On the recordDecember 7, 2016
I wish to offer a few brief comments, if I might, so I may thank and congratulate Senator Mikulski for her tireless contributions to the State of Maryland and the whole country. As many know, she is a passionate, capable, effective champion for people of all backgrounds, and she got her start in local government. One of the things we have in common is that I, too, started in a very humble office as a county council member in my home community of New Castle County, DE. The way I first met Barbara Mikulski and first saw her toughness, grit, passion, and determination was in a fight over a program she helped give life to, the national service program known as AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps is a fantastic national program that partners with the Federal Government, State, and local governments, the private sector, and nonprofit volunteers. She has been a tireless champion for AmeriCorps over many years and has made a lasting difference in its areas of focus and work. During my short 6 years here, she has been a great friend and a mentor to me and to so many others on both sides of the aisle. Joe Biden, our Vice President, has often said: Show me your budget, and I will show you your values.…
