Former Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, D-Md., retired after the 2016 elections, ending her tenure as the longest-serving female senator in U.S. history. She was the first woman to chair the Senate Appropriations Committee, a post she held from late 2012 until 2015 before a two-year stint as full committee ranking member before leaving Congress.
Chuck Kieffer served as staff director during Mikulski’s time as top Appropriations Democrat, a position he’s held for three panel chairs.
[Top appropriations aide and ‘institutionalist’ Kieffer to retire]
