Mikulski Sets Milestone as Senate's Longest Serving Woman

As the Senate began a new term Wednesday, there was 100 percent agreement on its first order of business, approving a resolution honoring Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., who just set a record for longevity.

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They call her Senator Barb. At just 4-foot-11, she sometimes gets lost in photos, but on the Senate floor there's no way to miss her.

"The Planet Earth that I'm on tells me to pass health insurance," Mikulski said during one floor speech she's given.

With her victory in 1986, Mikulski became the first female Democrat elected to the Senate in her own right.

"There are as many women serving today as had served in all of American history when I arrived," Mikulski said in an interview.

She broke boundaries, and as she entered her fifth term Wednesday, she broke a record. Republican Margaret Chase Smith was the longest serving woman in the Senate at 24 years, but a lot has changed since 1973.

"What would I say to Margaret Chase Smith today?" Mikulski asked. "I don't blog, but I tweet."

But Mikulski's most important social network is still the women -- of both parties -- with whom she serves.

"Now we're 17 percent; we're no longer a novelty," said Mikulski. "We're here to stay and there's more of us to come."