Herb Kohl: “today I would like to honor Senator Barbara Mikulski's amazing life and career as she becomes the Senate's longest…”

“today I would like to honor Senator Barbara Mikulski's amazing life and career as she becomes the Senate's longest serving woman Senator. She has been a role model and inspiration to women across the country as she broke barriers in public life. When she first came to the Senate she was one of only a handful of women ever to serve in the U.S. Senate and now she is one of 17 women here on the Senate floor. Her service has made it easier for girls to dream about one day being a Senator--or President. Senator Mikulski and I shared a similar experience growing up: her parents, William and Christine, opened and operated Willy's Market, a small grocery store in their working class neighborhood in East Baltimore. My parents also opened a small grocery store in Milwaukee-- the first of what would become the Kohl's Food Stores and then Kohl's Department Stores. As we have already heard here on the floor, her father would frequently open the store early so local steel workers could buy their lunches before their shift began. He would also extend credit to help customers who were having a hard time making ends meet. William Mikulski's neighbors didn't go hungry with him as their grocer. Barbara worked at the store, and helped deliver groceries to homebound seniors in their neighborhood. She got to know her neighbors well, and she understood the important issues facing her community.…”