On the recordDecember 8, 2016
Mr. President, today I wish to honor my friend, colleague, and mentor from Maryland, Senator Barbara Mikulski, who is retiring at the end of this year. Barbara has an impressively long and distinguished career in public service, representing her home State of Maryland in Congress for nearly 40 years. Since I came to the Senate in 2013, it has been a pleasure to serve alongside titans like Senator Mikulski. As a matter of fact, my first official Senate office was tucked in-between hers and then-Senator Rockefeller's on the fifth floor of Hart. As neighbors we formed a friendly bond, and I oftentimes would stop by to chat with her or sometimes just Mrs. O'Malley, who runs a tight ship. On occasion, Senator Rockefeller and I would overstay our welcome, and Mrs. O'Malley would kick us out and send us back to our offices. For those of you who don't know, Mrs. O'Malley has played a critical role in Senator Mikulski's office for nearly 30 years and has helped instill the values of hard work and dedication to a generation of Hill staffers. As the longest serving woman in Congress, Senator Mikulski has inspired a generation of women to pursue careers in public service and run for higher office. As dean of the women Senators, Barbara worked to mentor new women Senators on how to be effective legislators and build coalitions across party lines to advance landmark legislation.…





