The Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs unanimously adopted S. 1145 and H.R. 2030, bills to designate the U.S. Postal Service facility at 120 Baldwin Avenue in Paia, Maui, Hawaii, as the "Patsy Takemoto Mink Post Office Building," during today's business meeting.

U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii), a member of the Governmental Affairs Committee, and U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI) sponsored the Senate bill. Representatives Ed Case (D-HI-2) and Neil Abercrombie (D-HI-1) introduced the House bill, which was cosponsored by 115 members.

During discussion of the measures, Senator Akaka urged favorable action on both measures. He asked that H.R. 2030, which passed the House of Representatives on June 10, 2003, be referred to the full Senate for immediate consideration.

Senator Akaka said, "It is fitting that we pay tribute to Patsy Takemoto Mink by naming a post office in her honor in Paia near her childhood home in Upcountry Maui. Her distinguished career as a lawyer, state legislator, council member, and member of Congress spanned nearly fifty years, and her tireless advocacy for civil rights and equal opportunity is her greatest legacy. In perhaps her farthest-reaching accomplishment, Patsy co-authored Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits gender discrimination by educational institutions receiving federal funds. The landmark provision has introduced equality in college sports and contributed greatly to the rise in women's athletics."