On the recordMarch 21, 2012
today I wish to pay tribute to our dear friend and colleague, the senior Senator from Maryland, Barbara Mikulski. This week, Senator Mikulski became the longest-serving woman in the history of the United States Congress. That is quite a milestone and I want to congratulate her on her many years of devoted service to the people of her home State. Senator Mikulski is a Maryland native. Descended from Polish immigrants, she was born and raised in Baltimore. She attended college at both St. Agnes College in Baltimore and the University of Maryland. After several years of working as a social worker in the Baltimore area, Senator Mikulski began her political career in 1971 when she was elected to the Baltimore City Council. She served there for 5 years before running for Congress in 1976. For 10 years, she represented the Third Congressional District of Maryland. Then, in 1986, she was elected to serve here in the Senate. Although the milestone we are recognizing today is a significant one, it is not the first for Senator Mikulski. Indeed, throughout her time in the Senate she has been a pioneer for women in public service. For example, Senator Mikulski was the first woman elected to statewide office in Maryland. She was also the first Democratic woman elected to a Senate seat that was not previously held by her husband. And, she was the first woman to serve in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.…
