Hoyer Congratulates Mikulski for Highest Honor
Senator Barbara Mikulski has been selected as one of 17 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama. House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) extended his congratulations to Senator Mikulski, who will receive the award on Nov. 24, 2015. The medal is the nation’s highest civilian recognition.
“In all of our years working together on behalf of Marylanders in Congress, I have witnessed her tenacity in the pursuit of justice and opportunity for all,” Congressman Hoyer said of Senator Mikulski. “Instrumental in passing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and praised for her work to commit federal resources to the fight for women’s health, Senator Mikulski has not only been a trailblazer for women in Congress but a mentor to the next generation of leaders.
“Throughout her time in office, she has never forgotten her roots as a Baltimore social worker, striving to help others find jobs, access quality health care, receive the best education, secure safe and affordable housing, and reach for the American Dream. As the first woman to serve as Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, she has fought to strengthen America’s future by investing in its people and working to secure a more fiscally sustainable future. All Marylanders ought to be proud of this announcement, and I look forward to continuing to serve with Senator Mikulski before she retires at the end of next year.”
The 79-year-old senator has served Maryland since 1987, the longest term for a woman in the U.S. Congress. On March 2, 2015, she announced that she will retire after the 114th Congress in 2017. She was first elected to office in 1971, when she began service on the Baltimore City Council.
During her time in Congress, she has served on the Committee on Appropriations and various subcommittees; the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions plus subcommittees; and the Select Committee on Intelligence.
For more about House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer, visit his Leader member page.
