This Day in History: 0000-08-09
August 6, 1975- “Voting Rights Act of 1975 Requires Bilingual Ballots” “In 1975, Congress made major amendments to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Civil rights organizations that represented Hispanic, Asian American, Native Alaskan and Native American interests successfully argued before Congress that such groups were victims of discriminatory voting practices, particularly in places where English was not the dominant language. This prompted Congress to amend the Voting Rights Act to
require voting districts carry bilingual ballots in certain areas of the country.”
November 6, 2012 - "Mazie Hirono Elected to U.S. Senate"
Mazie Hirono became the first Asian American woman elected to the U.S. Senate on November 6, 2012. She is also the first elected woman Senator from Hawaii, the first U.S. Senator born in Japan and the nation's first Buddhist Senator. Prior to getting elected to the U.S. Senate, Hirono served as the congresswoman from Hawaii's 2nd congressional district from 2007 to 2013. She has served on the Senate Committee on Armed Services, Committee on Environment and Public Works and Committee on Veterans' Affairs.