HONORING MRS. LAURA McKIE FOR HER ENDLESS SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY

HONORING MRS. LAURA McKIE FOR HER ENDLESS SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 42 (Thursday, March 5, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 42 (Thursday, March 5, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E192] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING MRS. LAURA McKIE FOR HER ENDLESS SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY ______ HON. EUGENE SIMON VINDMAN of virginia in the house of representatives Thursday, March 5, 2026 Mr. VINDMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Mrs. Laura McKie. a proud constituent of Woodbridge, Virginia as she celebrates her 90th birthday on March 21, 2026. For years, Mrs. McKie has been a leader of our community, advocating for education and women's rights. Mrs. McKie has had a distinguished career, earning a degree in cultural anthropology from Washington University in St. Louis followed by a master's degree from Harvard University. After graduating she went on to serve as Director of Education at the Smithsonian's National Museum of National History. In that role, she was responsible for the Insect Zoo, Discovery Room, Marine Ecosystems Exhibit, and the Naturalist Center including a staff of two dozen museum professionals and 300 docents. During her tenure, Mrs. McKie was also in charge of creating educational materials and guides for exhibitions, as well as several large-format films, and video productions. She served as the museum's accessibility coordinator, managing the implementation of fully accessible audio tours and ensuring that the museum's resources could be enjoyed by all visitors. After retiring, Mrs. McKie didn't just stop there; she continued her dedication to public service. Most notably, she volunteered to develop and direct the Lucy Burns Museum at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, Virginia, which documents the 91-year history of the prison that housed inmates from the District of Columbia. She curated the exhibitions highlighting the 1917 imprisonment, brutal treatment, and hunger strikes of suffragists like Lucy Burns and Alice Paul. Through her leadership, the museum tells the powerful story of the women of the National Women's Party and preserves the legacy of those who demanded the right to vote. In March 2020, Mrs. McKie received a special proclamation from the Fairfax County Commission for Women honoring her as a ``Valiant Woman of the Vote'' for her devoted work in bringing the Lucy Burns Museum to life and contributions to our community. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Mrs. Laura McKie on her remarkable life of service and leadership, and in wishing her a very happy 90th birthday. ____________________