Barbara Mikulski: “These are in fields that are making important contributions to the public good, be it public safety to health or public…”

“These are in fields that are making important contributions to the public good, be it public safety to health or public health, the education of our children at all ages, pre through 12. I do not know how it is in Boston, but we are experiencing a spike in violent crime in Baltimore. We have a considerable number of vacancies in the Baltimore City Police Department. At the same time, they have tried to cut the COPS Program, local law enforcement--the subject of another debate on appropriations. But I will tell you, Mayor Dixon is out there, we are trying to recruit. If we are going to fight crime, fight crime with police officers in the way of enforcement, you fight crime with education and other professions. So you have pinpointed it exactly. I wish to say one thing. I spoke out about my mother and father. Sure, I helped them at the local grocery store. But I was working as a child abuse worker. When your brother was elected President, I was working as a foster care worker at Catholic Charities. I wanted to prevent family breakups. I went to work at the Department of Social Services. I was a child abuse worker for a couple of years. That is pretty tough, what those social workers do. But I wanted to go to graduate school so I would know how to do better, so I would be more effective, so I could intervene.”