What does Mikulski do? I honestly don't know much about her, but I saw this:
...and I know chairing committees isn't the sole factor of weighing a Senator's "purpose;" I'm simply just curious.
She acts a mentor to all the women Senators; she's the most senior woman,
Also, you don't need to chair a committee to have a considerable influence.
I'll use House example, which operates under similar rules for committees/seniority. John Murtha never chaired House committee, but had a lot of influence as one of Appropriations subcommittees chairs. Pete Stark, I believe, only chaired now-obsolete D.C. Committee, but is a senior member of Ways and Means, which is a huge thing.
But getting back to Mikulski and the Senate, she used to serve as a Democratic Conference Secretary 1995–2005, which is third-highest leadership post after Leader and Whip.
