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Barbara Ann Mikulski (born July 20, 1936), a member of the Democratic Party, is the Class 3 United States Senator representing the State of Maryland.
Personal Information
Born as the great-granddaughter of Polish immigrants who owned a local bakery, Barbara Mikulski is the oldest of three daughters born to Christine and William Mikulski. She was born and raised in historic and ethnically diverse East Baltimore, Maryland. During her high school years, she worked in her parents' grocery store, delivering groceries to seniors in her neighborhood who were unable to leave their homes.
After graduating from Mount Saint Agnes College and the University of Maryland, College Park with a degree in social work, Mikulski went to work on the front lines in President John F. Kennedys war against poverty. She worked for Catholic charities and Baltimore's Department of Social Services, helping at-risk children and educating seniors about the Medicare program. Social work evolved into community activism when Mikulski heard about plans to build a 16 lane highway through Baltimore's Fells Point neighborhood. She helped organize communities on both sides of the city and stopped the construction of the road, saving Fells Point and Baltimore's Inner Harbor.
Political Career
Mikulski gained a positive reputation following her activism. This led to a seat on the Baltimore City Council in 1971. In 1974 she ran for the U.S. Senate for the first time, but was defeated by the Republican incumbent, Charles Mathias, Jr. In 1976, she ran for the House of Representatives representing the third district of Maryland, winning 76% of the vote.
In 1986, Mikulski ran for the Senate seat vacated by retiring Senator Mathias. She won the race with 61% of the vote and was re-elected with large majorities in 1992, 1998 and 2004. She is the third highest ranking member of the Senate Democratic leadership and the dean of the Senate women.
Senator Mikulski serves on the following Senate committees:
Senate Action
Senator Mikulski has taken a strong stance against predatory lending, even going so far as to take personal action against Fairbanks Capital, which is claimed to have illegally foreclosed on over 100 homes in Maryland.
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