On the recordMarch 29, 2012
I rise today in light of last week's celebration here in the Senate, to recognize the truly historic and remarkable accomplishment of my good friend and colleague, Senator Barbara Mikulski. As we all know, Senator Mikulski just last week achieved another stunning milestone as she became the longest-serving woman in the history of the United States Congress, surpassing Congresswoman Edith Nourse Rogers. Of course, it was at the outset of this 112th Congress that Senator Mikulski overtook Maine's legendary Senator Margaret Chase Smith. To say it's been quite a Congress for the Gentle Lady from Maryland is the height of understatement indeed. In the process of paying tribute to Senator Mikulski, I discovered some interesting information, namely that three out of the four longest serving women in the Congress were actually born in Maine-- Congresswoman Rogers, Senator Smith, and myself as third longest serving woman in both the Senate and the House. Senator Smith of course served Maine and Congresswoman Rogers represented the 5th District of Massachusetts. Both were Republicans, and both were born in Maine. And so, let me just say, as one who is privileged enough to fall into the same categories, on behalf of the great State of Maine which appears to produce women of tremendous endurance at both ends of the U.S. Capitol, we could not be more proud of the Senator from Maryland. But the commonalities don't end there--far from it.…
