Barbara Mikulski: “We really salute you for your service, and echo the comments made by the chairman. And I just want to say to you and to…”

I want to recognize her for her leadership in that.

As the longest serving woman in congressional history, I proudly stand on the shoulders of the suffragists who fought bravely and boldly for generations to secure women's political equality.

Without a monument to the great women of American history who paved the way for us to fully participate in and shape our democracy, the telling of the American story on our National Mall is not yet complete.

It will be a proud day for our country when every girl who visits the National Mall is able to see herself represented amongst the giants of our national story.