Barbara Mikulski: “I thank the Senator for the courtesy. Both the Senator from Montana and I have been hit by this bug.”

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.

We especially thank Senate Appropriations Chairman Thad Cochran and Vice-Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski for their unwavering support for the NIH.

Nothing about me without me.

We are safe, we are secure, and we are undeterred.