Mikulski inducted into women's Hall of Fame
Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, along with Billie Holiday and former Health and Human Services Department Secretary Donna Shalala, were inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame on Saturday.
Mikulski was among 11 inductees, including five who were honored posthumously. The hall is located in Seneca Falls, N.Y., which hosted the 1848 women's rights convention that helped to spark the women's suffrage movement in the U.S.
“As we celebrate the story of Seneca Falls, we also celebrate the history of America. We celebrate the history of our social movements that have grown to guarantee the rights of women, African Americans, and of working people," Mikulski said during her address. "As we study our history, we realize how much these movements have in common."
Mikulski, 75, became the longest-serving female senator in the Senate's history this year, surpassing the record set by Margaret Chase Smith. A Republican from Maine, Smith served in the Senate from 1949 to 1973. The self-styled "dean of the Senate women," Mikulski is using her tenure to help get other female lawmakers reelected to Congress next year.
As part of her work on women's issues, the Baltimore native added language to the 2010 health care overhaul that required insurance companies to cover the cost of some preventative health services for women for free. This year she rallied Democratic lawmakers on both sides of the Capitol in opposition to proposed cuts to Planned Parenthood. She was an architect of legislation signed by President Barack Obama in 2009 that makes it easier for women to sue their employers for equal pay.
The law was named for Lilly Ledbetter, an Alabama woman who tried to sue Goodyear for unequal pay but whose case was dismissed on a technicality. Ledbetter was also inducted into the Women's Hall of Fame on Saturday.
Comments
Good on ya Barb. I'm not a Democrat and have been on the opposite side of many of her votes in congress. But I've seen her vote the interests of her constituency in spite of party pressure. She has always shown the strength of her convictions and has served her constituents and her country well. She deserves this accolade.
Posted by: TomB | October 1, 2011 11:19 PM
This is deserved however these kind of honor usually come when people are ending thier careers .DiD Marty nominate her. That vice president position doesn't look that attractive in 2012.Check your records you'll see whwn she announced to run last time I said it was just to get marty a seat.
Posted by: kevin | October 1, 2011 11:23 PM
A better name will probably be the hall of shame. I am morally certain that the names enshrined therein will be "pro-choice" anti-life women who are not secure in their own skins and desired to impose their ideals on others. The names of the first three just shown are a great indicator that women such as Sarah Palin, Phyllis Schaffley and Margaret Thatcher or Golda Meir will not make it into this hall.
Posted by: Retired Chief | October 2, 2011 12:17 AM
So...women get free health care and men don't? That's not sexist at all. If the law was written so men got free health care and women didn't, imagine the outcry.
Posted by: Trish | October 2, 2011 1:59 AM
Thank you Senator Mikulski. Thank you for your dedication, the hours and all you have accomplished. Devotion + Enthusiasm = Sen B Mikulski. Thank you and Congratulations!
Posted by: Cindy Waugh | October 2, 2011 8:05 AM
it's not the length of time, but how she spent her time in office
Posted by: GREGORY L KUMP | October 2, 2011 8:33 AM
"COME OUT, COME OUT, WHEREVER YOU ARE"
Posted by: Mdtopdad | October 2, 2011 9:47 AM
As a man, it's a little troubling that my senator devotes most of her energy to the advancement of women's issues.
Posted by: bob | October 2, 2011 12:37 PM
Isn't it great that the senator can go all the way to N.Y to be put into the Womens Hall of Fame. But yet she can't stay here in Md. and hold some town hall meetings. I've lived in Md. for the past 30 years and I can't remember ONE town hall meeting that the senator has attended. Guess she doesn't like to mingle with us little people.
Posted by: Bill | October 2, 2011 12:51 PM
The only hall this lady belongs in is unfortunately the hall down below. Pro abortion and lesbian isnt setting a good example for our families or for Maryland. The electorate is getting tired of policies that favor one sex or sexual orientation over another. In addition we shoudnt favor certain people because of their race either. If it isnt ok to favor whites it obviously isnt ok to favor minorities over them either. Their are poor white disadvantaged people from poor neighborhoods just as their are poor minorities. Lets do what God wants us to do and treat others equally, and, respect His policies also.
Posted by: Clay | October 2, 2011 2:39 PM
Her husband and kids must be very proud.
Posted by: Bawlamer Merlin | October 2, 2011 4:13 PM
Check out the excellent profile on "Voice of Baltimore" of Mikulski and Holiday's induction. Here's the link-->
http://voiceofbaltimore.org/archives/254
Posted by: R. Van Delaney | October 2, 2011 4:30 PM
So, you are inducted into the "women's hall of fame". Congratulations. However, I had approached your office about six months ago regarding Hungtington's Disease and the HD Parity Act, and I was assured that you would co-sponser this bill. As yet, you have not done this. Let me speak frankly, although this is not a "popular" disease, it is a reality and I will be burying my daughter, rather than her burying me. Hall of Fame material?...I beg to differ. There were promises from you and your staff that have not been met! What am I to think of you now? Should I be happy for you? Quite frankly, I am saddened and appalled by the inconsistency that has been represtented by you and your office. When are you going to address this issue? Or perhaps it is more comfortable to stick to more popular issues. This, by example, is a win, win for you and there is no sense trying to sponser something no one seems to really care to know about. Stick with what you know, and leave it up to us to make the differnce. Thanks so much for your support on this bill, Barbara. I have a newfound appreciation for what you do!!! Quite frankly, you are no different than the rest. It is all political and our children are suffering because of it.
Posted by: Deb Madden | October 2, 2011 6:51 PM
This is a clip of what the women's liberation movement was all about:
youtube.com/watch?v=lhJCTFZf03A
Posted by: Alex Jones | October 2, 2011 7:51 PM
Repeal the 19th Amendment. 17% of Congress is 18% too many.
Posted by: Brianna | October 5, 2011 1:43 PM