[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3922]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE SERVICE OF SENATOR BARBARA MIKULSKI

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHAKA FATTAH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 21, 2012

  Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
accomplished and distinguished member of the United States Senate who 
is achieving a milestone worthy of recognition in this body.
  Senator Barbara Mikulski is the longest-serving woman in 
congressional history. Before being sworn into the Senate in 1986, 
Senator Mikulski served in this chamber for five terms. She has now 
served the people of Maryland for more than 35 years.
  Senator Mikulski is the daughter of Polish American small-business 
owners, who taught her the meaning of hard work. She attended Mount 
Saint Agnes College and the University of Maryland, where she earned a 
degree in Social Work. The inequities she observed during those years 
are what drove her to become a voice for her community. An activist, 
she organized community members to stand up against a local plan to 
build a 16-lane highway through neighborhoods in Baltimore, indeed she 
was successful.
  Her career as a government leader began in 1971, when she was elected 
a member of Baltimore's City Council. Prior to becoming the first 
Democratic woman sworn into the Senate in 1986, she served ten years as 
a Representative of Maryland's 3rd Congressional District.
  Without a doubt, Senator Mikulski's admirable leadership trajectory 
is reflected through the varied roles she has held in Congress. She has 
advanced initiatives involving women's reproductive rights and women's 
health issues. She is currently a senior member of the Health, 
Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and Chairwoman of the 
Subcommittee on Children and Families. She is also a senior member of 
the Senate Appropriations Committee and Chairwoman of the Commerce, 
Justice, and Science Subcommittee. In my work as the House CJS 
Subcommittee's leading Democrat, I have been grateful for the 
partnership of my companion in the other chamber.
  Senator Mikulski is a pioneer who has paved the way for many women. 
Throughout her career she has served as a mentor for women in 
congressional leadership and continues to create partnerships to focus 
the spotlight on women.
  Her contributions go beyond the walls of Congress and she continues 
to be an integral part of her community, greeting constituents and 
lending a hand to empower and help make a difference. She continues to 
fight to give Maryland the resources necessary to compete in a global 
economy.
  I invite my colleagues to join me in honoring this notable woman who 
is making history and extend our gratitude for her service and wish the 
senior Senator from the State of Maryland good health and good times.

                          ____________________