Senate Unanimously Passes Blunt-Klobuchar Resolution Naming Rooms in the U.S. Capitol for Senators Margaret Chase Smith & Barbara Mikulski

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), Chairman and Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, today announced that the Senate has unanimously passed their resolution designating room S–124 of the U.S. Capitol as the ‘‘U.S. Senator Margaret Chase Smith Room’’ and room S–115 of the U.S. Capitol as the ‘‘U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski Room.” These are the first two rooms in the U.S. Capitol named for women who served in the Senate.

“Senator Margaret Chase Smith, the first woman to serve in both the House and Senate, and Senator Barbara Mikulski, the longest-serving woman in Congress, have a place in history that alone would warrant recognition,” said Blunt. “This resolution, however, speaks to much more. Both senators were groundbreaking committee and party leaders, talented legislators, and tireless advocates for the issues they championed. They are role models for the growing ranks of women serving in the Congress, and the many more who will follow. This is a fitting honor for two senators whose contributions made the Senate a better, stronger institution. I appreciate Senator Klobuchar’s partnership in this effort and the unanimous support of our colleagues.”

“The naming of these two rooms in honor of Senators Barbara Mikulski and Margaret Chase Smith is an opportunity for the Congress to recognize the important role of women in governing our nation,” Klobuchar said. “Senator Mikulski, who I had the great honor of serving with, holds the distinction of the longest tenure of any woman in Congress to date, having represented the people of Maryland both in the House of Representatives and the Senate for over 45 years. Senator Chase Smith broke many barriers, including serving as the first woman to hold a leadership position in the Senate. These women were trailblazers in Congress, who not only strengthened this institution, but also improved the lives of millions of Americans through their dedicated service to our nation.”

The full text of the resolution is available here.