Van Hollen, Cardin Laud Passage of Senate Bill to Honor Mikulski

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) celebrated their former colleague Senator Barbara A. Mikulski today as the Senate unanimously voted to rename one of its meeting rooms in her honor. During her years in the Senate, Mikulski was a regular participant in events in S-115. The resolution the Senate passed Tuesday also honored former Senator Margaret Chase Smith (R-Maine), the first woman to serve in both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate.

“From her start as a social worker in Baltimore to her 40 years in Congress, Senator Mikulski has devoted her life to serving all Marylanders, turning their priorities into action,” said Senator Van Hollen. “Senator Mikulski’s steadfast dedication to her constituents, her neighborhood, and to community leaders striving for progress is an inspiration to us all. This honor further solidifies what we already knew – this institution will not forget Senator Mikulski and her booming voice, larger than life personality, and her lasting legacy of good work on behalf of Marylanders and all Americans. As I like to say: When Barbara Mikulski is with you, the Force is with you.”

“Barbara Mikulski was a force of nature in the United States Senate and Maryland. It is fitting that she have a permanent place of honor in a vibrant space that is constantly filled with the voices of constituents sharing their stories with lawmakers and senators who are working to do right by their constituents,” said Senator Cardin. “I shared many events with Senator Barb in S-115. Usually, we all had to squeeze in because the room was overflowing with media and senators. She made the most of every opportunity to reach Marylanders and others far beyond the walls of the U.S. Capitol.”

The text of the resolution follows.

RESOLUTION

Designating room S–124 of the United States Capitol as the ‘‘U.S. Senator Margaret Chase Smith Room’’ and designating room S–115 of the United States Capitol as the ‘‘U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski Room’’, in recognition of their service to the Senate and the people of the United States.

Whereas Senator Margaret Chase Smith served the people of Maine for more than 32 years as a member of the House of Representatives and the Senate;

Whereas Senator Margaret Chase Smith became the first woman to serve in both the House of Representatives and the Senate;

Whereas Senator Margaret Chase Smith served as Chair of the Republican Conference, the first woman to hold a leadership position in the Senate;

Whereas, during her tenure in the Senate, Senator Margaret Chase Smith served as—

(1) the first woman Ranking Member of the Committee on Armed Services, the first woman Ranking Member of the Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences, and the Chair of the Committee on Rates and Compensation of Certain Officers and Employees of the Senate; and

(2) a member of the Committee on District of Columbia, the Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments (renamed the Committee on Government Operations in 1952), the Committee on Rules and Administration, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies;

Whereas, on June 1, 1950, Senator Margaret Chase Smith spoke out against McCarthyism in the Senate Chamber, becoming one of the first Senators to do so, with her ‘‘Declaration of Conscience’’ speech;

Whereas Senator Margaret Chase Smith championed legislation and policies for women in the military throughout her Senate career and served as a role model to countless women seeking elective office and careers in public service; 

Whereas Senator Barbara A. Mikulski served the people of Maryland for more than 45 years as a member of the Baltimore City Council, the House of Representatives, and the Senate;

Whereas Senator Barbara A. Mikulski served the longest tenure of all women in Congress to date;

Whereas Senator Barbara A. Mikulski served as Democratic Conference Secretary, the first woman to hold a Democratic leadership position in the Senate;

Whereas, during her tenure in the Senate, Senator Barbara A. Mikulski served as—

(1) the first Chairwoman of the Committee on Appropriations, the Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations, and the first Vice Chairwoman of the Committee on Appropriations; and

(2) a member of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (formerly the Committee on Labor and Human Resources) and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship;

Whereas Senator Barbara A. Mikulski championed policy on higher education, pay equality, space, technology, justice, Alzheimer’s research, and maritime issues and sponsored legislation to improve women’s health, including the creation of the Office of Research on Women’s Health of the National Institutes of Health; and 

Whereas Senator Barbara A. Mikulski mentored other female Senators as the Dean of the Women Senators and fostered bipartisan cooperation and friendship amongst the women of the Senate: 

Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That, in recognition of the service of Senator Margaret Chase Smith and Senator Barbara A. Mikulski to the Senate and the people of the United States,the Senate designates—

(1) room S–124 of the United States Capitol as the ‘‘U.S. Senator Margaret Chase Smith Room’’; and

(2) room S–115 of the United States Capitol as the ‘‘U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski Room”.