夏威夷州民主党众议员帕特西·明克是第一位被选入国会的有色人种妇女，现在她在美国国会大厦有了一幅纪念她遗产的画像。
一幅已故国会女议员的画像周四在雕像大厅揭幕，庆祝她在反对体育和教育领域性别歧视的斗争中的开创性努力。
这肖像将作为一系列肖像的一部分展示，以表彰那些增加了众议院多样性和代表性的国会议员。其他肖像包括前众议员雪莉·齐索姆，国会中第一位非裔美国女性，以及佛罗伦萨·卡恩，国会中第一位犹太女性。
“凭借她的个性，她的才华，她的说服力，没有人能对帕齐·明克说不，事情就是这样。你可以，但你会浪费时间，因为最终，你会说是的，”众议院议长南希佩洛西说，谈论明克的立法工作。
2022年6月23日，众议院议长南希·佩洛西在华盛顿特区举行的已故众议员帕特西·明克肖像揭幕仪式上发表讲话。为了表彰众议员明克，众议院领导人揭幕了肖像，以表彰她作为国会第一位有色人种女性的工作和遗产。
最值得注意的是，1964年首次当选的明克，在确保被简称为第九条的法案被签署成为法律的过程中发挥了关键作用。
该法律规定:“在美国，任何人不得因性别而被排除在接受联邦财政援助的任何教育项目或活动之外，或被剥夺其福利，或受到歧视。”
2002年，明克因病毒性肺炎去世，享年74岁，为表示敬意，第九章更名为《帕齐·明克平等教育机会法》。
周四，立法者也在纪念第九条50周年，他们谈到了该立法为女性提供的机会，同时也承认仍有工作要做，如争取薪酬平等，结束校园性骚扰，以及确保女性获得医疗保健。
“当然，我们还有一段路要走，以实现真正的公平，我们需要加强第九条，保护每个学生在一个友好和支持的学校环境中的权利，方法是在国会议员Patsy Mink努力取得的进展的基础上继续努力，”夏威夷民主党参议员Mazie Hirono说。
明克的女儿格温多林·明克博士也利用周四的仪式呼吁国会采取行动，继续推动平等机会。
“我母亲认为，正义需要永远保持警惕。我们不能固步自封。明克说:“我们绝不能沾沾自喜地迎接成就。
“我认为她会希望她的肖像有助于激发这种重新奉献精神，提醒人们保持警惕，呼吁行动主义，并激励人们继续做美国民主的工作。”
2022年6月23日，在华盛顿特区国会大厦举行的第一位亚裔美国女性当选国会议员的庆祝活动中，格温多林·明克在她的母亲、已故的夏威夷众议员帕特西·明克的肖像揭幕后发表讲话。
国会亚太裔美国人核心小组的成员也含泪讲述了她在国会的重要性，以及她的肖像对那些访问国会大厦。
“从小到大，我从未想过自己会当选，更不用说是国会议员了。是因为我从来没有在这样的位置上见过像我的人。所以，我从没想过这是可能的。但是想想这幅肖像的安装会有多么不同。当许多年轻女孩走过美国国会大厦的大厅时，她们会看到它。他们将看到亚裔美国妇女和有色人种妇女在国会中作为开拓者所做的光辉榜样。
Patsy Mink, 1st woman of color elected to Congress, honored with portrait on Capitol Hill
Rep. Patsy Mink, D-Hawaii, the first woman of color elected to Congress, now has a portrait to honor her legacy at the U.S. Capitol.
A painting of the late congresswoman was unveiled in Statuary Hall Thursday in a ceremony celebrating her trailblazing efforts in the fight against sexual discrimination in sports and education.
Theportraitwill be displayed as part of a series of portraits that recognize members of Congress who've increased diversity and representation in the House. Other portraits include former Reps. Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman in Congress, and Florence Kahn, the first Jewish woman in Congress.
"By force of her personality, the power of her brilliance, her persuasiveness, nobody could ever say no, to Patsy Mink, that's just the way it was. You could but you'd be wasting time because eventually, you'd be saying yes," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, talking about Mink's legislative work.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi speaks at an unveiling ceremony for a portrait of the late Rep. Patsy Mink, June 23, 2022, in Washington, D.C. In recognition of Rep. Mink, House leaders unveiled the portrait honoring her work and legacy as the first woman of color in Congress.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Most notably, Mink, first elected in 1964, was key in ensuring what's become known simply as Title IX -- was signed into law.
The law states: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."
Following Mink's death, caused by viral pneumonia, in 2002 at age 74, Title IX was renamed the "Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act" in tribute.
Lawmakers, also commemorating the 50th anniversary of Title IX Thursday, spoke about the opportunities the legislation provided for women while also acknowledging that work remained, such as fighting for pay equity, ending campus sexual harassment, and securing access to health care for women.
"Of course, we still have a way to go for true equity, and we need to strengthen Title IX and protect the rights of every student to a welcoming and supportive school environment by working to build on the progress Congresswoman Patsy Mink worked so hard to secure," Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii said.
Mink's daughter, Dr. Gwendolyn Mink also used Thursday's ceremony as a call to action for Congress to continue to push toward equal opportunity.
"My mother held the view that justice requires eternal vigilance. We can't rest on our laurels. We must never greet accomplishment with complacency," Mink said.
"I think she would hope that her portrait would help inspire that rededication as a reminder to vigilance, a call to activism, and an inspiration to keep doing the work of U.S. democracy."
Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus also tearfully told stories about the importance of her representation in Congress and what her portrait will symbolize for people whovisitthe Capitol.
"Growing up, I never thought I would be in elected office, let alone a member of Congress. It's because I never saw anyone who looked like me in such positions. So, it never even occurred to me that it was a possibility. But think of how different this will be with the installation of this portrait. So many young girls will see it as they walk through the halls of the U.S. Capitol. And they will see a shining example of what Asian American women and women of color can do as trailblazers in Congress," caucus chair Rep. Judy Chu said.
