legacy enjoins us to carry her fight for justice and equal opportunity forward."