Today, U.S. Representatives Ed Royce (R-Calif.) and Mike Honda (D-Calif.) introduced legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Norman Yoshio Mineta, a former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, U.S. Representative, and Mayor of San Jose, California.

“Since the American Revolution, Congressional Gold Medals have been commissioned to show our nation’s highest expression of gratitude to those who have contributed greatly to our country. Secretary Norman Mineta’s lifetime of service is deserving of this recognition. Whether as a United States Army officer, Member of Congress, or Cabinet Secretary, Norman has given America his all,” said Rep. Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

“Norm had a strong record of reaching across the aisle on issues ranging from civil rights to transportation policy. He epitomizes what we can achieve when we work together. He is a true leader who has demonstrated how much someone can accomplish when they are not merely looking for credit or limelight,” said Rep. Honda. “Norm has dedicated his life to public service and has done so with exemplary dignity, leadership and integrity. This is despite having personally experienced the indignity of internment as a child by his own government. Rather, he used the experience to guide his lifelong commitment to his country.”

In 1942, Mineta and his family were among 120,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry incarcerated during WWII. He went on to serve in the United States Army and as Councilmember and esteemed Mayor of San Jose, California, as a Member of the House of Representatives, and as Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of Transportation in Democratic and Republican Presidential Cabinets.

His appointment by President Clinton in 2000 as Secretary of Commerce made him the first Asian American to serve in a Presidential Cabinet. Secretary Mineta stayed on in President George W. Bush’s cabinet as Secretary of Transportation where he was at the helm on September 11, 2001. In the aftermath of the attacks and through the end of his tenure as Secretary of Transportation, he ushered in critical reforms to the nation’s transportation and security screening networks.