[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 5, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6-S14]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING SENATOR MIKULSKI AS SHE BECOMES THE LONGEST SERVING FEMALE
SENATOR
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have another resolution at desk. I ask it
be now considered.
The VICE PRESIDENT. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 4) honoring Senator Barbara Mikulski
for becoming the longest serving female Senator in history.
(Applause, Senators rising.)
The VICE PRESIDENT. Without objection, the resolution is approved and
the preamble is agreed to.
The resolution (S. Res. 4) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
S. Res. 4
Whereas the Honorable Barbara Mikulski has had a long and
distinguished career as a United States Senator from the
State of Maryland;
Whereas Senator Mikulski was first elected to the United
States Congress as a member of the House of Representatives
in 1976, where she served until winning election to the
Senate in 1986;
Whereas Senator Mikulski is the first woman to be elected
to statewide office in Maryland;
Whereas in the 103rd Congress, Senator Mikulski was the
first woman to be elected Assistant Senate Democratic Floor
Leader;
Whereas Senator Mikulski was the first woman in the Senate
Democratic Leadership, serving as Secretary of the Senate
Democratic Conference in the 104th through the 108th
Congresses;
Whereas in 1997, Senator Mikulski became the most senior
woman serving in the Senate;
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Whereas Senator Mikulski is the first woman to serve on the
Appropriations Committee of the Senate and the first woman to
chair the Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies;
Whereas Senator Mikulski has not only had a path breaking
career, but has won the admiration and respect of colleagues
on both sides of the aisle for her hard work, passionate and
effective advocacy, commitment to social and economic
justice, and willingness to serve as a mentor and role model
to other senators; and
Whereas Senator Mikulski has now surpassed the record of
former Senator Margaret Chase Smith as the longest serving
female Senator in the history of the United States: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate recognizes and honors Senator
Barbara Mikulski for becoming the longest-serving female
Senator in history.
Mr. REID. I move to reconsider the vote by which the resolution was
agreed to.
Mr. McCONNELL. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent the following
Senators be recognized to speak on this resolution and Senator
Mikulski's historic milestone--I would note for Senators, we will be in
a period of morning business when we complete the business of today--
Reid of Nevada for 2 minutes, McConnell for 2 minutes, Cardin for 2
minutes, Snowe for 2 minutes, and Mikulski for 3 minutes. I ask
unanimous consent.
The VICE PRESIDENT. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I came to the Senate in January 1987, in the
same class as Barbara Mikulski. Every sixth January since, including
today, Barbara Mikulski and I have been sworn in together. Taking that
oath is humbling and meaningful for every Senator, but it is a little
more meaningful this time around for Senator Mikulski, for Maryland,
and for our country. She is now the longest serving woman Senator in
our Nation's history.
She has had a pathbreaking career, and that is an understatement. She
was the first woman to serve in the Senate Democratic leadership when
we elected her our caucus secretary and she was the first woman ever to
serve on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
The woman whose record she breaks was a significant Senator in her
own right. Margaret Chase Smith of Maine was the first woman to be
elected to both the House and the Senate.
I know Senator Mikulski very well. She is my friend and my confidant.
I know that more than any records, she is most proud of what she has
done with that time, time she has dedicated to tireless, passionate,
and effective advocacy for those who need a voice or even a hand.
She is as committed to social and economic justice as any Senator who
has ever served in this great Chamber and she has won the admiration
and respect of her colleagues, both Democrats and Republican,
especially those for whom she has given her time and her advice as a
mentor and a role model.
Alongside all her records and accomplishments, I will always admire
the way she led us in one of our darkest days. As evening fell on
Washington, DC, for the first time after the Twin Towers fell in New
York, hundreds of Members of Congress, from the House and the Senate,
walked outside to the steps of the Capitol. We joined hands. Then, in a
moment of silence, Senator Mikulski suggested we all sing ``God Bless
America.'' We did. I will never forget that moment.
I will always remember a speech this good woman gave more than two
decades ago. Senator Mikulski, Senator John Glenn, and I went on a trip
to Poland, back when it was behind the Communist Iron Curtain. John
Glenn, who, of course, was an international celebrity in addition to
being a Senator, captivated the crowd. We were in a basement, meeting
with some dissidents. Knowing Senator Mikulski is of Polish descent, I
asked if she could speak next, after Senator Glenn. I thought she would
say a few words about her heritage. I have heard a lot of speeches in
my life, but none has ever moved me more than the speech Barbara
Mikulski gave in that basement in Warsaw, Poland.
Congratulations to my friend, Senator Barbara Mikulski, and the State
of Maryland for returning such a strong public servant to the Senate on
their behalf.
The VICE PRESIDENT. The Republican leader is recognized.
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I, too, rise to honor our colleague,
the senior Senator from Maryland, on becoming the longest serving
female Senator in the history of the Senate. In achieving this
milestone, Barbara passes Margaret Chase Smith, as the majority leader
indicated, who served the people of Maine from 1949 to 1973. As was
indicated, she is also only the second woman to be elected to both the
Senate and the House.
When first elected to the Senate in 1986, Barbara was only the 16th
woman to ever serve. Today, there are more female Senators than that in
the 112th Congress alone.
Barbara has served as a role model and mentor to many of them, and I
know they are grateful for it. She has been a champion of the space
program, scientific research, welfare reform, major transportation,
homeland security, and environmental issues in Maryland.
I think Barbara would be the first to tell you that becoming the
longest serving female Senator wasn't easy. Like all streaks, including
that of another Marylander Cal Ripken, there are a lot of bumps in the
road. But she has made it through it all and we are happy to share in
this milestone with her today.
I wish to recognize Barbara not only for her accomplishment as the
longest serving female in the Senate history but also for all of her
many accomplishments as a Senator and for the pioneering model she has
been to so many women in her distinguished career. Again,
congratulations, Senator Mikulski.
The VICE PRESIDENT. The Senator from Maryland is recognized.
Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, Marylanders take pride in their Hall of
Famers, from Cal Ripkin, our ``Iron Man,'' to Brooks Robinson with the
Golden Gloves, to Johnny Unitas with the Golden Arm, to Frank Robinson,
who was an All-Star in both the American and National Leagues. Now we
add to that list our own Senator Barbara Mikulski, the longest serving
woman Senator in Senate history.
Marylanders are proud of Senator Barb not because of her length of
service but for what she has done as a Senator and throughout her
entire career. If you ask any Marylander what they think about Senator
Mikulski, they will start off by saying: She is a fighter. Then they
will say: We are glad she is on our side.
She is an effective fighter for the people. From protecting
neighborhoods from an unwanted highway to keeping jobs in Maryland from
being shipped overseas, there is no more effective fighter than Senator
Barbara Mikulski.
She has protected our national security from her position on the
Intelligence Committee, she has strengthened the U.S. Space Program in
her position on the Appropriations Committee, she provided equity in
health care from the HELP Committee, and she stands up for our Federal
workers, advancing gender equity issues, and the list goes on and on
and on.
She has taken her social worker background, her political training
from ward politics in east Baltimore, and her hard work ethic from her
parents and her own common sense to be the voice for working families
in the Halls of the Senate.
On a personal note, I thank my friend for always being there for me,
working together as a team for the people of Maryland. On behalf of my
two granddaughters, my daughter, my wife, and all Americans, thank you,
Senator Mikulski, for living the American dream and making that dream a
reality for so many Americans.
The VICE PRESIDENT. The Senator from Maine.
Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, there are certain occasions in the life of
our Nation and this esteemed institution that are so steeped in history
they remain indelibly etched in our minds and upon our hearts. This is
one of those iconic moments as we share in recognizing Senator
Mikulski's venerable achievement with her colleagues, her family, loved
ones, friends, constituents, staff, and indeed the Nation.
This is also a special day of pride most especially for those of us
who are
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women Senators for whom Senator Mikulski has been a role model and
mentor as well as coleading numerous efforts with Senator Hutchison,
our senior Republican woman, to foster camaraderie among all of us.
Having been privileged to know Senator Mikulski for more than 30
years, beginning with our mutual service in the House of
Representatives, I cannot conceive of anyone I would rather witness
overtaking such a sacrosanct milestone than the senior Senator from
Maryland, a beloved, vigorous champion of the people of her State and
unquestionably the women of America.
Indisputably, for both of her Maine colleagues, Senator Collins and
me, the landmark occasion we are commemorating is all the more personal
and poignant given we are both colleagues and dear friends of Senator
Mikulski and also direct inheritors and beneficiaries of Senator
Margaret Chase Smith's groundbreaking service. It is in that light that
I am deeply privileged today to stand at the very desk she once graced,
and having sat across her desk when I first met her in Washington years
ago, to also pay tribute to Senator Smith by wearing her pin given to
me by a very good friend from Maine, Susan Longley, one of the actual
pins in which Senator Smith would famously place the trademark rose she
wore daily on the floor of the Senate.
Indeed, there are numerous similarities between Senator Margaret
Chase Smith and Senator Mikulski that transcend longevity. They both
live the ideals of hard work and earning their own way in life. Senator
Mikulski, the proud descendent of Polish immigrants, worked in her
parents' grocery store during her formative years in Baltimore, and
years later, after she graduated from college, acquired a master's
degree and pursued the noble calling of social work.
Senator Smith was a textile worker, telephone operator, newspaper
woman, teacher, and an office manager. The point is, neither started at
the top, but they most certainly arrived there. Senator Smith rose from
the humblest beginnings to represent Maine in the House of
Representatives and the Senate for more than 32 distinguished years
with unequalled courage, civility, compassion, and integrity. She was a
visionary of endless firsts, but, undoubtedly, Senator Smith will best
be remembered for the moment during her only second year in the Senate,
with truly uncommon courage and principled independence, she
telegraphed the truth about McCarthyism during the Red Scare of the
1950s with her renowned ``Declaration of Conscience'' speech on the
Senate floor. In 15 minutes she had done what 94 of her colleagues,
male colleagues I might add, had not dared to do, and in so doing
slayed a giant of demagoguery prompting American financier Bernard
Baruch to say: Had a man made that speech, he would have become the
next President of the United States.
Yet even as Senator Smith was a political pioneer, she never
deliberately set out to establish some sort of precedent for women.
Rather, what her life proved is that gender was not the key factor in
public service but dedication and energy, confidence, ability, and
sheer guts were. If those foundational qualities do not also
encapsulate the essence of the public service of Senator Barbara
Mikulski, then I do not know what does.
It is, therefore, all the more appropriate and fitting that of anyone
it would be a person of Senator Mikulski's legislative stature who
would exceed Senator Smith's length of service in the Senate.
As if this benchmark established today were not enough, on March 17,
2012, we will all be back on the floor of the Senate because Senator
Mikulski will become the longest serving female Member in the history
of the Congress, House or Senate. She probably did not even have a
chance to think about that one.
Moreover, like Senator Smith, Senator Barbara Mikulski has always
brought an unyielding tenacity, a cornerstone of her fighting spirit
and character, that has time and again been reflected in her
legislative fight on behalf of the people she represents. This will not
be a news flash to my colleagues or even those, our new colleagues, who
will soon discover that taking no for an answer is simply not in
Senator Mikulski's vocabulary nor her DNA. As she has often said, she
is not ``caffeine free.'' And nowhere have I witnessed that ardent
focus and commitment more intensely than in Senator Mikulski's
signature battle for equity in women's health research, one that
Congresswoman Pat Schroeder and I were waging from the House side as
well.
We all set aside our partisan labels at a time when, incredibly,
women and minorities were systematically excluded from clinical medical
trials at the National Institutes of Health, trials that often made the
difference between life and death.
At a pivotal juncture, Senator Mikulski tackled this travesty head on
and launched a key panel of stakeholders, as she can do, to explore the
shocking discriminatory treatment which further galvanized national
attention, and, in the end, we produced watershed policy changes that
to this day are resulting in lifesaving medical discoveries for
America's women.
Ultimately, what we are celebrating today are two legislative
juggernauts who have defined the standard of principled public service
by exemplifying a special bond of trust that should exist between the
governing and the governed. They have seen problems confronting their
constituencies and the Nation and left no stone unturned to solve them.
They recognized injustice and acted boldly to quell it. They have given
a voice to the voiceless, power to the powerless, and they were always
at one with those they represent because they never ever forgot their
roots.
That is why, as Senators from the State of Maine, where Senator
Margaret Chase Smith's legacy has been forever enshrined, Senator
Collins and I are profoundly honored to share in this rarified moment
as Senator Mikulski assumes the historic mantle of longest serving
woman in the Senate. Indeed, it bodes well for the venerable
institution of this Senate and our great Nation to have the senior
Senator from Maryland to be at the vanguard of our ranks.
Congratulations.
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, the Senate boasts many persuasive voices,
but there are few stronger than that of Senator Barbara Mikulski. To
call her a trailblazer does not do justice to her long and storied
career in Congress, representing the people of Maryland and advancing
women's rights, civil rights, and justice for all Americans. This week,
she becomes the Senate's longest serving woman Senator in U.S. history.
First elected to the House of Representatives in 1976, and to the
Senate in 1986, Senator Mikulski has served the people of Maryland with
honor and distinction. In Congress, she has remained committed to her
roots in public service, which began as a social worker in Baltimore,
helping at-risk children and helping seniors. After 5 years on the
Baltimore City Council, Marylanders in the State's third congressional
district sent Senator Mikulski to Congress, where she has continued her
hard work and tireless advocacy for women and families.
Atop her list of priorities has been giving voice to issues
concerning women's health. She worked to establish the National
Institutes of Health Office of Women's Health and to implement
standards to ensure that all women have access to quality mammography.
She fought to expand access to maternity care. Most recently, through
Senator Mikulski's leadership, the historic Affordable Care Act
included strong antidiscrimination provisions to ensure that being a
woman is no longer a pre-existing condition.
In early 2009, Senator Mikulski further proved she is, in fact, a
force to be reckoned with, when her tireless efforts to advance the
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act resulted in that legislation being one of
the first laws to be signed by President Obama. Since the Supreme
Court's 2007 decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire, Senator Mikulski
worked relentlessly to restore congressional intent and reverse the
Court's decision to give employers blanket immunity for their
discriminatory pay practices. The Ledbetter Fair Pay Act restored
victims' ability to file suit for pay discrimination, and was an
important step forward in ensuring that all workers receive equal pay
for equal work.
I have been honored to work with Senator Mikulski in her capacity as
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chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce,
Justice and Science, where she has championed important programs to
support state and local law enforcement, crime victims, and critical
support programs for victims of domestic violence. I share her
commitment to investing in the men and women who are charged with
keeping our communities safe, and providing important support to
victims of violence.
There is no question that Senator Mikulski is a leader in the Senate.
As the dean of the Women of the Senate, she serves as a mentor to other
women Senators who join the Chamber. She is a dedicated public servant,
a strong voice for women, a consensus builder. She has said she is
``first and foremost the Senator from Maryland and the Senator for
Maryland.'' For more than three decades, many of us have been proud to
call her a friend.
I join with many others in congratulating Senator Mikulski on this
historic achievement.
(At the request of Mr. Reid, the following statement was ordered to
be printed in the Record.)
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise to congratulate my
friend and colleague, Barbara Mikulski, who is now the longest-serving
woman in the history of the U.S. Senate.
Barbara has been a forceful advocate for the people of her beloved
Maryland and a role model for women everywhere--beginning with her
election to the Baltimore City Council in 1971, to her election to the
House of Representatives in 1976, to her election to the Senate in
1986.
Barbara is a pace-setter in the fight for equality for women. When I
first ran for the Senate in 1992, Barbara reached out to me to offer
her support, for which I am grateful, and she welcomed me when I joined
the Senate.
Barbara is indomitable, not only in the fight for equality for women
but in the broader fight for human rights for all mankind. I am proud
to have worked alongside Barbara in opposing tyranny in Burma, in
pushing to restrict cluster munitions that pose a grave threat to
innocent people around the world, and in pushing to free Burmese
democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
And I am proud to work with her on the Senate Select Committee on
Intelligence, which I chair, where I know I can count on Barbara to do
the hard work required to oversee America's intelligence agencies and
keep America safe.
Any discussion of Barbara would be incomplete without acknowledgment
of her effort to improve bipartisanship in the Senate--something sorely
needed right now--an effort aided by her monthly bipartisan dinners for
women Senators.
These dinners bring us together and make the Senate a more hospitable
place for women. But they are more than that. These dinners are a way
to forge relationships and friendships that transcend party lines.
These gatherings have created a community of interests among Senators
of divergent backgrounds and political views. I think that is a very
big contribution.
So I want to salute you, Barbara. I am proud to call you colleague
and friend. And I look forward to working with you for many more years
to come.
Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to my
colleague and friend, Senator Barbara Mikulski.
Earlier today, when Senator Mikulski took the oath in this Chamber to
serve, protect, and defend the U.S. Constitution, she became the
longest serving woman in the history of the Senate.
Senator Mikulski is no stranger to making history, and today she has
made history once again.
When Senator Mikulski was first sworn in as a Senator in 1987, she
was the first Democratic woman Senator elected in her own right. And,
along with Senator Kassebaum, she was one of only two women in the
Senate at the time.
Today, 17 women were sworn in on the Senate floor and I know many of
us might not be here today without Senator Mikulski's support and
encouragement. She truly is the dean of the women in the Senate.
Senator Mikulski and I became very close friends when I joined the
House of Representatives in 1983. She was always someone I respected
because she was always focused on making life better for the middle-
and working-class people she serves.
When I first thought about running for the Senate, Senator Mikulski
was the first person I went to see, and she gave such sage advice. She
said ``You'll love it here in the Senate because you have an ability to
help the people you serve.'' Senator Mikulski told me it would be the
toughest thing and the best thing I would ever do.
I give Senator Mikulski such credit. That is the role she has played
with so many women Senators from both sides of the aisle. She regularly
brings the women of the Senate--together Republicans and Democrats--for
a friendly dinner.
One of Senator Mikulski's wonderful gifts is her humor. When she and
I served together in the House, women were unable to use the main
facilities of the House gym. Along with Geraldine Ferraro, Olympia
Snowe, Barbara Kennelly and others, we worked together to ``integrate''
the House gym.
At the House gym, a friend would lead us in exercises. One time, she
said to us: ``OK everyone, hands on your hips.'' Senator Mikulski
retorted, ``If I had hips, I wouldn't be here.''
That is so typical of her style--warm, funny and to the point. It
brought us all together.
And it is one reason why this daughter of east Baltimore has been
such an inspiration to millions of women across our country.
Senator Mikulski is an accomplished legislator and leader who knows
how to get the job done.
She has long fought to protect the health and well-being of women and
their families.
Not only did she support the historic health care reform legislation
that is making sure every American has access to quality, affordable
insurance, but Senator Mikulski fought to make the legislation stronger
for women. I was proud to stand with her to pass an amendment that
guarantees women will have access to the preventive care they need such
as screenings for breast, ovarian and cervical cancer.
Senator Mikulski championed the Mammography Quality Standards Act,
which requires mammography facilities across the Nation to meet uniform
quality standards. This law has saved lives by improving preventive
care that can lead to early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.
When we saw how little health science and research addressed women's
health, Senator Mikulski and I helped lead the fight for health equity.
We helped create the National Institutes of Health Office of Women's
Health to study women's needs and health issues.
Senator Mikulski believes everyone should be fairly paid for a hard
day's work. We stood together as vocal advocates for the Lilly
Ledbetter Fair Pay Act--a historic bill by Senator Kennedy that is now
the law of the land.
And, as a member of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Mikulski
has fought for critical funding to clean up and protect Maryland's
treasured Chesapeake Bay.
Senator Mikulski's tenacity is undeniable. Several years ago, she was
mugged one evening outside her home in Baltimore. A man pushed her to
the ground and grabbed her purse.
Even though she is only 4 feet 11 inches, Senator Mikulski fought
back and defended herself.
Yes, Senator Mikulski stands up for herself and stands up for the
people of Maryland. She has fought hard for change and equal rights. As
she likes to say, there are times when you need to ``(s)quare your
shoulders, suit up, put on your lipstick and get ready for battle.''
Senator Mikulski has always been out in front. She has used her role
as the senior woman in the Senate to focus on issues that matter to her
constituents. Her power lies in her ability to organize people. That is
one reason she is so beloved by her colleagues--we love it when she
brings us together on issues.
I stand today to honor my good friend, a trailblazer and a mentor,
Senator Mikulski.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, it is a great honor to join in recognizing
and celebrating my colleague, the senior Senator from Maryland. Senator
Barbara Mikulski became the longest serving woman Senator in our
Nation's
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history today when she completed the oath to begin her fifth term in
the Senate. Indeed, this is not the first time Senator Mikulski's name
will be etched in history for her groundbreaking service: she was the
first woman elected to statewide office in Maryland and the first
female Democrat to serve in both Chambers of Congress.
During her 24 years in the Senate, she has won the admiration of her
colleagues for her resolve, hard work and dedication to her
constituents. It is an honor to call Senator Mikulski a friend. As
representatives of neighboring States, we have often had the
opportunity to work together on issues of regional importance. I can
never thank her enough for her commitment to NASA-Wallops, one of many
examples in this regard.
Today marks a special milestone in the Senate's history. I join my
colleagues in commending Senator Mikulski, not only for her enormous
service to this body and to our country but as someone who has been a
tireless advocate for her home State of Maryland.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I want to add my voice to the many others
heaping deserved praise onto Senator Barbara Mikulski, who sets a
record today as the longest serving woman in the history of the U.S.
Senate.
Tough but compassionate, an effective advocate for Maryland and for
the national interest, Senator Mikulski has achieved more than just
longevity. She has been an energetic and effective advocate for the
interests of children, a staunch ally of seniors, a defender of
services for our veterans, and a supporter of efforts to involve all
Americans in solving our Nation's problems through service and
voluntarism. Her support of education and scientific research promises
benefits that will last long after we all have departed the Senate.
I have been a proud partner with her on making commonsense changes to
our Nation's immigration system. She also has been a strong advocate
for Federal programs that promote manufacturing, such as the Commerce
Department's Manufacturing Extension Program and the Technology
Innovation Program.
Senator Mikulski is rightly seen as a mentor and leader of women who
come to the Senate. The successes of the many female Senators who have
been the beneficiaries of her guidance stand as a testament to the
power of her example.
Senator Mikulski has admirably brought the lessons of her early
career as a social worker to her work in the Senate, understanding that
real families with real problems are looking to us for solutions.
The people of Maryland and of this Nation are fortunate to have the
benefit of her service. I am proud to call her a colleague and a
friend. I congratulate her on her accomplishment and I await the many
more achievements I know are to come.
Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, it is a great pleasure to offer my
heartfelt congratulations to Senator Barbara Mikulski on becoming the
longest-serving woman in Senate history. While this is a milestone to
celebrate, the true cause for celebration is not just Senator
Mikulski's decades of service to this chamber, but her lifetime of
service to her beloved Baltimore, her state of Maryland, and our
Nation.
This occasion has a special meaning for Sen. Snowe and me. As she
begins her 25th year in the Senate, Senator Mikulski now surpasses my
personal role model in public service, Senator Margaret Chase Smith.
Just as the Great Lady from Maine inspired Sen. Snowe and me as well as
countless other young women of my generation to serve, Senator Mikulski
inspires the young women of today.
As a new Senator in 1997, I was one of those tutored by Senator
Mikulski. She taught me the ropes of the appropriations process and
instituted regular bipartisan dinners for the women of the Senate.
It has been a privilege to work with Senator Mikulski for 14 years.
During that time, I have come to know her as a fighter, a trailblazer,
and as a dear friend. She is committed to the people of her state and
of America.
Senator Mikulski is, above all, a hard worker. Growing up in East
Baltimore, she learned the value of hard work at her family's grocery
store. Her commitment to making a difference in her neighborhood led
her to become a social worker, helping at-risk children and the
elderly.
Her activism and understanding of community needs led to her first
successful run for public office, the Baltimore City Council in 1971.
Five years later, she came to Washington as a member of Congress,
representing Maryland's 3rd District.
After 10 years of service in the House, she was elected to the Senate
in 1986. In so doing, she became the first Democratic Senator elected
in her own right. The people of Maryland wisely returned her to office
in 1992, 1998, 2004, and again in 2010.
Senator Mikulski's longevity is only the preface to her story of
exceptional accomplishment. She has fought for increased access to
higher education and for improved health care for our seniors. I am
proud to have fought at her side on those issues, as well as for
increased Alzheimer's research, improved women's health care, and
enhanced educational opportunities for nurses.
Working with her on the Appropriations Committee, I have witnessed
firsthand how seriously she takes her responsibility to the American
taxpayers.
Throughout her life in public service, Senator Mikulski has lived by
one guiding principle: her obligation is to help our people meet the
needs of today as she helps our Nation prepare for the challenges of
tomorrow. It is an honor to congratulate the Great Lady from Maryland
for her many years of service, and to wish her many more.
Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise to honor a distinguished colleague,
Senator Barbara Mikulski, who is celebrating a major milestone--today
becoming the longest serving female in Senate history.
Elected to the House in 1976 and the Senate in 1986, Senator Mikulski
is the first woman to win statewide office in Maryland, the first
female Democrat to serve in both the House and the Senate, and the
first female Democrat elected to the Senate in her own right.
As one of the most effective Senators, Senator Mikulski used her
experience as a social worker and activist to ardently work on behalf
of her constituents giving them a strong voice in the U.S. Senate. A
leader in the Senate she has successfully fought for a variety of
issues ranging from women's rights to protecting our law enforcement.
Throughout our 8 years of serving together in the House and 24 years
in the Senate, Senator Mikulski and I have worked on many issues
together. We have a strong bipartisan relationship that is reflected in
the numerous accomplishments we have achieved working together as the
chair and ranking member on the CJS appropriations subcommittee. I have
always appreciated Senator Mikulski's candor, sense of humor, and
willingness to cross party lines to work in the best interest of our
Nation.
Mr. President, I congratulate Senator Mikulski on reaching this
historic milestone today. I am honored to call Senator Barbara Mikulski
my colleague but prouder to call her my friend.
Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleagues in
honoring the Senator from Maryland, Barbara Mikulski--the longest
serving woman in the history of the U.S. Senate.
It has been an honor to serve with Senator Mikulski in my 2 years in
this body. She quickly became a dear friend and a valuable mentor--just
as she has been for all of her other female colleagues as the dean of
the women Senators.
It wasn't until 1932 that Hattie Caraway became the first woman ever
elected to the U.S. Senate. And it wasn't until a half century later--
1986--that against all odds, Barbara Mikulski became the first
Democratic woman ever elected to the Senate in her own right.
Now the longest serving woman in this Chamber's entire history,
Senator Mikulski is showing just what is possible when you ignore
conventional wisdom, never stop fighting for what is right and just,
and honor our commitment to the families that elect us every single
day.
One of her hallmark battles has been the fight for equal pay for
equal work for women. This is not only an issue of
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justice, but an economic imperative. Even today, for every dollar a man
makes, a woman makes just 78 cents--a disparity that is even worse for
women of color. Latino women make just 53 cents, and African-American
women make just 62 cents for every dollar a man makes. I know Senator
Mikulski won't give up until we correct this outrageous injustice.
She also fought to strengthen our laws against domestic violence, and
open up access to health screenings and treatment that can save lives.
And, she led the fight against insurance companies that made being a
woman a pre-existing condition.
Senator Mikulski has always fought to protect women's health and a
woman's right to choose. Last year, I was proud to stand with her to
defeat the dangerous Stupak amendment that would have denied lifesaving
reproductive care for the women of this country--a victory we would not
have won without Senator Mikulski.
In the words of Eleanor Roosevelt, ``the battle for the individual
rights of women is one of long standing, and none of us should
countenance anything which undermines it.''
It is that spirit--never backing down in the face of injustice--
Senator Mikulski is one of the strongest voices we have for women in
this country and women around the world.
And every single day she's paving the way for more women in leading
roles in America. There still may only be 17 women serving in the
Senate today, but with her leadership and her strong voice, Senator
Mikulski is showing the young women and young girls of this country
that women's voices matter and are needed in the public debate.
Whether it is here on Capitol Hill or in State capitols around the
country or heading small business or the boardrooms of major companies,
Senator Mikulski is helping to inspire the next generation of women
leaders by showing that our voices solve problems and lead to change.
Each of us owe her a debt of gratitude for her vision and pioneering
spirit.
Thank you, Senator Mikulski, and congratulations on your historic
achievement. It is an honor to work with you, and I hope to serve with
you for many years to come.
Mrs. McCASKILL. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Senator
Barbara Mikulski for her trailblazing career in the U.S. Senate. As we
begin the 112th Congress today, Senator Mikulski will begin her fifth
consecutive Senate term making her the longest serving female Senator
in American history. She joins legendary Maine Senator Margaret Chase
Smith in the history books today. This accomplishment is a testament to
her dedication to the State and the people of Maryland, and a
commitment to serve which I aim to emulate with my constituents in
Missouri. She is, quite simply, a remarkable, dedicated, focused and
perseverant woman and these attributes have led to this wonderful
moment in her continued service.
Starting out as a social worker in Baltimore, and later becoming a
member of the Baltimore city council, Senator Mikulski went on to
become a U.S. Representative for the Third Congressional District of
Maryland for 10 years. In 1986, she was elected to the U.S. Senate
where she has served ever since.
Barbara Mikulski has continuously broken barriers for women and made
history in her over 40 years as an elected official. And yet, in this
112th Congress, even as we mark this historic moment for women in the
Senate, Senator Mikulski carries on her career in such a way that sets
aside the pomp and circumstance of making history and instead remains
focused on the most basic, pure and selfless form of public service.
In closing, although Senator Mikulski's tenure in the Senate as a
woman is an important milestone, I believe that it will ultimately be
the Senator's leadership fighting for women, children, seniors and
veterans which will be her lasting legacy in Congress. I have had the
fortunate opportunity to work with Senator Mikulski on some of this
historic legislation for women and families, including the Lily
Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act to protect against pay
discrimination, and the TRICARE Dependent Coverage Extension Act which
expanded health insurance for military families.
I want to congratulate Senator Mikulski on her pioneering career in
civil service and on making history in the U.S. Senate today; I am
humbled to be working on historic legislation alongside my colleague
from Maryland.
Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I want to join my colleagues in
congratulating Senator Barbara A. Mikulski as she becomes the longest
serving female Senator in American history.
Senator Mikulski and I began our Senate careers in the 1980s, and it
has been my privilege to serve with her. We have worked together on
many, many issues, including 975 bills. Two hundred eighty-five of
those bills passed the Senate and 184 were signed into law, including
the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 in the last Congress. I am
proud of our combined accomplishments and to call her my colleague and
friend.
It is a great honor to serve with Senator Mikulski. Senator Mikulski
and I have more in common than some know. My life-changing experience
with the VISTA program in the 1960s fueled my commitment to public
service in much the same way Senator Mikulski's experience as a social
worker in Baltimore fueled hers. Our early experiences remain the
foundation of our shared commitment to quality health care for all
people. Senator Mikulski and I have worked tirelessly together to
expand access to cancer screenings and increase funding for medical
research, including Alzheimer's disease. I was proud to stand with
Senator Mikulski last year to pass historic health care reform. Her
commitment to opening doors for all members of our society is to be
commended.
Even though she stands at 4'11" and I at 6'7", we have stood eye-to-
eye in supporting our veterans. And, we had many opportunities for
collaboration as she was working on the Appropriations Committee and I
chaired the Veterans' Affairs Committee. It is easy to work with
someone like Senator Mikulski who is so committed to her values and the
people she represents.
The first female senator, Rebecca Latimer Felton of Georgia, only
held office for 1 day in 1922, having been appointed by Governor Thomas
Hardwick upon the death of Senator Thomas Watson. During her first and
last Senate address, she said ``When the women of the country come in
and sit with you, though there may be but a very few in the next few
years, I pledge that you will get ability, you will get integrity of
purpose, you will get exalted patriotism, and you will get unstinted
usefulness.'' Rebecca Felton's words forecast Senator Mikulski. There
is no question that she has brought all of these skills and attributes,
and much more, to the U.S. Senate over these last 24 years.
In some ways it is hard to believe Senator Mikulski is now the
Senate's longest serving female Senator. She does a great job, and I
understand she takes on the additional role of mentor to many new
female Senators. I am thankful for that contribution which surely
strengthens our entire Senate.
The people of Maryland made a wise choice in reelecting this
remarkable Senator. I look forward to celebrating her next milestone in
just over 2 years when she will become the longest serving female
Member in the history of Congress.
Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I rise to recognize and congratulate my
good friend from Maryland, Senator Barbara Mikulski, on today becoming
the longest serving female Senator in the history of the Senate. This
is an achievement that takes courage and passion and commitment, three
things all of us who know her so well know she has in abundance.
Even more important than honoring my friend on the length of her
service today, I believe it is important to recognize what she has done
with that service. The senior Senator from Maryland, over her 24 years,
has established herself as a trailblazer, a legislator, a leader, and,
above all, a fighter for her people and her State. But to me and to all
the other women Senators who have followed in her footsteps, she is
simply a mentor. She is the Senator who has offered us guidance, taught
us to be fearless, and who has set a standard for all women Senators to
follow.
From the first time I ever spoke to Senator Mikulski, one thing was
clear.
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She didn't run for the Senate to be one woman Senator. She ran to be
one of many. I first came to the Senate in 1992, the so-called year of
the woman. I can remember a lot of the press that year being about how
our incoming class of four women Senators would open the door to
changes in the culture of the Senate. But when I got here, I quickly
realized that door had not only already been opened, it had been broken
down by Senator Mikulski. She was the first female Democrat to serve on
the Senate Appropriations Committee, and she was also the very first
one to take all the new women Senators under her wing. Senator Mikulski
realized back then there was no rule book for women in the Senate. So
she took it upon herself to help guide the way. She drew on her own
experiences to make the transition for all of us easier. She organized
seminars, taught us about working together, taught us about the
legislative process and the rules on the floor and the many more subtle
rules off the floor. In short, she showed us the ropes, and she has
been doing it ever since.
But her work doesn't end with helping women Senators get their foot
in the door. I don't know if it is because she was a social worker
before she came to Washington, but one thing Senator Mikulski knows is
that relationships matter. That is why she has worked to make sure that
once women Senators get here, we are working together on both sides of
the aisle. It is why she brings Republican and Democratic women
together for dinners, so we can find common ground and help solve
problems. While Senator Mikulski knows it is important and courageous
to be the first, she also understands the first ones have to be
responsible and successful so others can and will follow. It is because
she has done her job so well that other women have been able to follow
in her footsteps, and she has done her job well.
Senator Mikulski is here today as the longest serving woman Senator
not by accident or by happenstance. She is here because she earned it,
because the people of her State know she is an indispensable champion
for their causes, because she works across party lines, because she
delivers results and because, as she has said to us so many times, she
is always ready to square her shoulders, put on her lipstick, and suit
up for the people who need it most.
Whether it is leading the fight for the very first bill President
Obama signed into law that guarantees women cannot be paid less than
men for doing the same job or fighting for seniors who rely on Social
Security or delivering investments for firefighters, police officers,
and first responders or standing up for all those in Maryland who
depend on her State's environmental resources for their livelihood,
there are few others I want in my corner like her and there are few
others who work as hard as she does to give a voice to those who would
not otherwise have it.
Since Senator Mikulski was elected in 1986, she has helped guide the
way for 22 more women Senators. Today there are 17. But she will also
be the first one to tell us we are not yet where we need to be, that
more women need to serve in this body. That is why she has built a team
of women Senators behind her that continues to grow--every generation,
every election, every year.
Today, Senator Mikulski makes history by serving longer than any
other woman. But I know many years from now women will have achieved a
larger, more representative role in this body than we now have, Senator
Mikulski will be at the very top of the list of people to thank, the
person who not only cut the path but who went back and guided so many
of us down it. Thanks to her, one day the remarkable accomplishment we
are celebrating today may no longer be such a remarkable thing for a
woman to achieve; it will be commonplace. That will be her true and
lasting legacy.
Mrs. HAGAN. Mr. President, I am honored to join my colleagues in
honoring my mentor and dear friend, Senator Barbara Mikulski, on
becoming the longest serving woman in the history of the Senate. For
more than 24 trailblazing years, Senator Mikulski has been one of the
Senate's fiercest advocates for women, families, and for the people of
Maryland who have now elected her to the Senate for five consecutive
terms. Before she arrived in Washington in 1977 as the Representative
from the Third District of Maryland, Senator Mikulski already had a
distinguished career in public service, working in Baltimore as a
social worker, then a community activist, and as a city council member.
When she was first sworn in as a Member of the House of
Representatives, she was one of just 18 female Members. When she
entered the Senate 10 years later as the first Democratic woman Senator
elected in her own right, she was one of just two women in this upper
Chamber. But while those numbers have intimidated most, they only
motivated and emboldened Senator Mikulski. She soon impressed her
colleagues, as she continues to do today, with her work ethic,
determination, keen understanding of issues, humor, and her commitment
to her constituents.
She has broken many barriers in her career. She was the first woman
ever elected statewide in Maryland, the first to chair an
appropriations subcommittee, and the first woman to serve in the
Democratic leadership. If we are no longer surprised today when we see
women in power in Washington, it is only because we had pioneers such
as Barbara Mikulski. As she recently told CNN: ``I might be the first,
but I don't want to be the last.''
There are now 17 women serving in the Senate, and Senator Mikulski,
the dean of the women, is our leader and our champion. I was both
humbled and honored to have her escort me when I was sworn in as a
Senator 2 years ago. That was just the beginning of her ongoing
mentorship. Although the Senate can often be bogged down by
partisanship, I appreciate that Senator Mikulski encourages and creates
an environment of teamwork, respect, and friendship. But while we today
mark her place in history as a woman Senator, she is widely regarded as
one of the most respected, accomplished, and effective public servants
in all of Congress. To use Senator Mikulski's own words, she showed it
is not about gender, it is about agenda.
She is one of the Senate's strongest advocates for science and
technology and the importance of investing in innovation to spur our
economy. In fact, earlier this year, I was watching a 3D movie about
the Hubble telescope at the Smithsonian with my daughter, a scientist,
and there was Senator Mikulski featured in the movie for her role in
preserving the telescope's budget, a feat she calls one of her proudest
accomplishments.
She also wrote the Spousal Anti-Impoverishment Act, which protects
seniors across our country from going bankrupt while paying for a
spouse's nursing home care.
She shepherded through the Lilly Ledbetter Act, which helps to ensure
that no matter your gender, your race, your national origin, religion,
age, or disability, you will receive equal pay for equal work.
She fought tenaciously for her important amendment to health care
reform legislation ensuring that a comprehensive list of women's
preventive services, such as screenings for breast and cervical cancer,
would be covered with no added out-of-pocket expenses.
I thank Senator Mikulski for her mentorship, her leadership, and her
fierce belief in the empowerment of women in our communities and in
public office. I congratulate her on this tremendous accomplishment,
and I join my colleagues in looking forward to many more years of her
distinguished service.
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I want to say a few words about my dear
friend, dear colleague, someone I so admire--Senator Barbara Mikulski--
on her remarkable accomplishments. Today, she took the oath of office,
the Senator from Maryland, and made history as few others can make.
Senator Mikulski has long been affectionately known here in the Senate
as the dean of the women. Now she is officially the longest serving
female Senator in the history of this great Nation.
This distinction adds to the considerable respect and admiration I
already have for Senator Mikulski and who she is and what she does.
Barb, like me, came from a decidedly middle-class beginning. We often
talk about her dad, Willie, who owned a grocery store in east
Baltimore, and my grandfather and dad--Jake and Abe--who were
exterminators. They were similar because they were people of the
community. Barb would tell me that people
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would come in during difficult times--they had lost their job--and
Willie would say, pay me when you can. It wasn't quite the same with my
family, but my grandfather and then father, like him, felt people who
had roaches or rats crawling through their little houses and
apartments, when they couldn't pay, shouldn't have that service cut off
for them.
So we were both infused with that great upwardly mobile, middle-
class, help your neighbor, be part of a neighborhood, be part of a
community feeling. Barb started her career as a social worker and made
a name for herself when she led the fight to stop a highway project
from destroying a historic section of her community. That is what
launched her into politics. Like our best politicians, she came from
the community. She didn't decide to be a politician, she came from the
community, took on a fight, and saw how she could make government a
friend to the people. So she went from the Baltimore City Council to
the House of Representatives, and then, of course, to this august
Chamber.
Throughout that time, she has never lost sight of from where she
came. She has fought tirelessly and effectively to protect Maryland's
seniors, ensuring they have access to an affordable, healthy, and happy
environment. She has been a leading advocate of medical research,
securing billions in funding for cutting-edge research into things as
diverse as breast cancer and Alzheimer's. She has helped countless
women and veterans get the health care they need, and the list goes on
and on.
Let me say one other thing. As somebody who believes that we have to
focus on the middle class, talk to the middle class, and have middle-
class feelings and values infused in our bones, no other Senator does
that as well as Senator Mikulski because it is who she is and because--
being the essentially humble and modest person she is--she has never
lost sight of where she has come from.
So Senator Barb--as her constituents know her--you are beloved here
as much as you are beloved in your home State of Maryland. Your sense
of humor, your tenacity, your work ethic, your love of community, and
your mother's crab cake recipe are unrivaled.
It is an honor to serve alongside such an accomplished woman. Senator
Mikulski, congratulations again. You are a great Senator and a great
friend.
The VICE PRESIDENT. The Senator from Maryland.
Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I thank my colleagues for their very
warm words. Today, when I walked down the aisle, escorted by my
esteemed partner, Ben Cardin, my former and beloved colleague, Senator
Paul Sarbanes--when I walked down that aisle, I walked into the history
books.
I never set out to do that and, for me, it is a great honor to join
Margaret Chase Smith in the history books. As Senator Snowe has said,
and also Senator Collins on a number of occasions, Margaret Chase Smith
and I share many things in common. Today they wear the rose, but those
two outstanding Senators from Maine also wear the values of Maine and
the values of Margaret Chase Smith: a strong belief in constituent
service, staying close to the people, focusing on jobs for the State,
being a strong supporter of innovation, and a fearless, unrelenting
streak of independence. I hope I am like her. I know they bear that
same set of characteristics.
For me, it is not how long I serve but how well I serve. Service for
me is about being connected, connected to my constituents, staying
close to them so they do not fall between the cracks, meeting their
day-to-day needs and also looking at the long-range needs of the
Nation.
Nobody comes here by themselves. Later on today I will thank my
friends and supporters. But I want to thank the wonderful people who
shaped me, the wonderful nuns who taught me, the school Sisters of
Notre Dame and the Sisters of Mercy who taught me about leadership, who
taught me about service, who taught me about my faith in Matthew 5, the
Beatitude that said hunger and thirst after justice.
But today as I stand here, I also think about my mother and father. I
am filled with great emotion. I wish my mother and father were here
today. They worked so hard for my sisters and I to have an education.
But though they are not here with me today in the Senate gallery, I
know they are in my heart. I want them to know they are with me when I
fight for what we believed in.
My father ran a small grocery store. Everybody loved my father and
mother. They were known for honesty and integrity. When my father
opened the grocery store every morning, he would say: Good morning. Can
I help you? And that is the kind of values I bring to the Senate.
Our family came from Poland. When my great-grandmother arrived in
this country she had little money in her pocket, but she had a big
dream in her heart. That dream was the American dream where through
hard work, hard work and dedication, you could make something of
yourself. You could own a home, you could have a job, you could get an
education for your family. She did not even have the right to vote, and
in this great country of ours, in three generations, I joined the
Senate. She knew about hard work in terms of economic opportunity. She
did not think too much about the Constitution, but I do--particularly
that first amendment.
I got into politics fighting a highway. In other countries they put
dissidents in jail. In the United States of America, because of the
first amendment, they put you in the United States Senate. God bless
America.
When I came to the Senate, though I was all by myself, I said I was
never alone because of the wonderful way the men have treated me. The
history of the women in the Senate is short--I might add, 4-foot-11
short. But everything we have done we have been able to work on
together.
I fought for seniors to try to pass, and passed, the Spousal
Impoverishment Act to make sure the very cruel rules of our government
did not force people into bankruptcy when they had to turn to a nursing
home. I worked to pass the Lilly Ledbetter bill to give equal pay for
equal work; our wonderful work on women's health, where we broke
barriers in terms of research. We know we have saved lives because of
what we have done in research in our preventive health amendment, and
for young people in national service.
I have also fought for Maryland--whether it is cleaning up the bay or
fighting for jobs in the Port of Baltimore, whether it is looking out
for the Goddard Space Agency or doubling the funding at the National
Institutes of Health. For me, again, it is all about service. I am
fighting for a stronger economy and a safer America. For me it is not
about the past, it is about the future. Though I break one record
today, I want to work with all of you on both sides of the aisle to
break other records.
Let's break that high record of unemployment in our country. Let's
break that record of low graduation rates in our high schools. Let's
break the record of the longest war in American history and bring our
troops home as safely as we can. I want to build a strong economy.
I am going to work to build a strong economy, an innovation economy
so we are able to move ahead. Today when I took my oath, I pledged that
I want to help America be great again with a renewed self-confidence
and achievement. I want us to be a global leader in this innovation
economy. I want to help America be excellent again so we not only win
Nobel Prizes--and I want us to win lots of them--but win international
markets and win lots of them. I want to promote a sense of community
where we look out for each other and for our community and where the
people of the United States know they have a government on their side.
I will close with a quote from George Bernard Shaw.
I am convinced that my life belongs to the whole community;
and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it
whatever I can, for the harder I work, the more I live.
I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle
to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I got hold of for
a moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible
before turning it over to future generations.
Someday in the future, someone else will break this record. Let's
work together to break those other records.
Thanks for everything. God bless America.
(Applause, Senators rising.)
The VICE PRESIDENT. The majority leader.
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