On the recordMarch 21, 2012
Mr. President, I rise to join my colleagues in honoring our friend and colleague who is often regarded as the dean of the women in the Senate, Barbara Mikulski. Earlier this week Senator Mikulski added to her already long list of accomplishments the distinction of being the longest serving female Member of Congress in the history of the United States of America. Senator Mikulski's life is a story of the American dream. Raised in a working-class immigrant family in the east Baltimore neighborhood of Highlandtown, Senator Mikulski learned at a young age about the struggles of working families and ethnic Americans and the value of paying it forward. She helped at her father's grocery store, which opened early in the morning so that steelworkers could buy lunch before their morning shift. She delivered food to seniors and families when parts of her neighborhood were set on fire after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. At one point she even rode on the top of a tank to deliver the groceries. Senator Mikulski's roots helped shape her role today as a mentor, fighter, and true public servant. She worked as a social worker for Catholic Charities, helping at-risk children and counseling seniors on Medicare. She had her start in politics as a community organizer and social worker.…
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