[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 42 (Thursday, March 5, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E191]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                    HONORING SENATOR SARITA SIMMONS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 5, 2026

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
and commend an outstanding and dedicated public servant and community 
activist from Mississippi's Delta region, Senator Sarita Simmons.
  Senator Simmons was born in Cleveland, Mississippi, and raised in a 
family deeply committed to public service. She is the daughter of 
Willie Lee Simmons, former Mississippi State Senator from the 13th 
District and current Central District Transportation Commissioner. Her 
mother, Rosie Simmons, served as the Bolivar County Circuit Clerk and 
made history as the first African American since Reconstruction to hold 
that position. From an early age, Senator Simmons was instilled with 
the values of leadership, perseverance, and service to community.
  A proud graduate of Cleveland High School, Class of 1995, Senator 
Simmons went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Educational Psychology 
from Alcorn State University in 1999. Following graduation, she moved 
to Georgia, where she worked in education and behavioral health, 
dedicating herself to supporting vulnerable populations. Prior to 
returning home, she was engaged in drug rehabilitation and outreach 
efforts in Atlanta, helping individuals and families rebuild their 
lives.
  In 2004, Senator Simmons returned to Cleveland to manage her family's 
soul food restaurant, reaffirming her commitment to the community that 
shaped her. When her father chose not to seek re-election to 
Mississippi Senate District 13, encompassing parts of Bolivar, 
Sunflower, and Tallahatchie Counties, she answered the call to public 
service. She assumed office on January 7, 2020, becoming the first 
Black woman to represent the district in the Mississippi State Senate.
  Upon her return to the Delta, Senator Simmons recognized a troubling 
trend: too many of her peers had been compelled to leave the region in 
search of opportunity elsewhere. Motivated by the Delta's ongoing brain 
drain, she has focused her efforts on recruiting industry, 
strengthening public education, supporting educators, and expanding 
access to affordable healthcare. She currently serves as Vice Chair of 
the Investigate State Offices Committee and on several key committees 
in the Mississippi Senate.
  Beyond her legislative work, Senator Simmons is an active member of 
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the NAACP, the National Council of 
Negro Women, and the Bolivar County Democratic Executive Committee. 
Through these affiliations, she continues her lifelong mission of civic 
engagement and community empowerment.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating the 
achievements of Senator Sarita Simmons and in recognizing her 
unwavering commitment to public service and her tireless efforts to 
advance education, economic development, and healthcare access in 
Mississippi. Her leadership embodies the resilience and promises of the 
Mississippi Delta, and her work continues to inspire those she serves.

                          ____________________