Barbara Mikulski: “We wanted to get the Federal Government out of the slum-landlord business and into the empowerment business.”

I come to the floor as the vice chair of the Committee on Appropriations. That means I am the Democratic leader on appropriations for this session of Congress, and next to me is the distinguished Senator from Vermont, Mr. Leahy, who will…

I yield such time to the Senator. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maine.

nothing about me without me.

I rise to take the floor for what I call my summing-up speech. It is not my farewell speech because I have the honor and privilege of being the ranking member and former chairman of the Appropriations Committee. I will speak later on this…