Tom Harkin: “I join with the entire Senate family in saluting my good friend, the distinguished senior Senator from Maryland, on…”

“I join with the entire Senate family in saluting my good friend, the distinguished senior Senator from Maryland, on becoming the longest serving woman in the history of the Senate. This is truly a remarkable milestone. I note that Cal Ripken, the former star of Senator Mikulski's hometown Baltimore Orioles, became known as the 'Iron Man' for going 16 consecutive years without missing a game. Now perhaps Senator Mikulski has earned the title of 'Iron Woman' for going 24 consecutive years in this body without ever deviating from her role as a fierce advocate for Marylanders and for working people across our country. I hasten to add that the measure of a Senator is not how many years he or she serves in the body but what he or she accomplishes during those years. That is where Senator Mikulski has truly distinguished herself over the last quarter of a century. I especially salute her activism and leadership on the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, formerly chaired, of course, by Senator Kennedy and which I am now privileged to chair.”