*EPF520 07/21/00
Text: Commerce Dept. Press Release on Mineta Confirmation
(New secretary to focus on digital economy) (820)
The U.S. Senate has confirmed President Clinton's nomination of former U.S. Representative Norman Mineta as secretary of commerce.
Senators approved Mineta's confirmation late July 20 by voice vote. Mineta will succeed William Daley, who resigned to work as Vice President Gore's presidential election campaign chairman.
During the six months remaining in Clinton's term, Mineta will focus on a few areas, including broadening participation in the digital economy, a July 21 U.S. Department of Commerce press release said.
Forced with his family by the U.S. government into an internment camp for Japanese Americans during World War II, Mineta now becomes the first Asian American to serve in a U.S. president's Cabinet.
Following is the text of the press release:
(begin text)
NORMAN Y. MINETA CONFIRMED AS U.S. SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
Washington -- Norman Y. Mineta today in a unanimous vote was confirmed by the U.S. Senate, as the 33rd Secretary of Commerce, capping four decades of distinguished public service. Mineta pledged that, as Secretary, he will focus his energies and the energies of the Commerce Department on the following areas: keeping people in business, investing in our nation's future, continuing to mainstream the new economy -- working toward digital inclusion for all Americans, and ensuring an accessible and accountable government.
"He brings an in-depth understanding of American business and a strong sense of the needs of our high-tech economy," President Clinton said of Mineta. "But he also has a deep concern for people, for the people in places who are not yet fully participating in this economy."
"We must always remember that people are our business," Mineta said. "We must continue to invest in our workers, their opportunities, and their communities. I look forward to helping continue this longest economic expansion in American history."
As Secretary, he will oversee a Department of 40,000 people worldwide with a $5 billion [$5,000 million] budget. The far-reaching Department promotes American businesses, keeps a vast array of economic statistics, conducts the census, issues patents and trademarks, develops technology, measurements and standards, conducts oceanic research, and forecasts the weather. In addition, Mineta will advise President Clinton on all matters concerning commerce. He will serve as a strong voice for businesses and their workers in the Cabinet and as a member of the President's economic team.
Mineta, a native of San Jose, California, most recently served as Vice President of Special Business Initiatives at Lockheed Martin Corporation. Mineta is a former Member of the United States House of Representatives and has a long and distinguished record of public service. He was first elected to Congress in 1974 to represent Silicon Valley. In 1993, Mineta became Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Public Works and Transportation. Once called the "Cal Ripken of Politics," Mineta was admired and respected on Capitol Hill. Mineta was known for his dedication to the people of his district, for consensus building among his colleagues and for forging public-private partnerships. During his tenure in Congress, Mineta's legislative and policy agenda was wide and varied, including major projects in the areas of economic development, science and technology policy, trade, transportation, the environment, intelligence, the budget and civil rights.
Throughout his career, Mineta has had extensive experience in economic, business, trade and technology issues. He played a key role in settling the semiconductor chip dispute with Japan, focused on protecting intellectual property rights, worked to make the research and development tax credit permanent, and saw to it that several export administration offices were opened in California, among many other Commerce-related initiatives.
Mineta will be the first Asian Pacific American to serve in a Presidential Cabinet. Throughout his career, Mineta accomplished many other "firsts": In 1967, he became the first Asian Pacific American Member of the City Council of his town of San Jose, California. Just four years later, in 1971, he was elected Mayor of San Jose -- the first Asian Pacific American Mayor of a major U.S. city. While serving in the Congress, Mineta founded the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and served as its first Chair.
Mineta and his family were among the 120,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry forced into internment camps by the United States Government during the Second World War. During the 100th Congress, Mineta was the driving force behind passage of H.R. 442, the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which officially apologized for and redressed the injustices endured by Japanese Americans during the War. In 1995, George Washington University awarded the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Medal to Mineta for his contributions to the field of civil rights.
Norman Y. Mineta is married to Danealia Mineta. He has two sons, David and Stuart Mineta, and two stepsons, Robert and Mark Brantner.
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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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