[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 118 (Monday, July 20, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E710]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





    HONORING THE SERVICE OF KATIE BLOUNT TO THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MICHAEL GUEST

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 20, 2026

  Mr. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the public service 
of Katie Blount, who dedicated more than thirty years to the State of 
Mississippi at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History 
(MDAH), serving as the seventh director of the agency since 2015. As 
only the second woman to lead the department since its founding in 
1902, Katie had a steadfast commitment to ``honest storytelling'' and 
understanding the complexities of Mississippi's storied history.
  Under Katie's leadership, the department has broadened access to its 
collections, expanded the stories it tells, and strengthened its 
commitment to preserving and interpreting the full and complex history 
of the state, ensuring that all Mississippians are represented.
  Katie was instrumental in the creation and opening of the Two 
Mississippi Museums, which has welcomed more than 800,000 visitors and 
established Mississippi as a national leader in public history. She 
also guided the department in providing support to the Commission to 
Redesign the Mississippi State Flag, helping ensure the Commission 
carried out its work with transparency and effectiveness.
  She has positioned the department for continued success in developing 
new sites that tell Mississippi's stories, including the Vicksburg 
Civil War Visitor Center, the Natchez Tribal History Center, and 
Margaret Ann Crigler Park, while also strengthening the protection of 
historic places across our state.
  I am thankful for Katie's dedication and many years of service to 
Mississippi. Her work will live on through future generations and 
continue to inspire other historians to keep Mississippi's unique story 
alive. I am thankful for the opportunity to recognize Katie's service 
and commitment to the people of Mississippi and to our state's history.

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