[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 189 (Tuesday, November 26, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1509-E1510]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING THE RETIREMENT OF MARK BLISS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JASON SMITH

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 26, 2019

  Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of 
journalist Mark Bliss, who is retiring after a 40-year, distinguished 
career in journalism, which included over 30 years spent reporting for 
our local

[[Page E1510]]

paper the Southeast Missourian. For my whole life--literally--Mark has 
been a stoic reporter of news both local and national, and our 
community has been made better off by his work.
  I was fortunate to work with Mark as he reported on politics in 
Missouri and Washington, DC. He accompanied me to many farm visits and 
trips to local businesses, and I knew to expect his call when issues 
affecting our country arose. At every meeting, his sharp thinking and 
dogged determination to find the best story for his readers was 
apparent, and he challenged me to work harder, ask more questions, and 
match his incredible tenacity and enthusiasm for the people around us.
  Before he ever shook my hand or typed my name in one of his columns, 
however, I, and many in our community, knew him intimately. He tempered 
his no-nonsense reporting of the news with a tender, emotional, 
humorous weekly column titled ``Mark My Word,'' which touched on topics 
including politics, business, family, and food--in one word: life. He 
introduced himself to readers at the same time as he informed them 
about the goings-on of their town, state, and world.
  Mark's reporting is a perfect example of why a healthy, local press 
is essential to the flourishing of any community. Because of Mark's 
natural inquisitiveness and wealth of historical knowledge, his columns 
put events in context and made them matter to his community. He not 
only reported on current events but understood them, and he was able to 
report the news in a way that helped his readers understand them as 
well. At a time when it felt as if a different local paper was closing 
every other month, Mark reminded us of what local news could and should 
be--and why it is so important to support these vital organizations. 
For this reason and many others, I am sad to see him retire, but I am 
thankful for the long record of service he leaves behind.

                          ____________________