Barbara Mikulski

Barbara Mikulski

U.S. Senate, Maryland

  • A strong and compassionate voice
  • A ground-breaking leader for women's issues
  • A record-breaking race

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About Barbara Mikulski

Mentor from Maryland

A lifelong resident of Maryland, Barbara Mikulski began her political career in 1971 when she was elected to the Baltimore City Council. She later went on to represent Maryland’s third congressional district for ten years, and in 1986 - with the help of EMILY’s List - Mikulski became the first Democratic woman elected to the Senate in her own right. Currently, Mikulski serves as the Dean of the Senate women, acting as an example and mentor for other women senators following in her footsteps.

Trailblazing legislator

Mikulski has been a tireless advocate for women in the Senate. During her tenure, she has led the charge to increase funding for women's health research. Since the early 1990's, breast cancer research funding increased 700 percent. Mikulski also fought to ensure women were included in the National Institutes of Health's clinical trials, a step that has dramatically improved the quality of women's medical care. She has jumped in to the health care debate, calling for an end to gender inequity in coverage and ensuring that reform focuses on women's needs.

History in the making

Already, Mikulski has made history in her ground-breaking role in the Senate. Her re-election for a fifth term in 2010 would be another one for the record books -- Mikulski would be on track to surpass Margaret Chase Smith, a former Republican senator from Maine, as the longest-serving female senator in history. With such a prominent voice in the current health care debate and a trusted representative for her Maryland constituents, it’s a good thing the Senate will have Mikulski’s continued leadership in the coming years.

December 2, 2009

Senate Passes Women’s Health Amendment

The New York Times

Senate Passes Women’s Health Amendment

Breaking a three-day stalemate, the Senate approved an amendment to its health care legislation that would require insurance companies to offer free mammograms and other preventive services to women.

The vote was 61 to 39, with three Republicans joining 56 Democrats and the two independents in favor.

The Democrats’ legislation had already contained requirements that insurers cover a wide range of preventive care. The amendment, put forward by Senator Barbara Mikulski, Democrat of Maryland, goes further, mandating coverage for a broader package of services for women.

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December 1, 2009

Senators attempt to add amendments to health reform bill

Health Leaders Media

Senators attempt to add amendments to health reform bill

The first of what will be days of lengthy debate on the Senate floor started Monday with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) at the beginning of the five-hour session promising late nights and even Saturdays and Sundays throughout the month of December—or however long it takes to complete the reform bill, he said.

The first amendments also were presented on Monday. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) introduced what she called an amendment to increase preventive health services for women "at little or no cost to the patients." She explained that it would be equivalent to giving all insured individuals "access to the same preventive services" available at the federal level for employees.

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November 22, 2009

In battle over mammograms, Md. leaders race to front lines

The Baltimore Sun

In battle over mammograms, Md. leaders race to front lines

When a government advisory panel put out new recommendations last week that said women under age 50 need not be screened for breast cancer, the calls began flowing to Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski's office. Within days, the Maryland senator had responded with an amendment to the Senate's pending health care reform bill that would guarantee access to mammograms at age 40 through public insurance exchanges.

With the health legislation as the backdrop, politicians in Maryland and across the country have reacted swiftly to the breast cancer lobby - a group that has made early screening a mantra and pink ribbons a powerful symbol in fighting the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. They have also heard from doctors' groups and those who claim that the recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force signal rationing of health care under reform.

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