US Senator Barbara Mikulski is poised to become Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, it was announced today (December 20). The announcement is one for the history books as Mikulski is the first woman to ever head the committee which has been in existence since 1867.
Senator Barbara Mikulski, Maryland Democrat and Baltimore native, succeeds Senator Daniel K. Inouye who died Monday of respiratory complications. He was 88 years old.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to be expected to follow the great leadership of Senator Inouye, one of my most treasured mentors, and become the Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee,”Senator Mikulski said in a statement. “It is especially gratifying to be the first woman to lead this powerful Committee. I am grateful for this opportunity to fight for the day to day needs of the American people and the long range needs of the nation.”
The Senate Appropriations Committee’s role is defined by the U.S. Constitution, which requires “appropriations made by law” prior to the expenditure of any money from the Federal treasury. The Committee writes the legislation that allocates federal funds to the numerous government agencies, departments and organizations on an annual basis.