Representative Norman Yoshio Mineta

Norman Yoshio Mineta served as a Representative from California in the United States Congress from 1975 to 1995. A member of the Democratic Party, Norman Yoshio Mineta contributed to the legislative process during 11 terms in office.

Norman Yoshio Mineta’s service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history. As a member of the House of Representatives, Norman Yoshio Mineta participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of constituents.

Norman Yoshio Mineta (Japanese: 峯田 良雄, November 12, 1931 – May 3, 2022) was an American politician and U.S. Army officer who served as a Cabinet secretary in the administrations of President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, and George W. Bush, a Republican. He was a member of the Democratic Party. Mineta served as Mayor of San Jose, California from 1971 to 1975. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1975 until 1995. Mineta served as the United States Secretary of Commerce during the final months of Bill Clinton’s presidency. He was the first person of East Asian descent to serve as a US Cabinet secretary and the first Asian American mayor of a major US city. As the United States secretary of transportation for President Bush, Mineta was the only Democratic cabinet secretary in the Bush administration. He oversaw the creation of the Transportation Security Administration in response to the September 11 attacks that had occurred early in his tenure. On June 23, 2006, Mineta announced his resignation after more than five years as secretary of transportation, effective July 7, 2006, making him the longest-serving secretary of transportation in the department’s history. A month later, the public relations firm Hill & Knowlton announced that Mineta would join it as a partner. In 2010, it was announced that Mineta would join L&L Energy as vice chairman. The San Jose International Airport is named after him. Mineta died on May 3, 2022, from a heart ailment in Edgewater, Maryland, at the age of 90.