{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"Senate\", state = \"MS\" and year = 2021 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/trump-administration", "TRUMP ADMINISTRATION", "2021-11-18", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "Senate", "MS", "Cindy Hyde-Smith", "H001079", "www.hydesmith.senate.gov", "hydesmith", "https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/newsroom", "scraper", "TRUMP ADMINISTRATION\n\nCongressional Record Vol. 167, No. 201\n\n(Senate - November 18, 2021) PDF\n\nMrs. HYDE-SMITH. Madam President, the U.S. Supreme Court is set to\n\nhear the most anticipated abortion case in nearly 30 years when it\n\nconsiders Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization in oral argument\n\non December 1, 2021. This development allows us to consider the many\n\npeople whose dedication to the pro-life cause has led us to this point.\n\nOne of those people is former President Donald J. Trump. The pro-life\n\nmovement would not be where it is today absent his advocacy for pro-\n\nlife policies and for conservative judges.\n\nIn January 2016, Presidential candidate Trump said, \"America, when\n\nit is at its best, follows a set of rules that have worked since our\n\nFounding. One of those rules is that we, as Americans, revere life and\n\nhave done so since our Founders made it the first, and most important,\n\nof our 'unalienable' rights.\"\n\nHe continued, \"Over time, our culture of life in this country has\n\nstarted sliding toward a culture of death. Perhaps the most significant\n\npiece of evidence to support this assertion is that since Roe v. Wade\n\nwas decided by the Supreme Count 43 years ago, over 50 million\n\nAmericans never had the chance to enjoy the opportunities offered by\n\nthis country. They never had the chance to become doctors, musicians,\n\nfarmers, teachers, husbands, fathers, sons or daughters. They never had\n\nthe chance to enrich the culture of this nation or to bring their\n\nskills, lives, loves or passions into the fabric of this country. They\n\nare missing, and they are missed.\"\n\nThese words helped guide President Trump's actions in office as he\n\nadvocated for pro-life policies both domestically and abroad.\n\nDomestically, President Trump fought to defund Planned Parenthood and\n\nother abortion providers from receiving Federal funding. He prohibited\n\nsuch entities from receiving title X funding and permitted States to\n\nprohibit them from participating in Medicaid as well. In 2018,\n\nPresident Trump issued a rule requiring health insurers to specify\n\nwhether plans cover abortion. He also issued rules to protect religious\n\nobjectors and moral objectors from the Department of Health and Human\n\nServices contraceptive mandate. In addition, the President established\n\na new Conscience and Religious Freedom division of the Office for Civil\n\nRights to protect healthcare providers who object to participating in\n\nabortions.\n\nPresident Trump's commitment to the unborn was just as strong abroad.\n\nJust days after his inauguration, President Trump ended Federal funding\n\nof abortion overseas by reinstating the Mexico City Policy, which\n\nprohibits nongovernment organizations receiving U.S. aid grants from\n\nperforming and promoting abortions overseas. He directed the Secretary\n\nof State to implement the ban on taxpayer funds for overseas abortions\n\nacross most U.S. global health programs through his Protecting Life in\n\nGlobal Health Assistance policy.\n\nIn addition, President Trump also defunded the United Nations\n\nPopulation Fund, a program long tied to China's forced abortion one-\n\nchild policy. To further underline this, the Trump administration in\n\n2020 declared to the United Nations that abortion is not a human right\n\nand signed the Geneva Consensus Declaration, where 33 nations joined\n\ntogether to reaffirm the value of unborn life. Finally, in January\n\n2021, the Trump administration and called for the Chinese Communist\n\nParty to immediately end its system of forced abortions.\n\nIn addition to his work within the executive branch, President Trump\n\nalso showed his commitment to the pro-life cause by nominating\n\nconstitutional conservative and originalist judges to the Federal\n\njudiciary. He nominated three originalist Justices to the U.S. Supreme\n\nCourt: Justice Neil Gorsuch in 2017, Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2018,\n\nand Justice Amy Coney Barrett in 2020. More broadly, President Trump\n\nnominated 234 new article III judges who share this commitment to\n\nupholding our Constitution as written.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/tribute-warrant-officer-hershel-woody-williams", "TRIBUTE TO WARRANT OFFICER HERSHEL \u201cWOODY\u201d WILLIAMS", "2021-10-07", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "Senate", "MS", "Cindy Hyde-Smith", "H001079", "www.hydesmith.senate.gov", "hydesmith", "https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/newsroom", "scraper", "Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 177\n\n(Senate - October 7, 2021) PDF\n\nMrs. HYDE-SMITH. Mr. President, I also want to wish Woody a happy\n\nbirthday as well.\n\nI just join my colleagues today to commemorate and honor some of the\n\nNation's most admirable warfighters in the Second World War, and I so\n\nappreciate my colleagues bringing their personal stories to the floor\n\ntoday. This is something that all Americans should cherish--the stories\n\nof these heroes. We have very few of these brave heroes still among us\n\ntoday, and it is so important that they receive every ounce of\n\nrecognition that we can give them for their selflessness and\n\nextraordinary heroism.\n\nI am pleased to be a cosponsor of Senator Manchin's legislation to\n\nprovide a merited celebration and commemoration of the last living\n\nWorld War II Medal of Honor recipient, Woody Williams, who recently\n\ncelebrated his 98th birthday.\n\nMedal of Honor recipients like Mr. Williams demonstrated a courageous\n\nand noble commitment to our Nation, and their exemplary actions deserve\n\nall the praise that we can give them.\n\nI am proud to represent a State that has several World War II Medal\n\nof Honor recipients of its own, in Mississippi: Van Thomas Barfoot of\n\nEdinburg, Robert T. Henry of Greenville, James Daniel Slaton of\n\nGulfport, Louis Hugh Wilson of Brandon, and Jack Harold Lucas of\n\nHattiesburg, whom I still remain friends with his family today.\n\nFrom Germany to Japan, these men served our Nation without hesitation\n\nin the height of the Second World War, defending our Nation, our\n\nallies, and the very principles of freedom. It fills my heart with\n\ngreat pride to call these late veterans my fellow Mississippians. The\n\ntributes we offer today for Mr. Williams in truth stand for our deep\n\nappreciation for all of those who fought in World War II.\n\nI thank my colleagues for their great work on this important\n\nrecognition and the opportunity to be a part of this.\n\nThank you, Mr. President.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/sconres14-amendment-no-3568", "S.CON.RES.14--Amendment No. 3568", "2021-08-10", "2021", "2021-08", "Republican", "Senate", "MS", "Cindy Hyde-Smith", "H001079", "www.hydesmith.senate.gov", "hydesmith", "https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/newsroom", "scraper", "Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 145\n\n(Senate - August 10, 2021) PDF\n\nMrs. HYDE-SMITH. Madam President, I call up my amendment No. 3568 and\n\nask that it be reported by number.\n\nThe PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the amendment by number.\n\nThe senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:\n\nThe Senator from Mississippi [Mrs. Hyde-Smith] proposes an\n\namendment numbered 3568.\n\nThe amendment is as follows:\n\n(Purpose: To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to\n\nadjustments to Federal funds for certain local jurisdictions)\n\nAt the end of title III, add the following:\n\nSEC. 3___. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND RELATING TO\n\nADJUSTMENTS TO FEDERAL FUNDS FOR CERTAIN LOCAL\n\nJURISDICTIONS.\n\nThe Chairman of the Committee on the Budget of the Senate\n\nmay revise the allocations of a committee or committees,\n\naggregates, and other appropriate levels in this resolution,\n\nand make adjustments to the pay-as-you-go ledger, for one or\n\nmore bills, joint resolutions, amendments, amendments between\n\nthe Houses, motions, or conference reports relating to\n\nadjustments to Federal funds for local governments within the\n\njurisdiction of the committees receiving reconciliation\n\ninstructions under section 2001, which may include limiting\n\nor eliminating Federal payments, other than funding under\n\nsubpart 1 of part E of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control\n\nand Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10151 et seq.)\n\n(commonly known as the \"Byrne JAG grant program\"') or\n\nsection 1701 of title I of such Act (34 U.S.C. 10381)\n\n(commonly known as the \"COPS grant program\"), to a local\n\ngovernment whose district attorney directs its prosecutors to\n\nnot prosecute certain violent offenses or serious offenses\n\nthat result in damage or injury to the property of any other\n\nperson, by the amounts provided in such legislation for those\n\npurposes, provided that such legislation would not increase\n\nthe deficit over either the period of the total of fiscal\n\nyears 2022 through 2026 or the period of the total of fiscal\n\nyears 2022 through 2031.\n\nMrs. HYDE-SMITH. Madam President, our Nation's communities and small\n\nbusinesses have had it rough these past 18 months as they struggle with\n\nthe lasting effects of the pandemic. Today, they are also being\n\nvictimized amid surging violent crime rates and progressive prosecutors\n\nwho adopt nonprosecution policies. And, as a result, small businesses\n\nare left vulnerable and unassisted as they are burglarized, defaced,\n\nand destroyed.\n\nIt is understandable for victimized small businesses, law\n\nenforcement, and the public to be dispirited as they are left to pick\n\nup the pieces while rogue prosecutors ignore their constitutional duty\n\nby refusing to prosecute violent crimes that affect the health, safety,\n\nor economy of our communities.\n\nDefying the rule of law and endangering the public has Mississippians\n\nand Americans across the country saying enough is enough.\n\nMy amendment is simple and straightforward. Any city that purposely\n\nobstructs the rule of law by refusing to prosecute--\n\nThe PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator's time has expired.\n\nMrs. HYDE-SMITH.--certain violent crimes will not be subsidized by\n\nthe American taxpayers.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:11:17Z"], ["https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/nomination-tracy-stone-manning-executive-calendar", "NOMINATION OF TRACY STONE-MANNING (Executive Calendar)", "2021-07-21", "2021", "2021-07", "Republican", "Senate", "MS", "Cindy Hyde-Smith", "H001079", "www.hydesmith.senate.gov", "hydesmith", "https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/newsroom", "scraper", "Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 131\n\n(Senate - July 27, 2021) PDF\n\nMrs. HYDE-SMITH. Madam President, I rise to join my colleagues in\n\nexpressing my grave concern over the nomination of Ms. Tracy Stone-\n\nManning to be the Director of the Bureau of Land Management.\n\nThe Office of the Director of the Bureau of Land Management is tasked\n\nwith an enormous responsibility. As it manages an eighth of our\n\nNation's land, its leadership should be held to the highest standards.\n\nEvery nominee referred to the Energy and Natural Resources Committee\n\nmust complete and submit the statement for completion by Presidential\n\nnominees, which is the standard committee questionnaire. In the sworn\n\nstatement, Ms. Stone-Manning told the committee that she has never been\n\narrested or charged and, to her knowledge, has never been the target of\n\nan investigation.\n\nUnfortunately, as many of us are now aware, Ms. Stone-Manning's\n\nresponses were not forthcoming nor fully accurate.\n\nI am particularly disturbed by Ms. Stone-Manning's involvement with\n\nthe ecoterrorist organization Earth First!, which organized the tree-\n\nspiking plot in Idaho. As you all may know, tree spiking involves\n\nhammering a metal or ceramic rod into a tree trunk in order to prevent\n\nloggers from harvesting the timber. If the saw makes contact with a\n\nspike, it can result in severe injury or even the logger's death.\n\nMake no mistake, the people who put these spikes into the trees are\n\nwell aware of the potential consequences of their actions. These\n\nschemes are carried out with intent to harm or even, at the very least,\n\nthe intent to frighten the loggers who are carrying out their daily\n\njobs.\n\nI want to be clear, no one is claiming that Ms. Stone-Manning put any\n\nspikes in any trees herself. However, it is undisputed that Ms. Stone-\n\nManning assisted the people who did.\n\nMs. Stone-Manning wrote a letter laced with vulgarities to the U.S.\n\nForest Service, threatening loggers who were simply carrying out their\n\njobs, doing what they do for a living.\n\nIn the aftermath of this tree-spiking conspiracy, Ms. Stone-Manning\n\nwas investigated and subpoenaed by a Federal grand jury. Ms. Stone-\n\nManning was silent about her involvement in the plot, but when new\n\nevidence came to light 4 years later, she struck a deal for immunity in\n\n1993.\n\nTracy Stone-Manning's involvement in ecoterrorism as well as her\n\ndishonesty to the Senate is more than alarming. There are questions\n\nthat need to be revisited and answered. The statements from the former\n\nlead investigator of the Idaho tree-spiking scheme as well as the\n\nactions of the Federal grand jury tell a different tale than what Ms.\n\nStone-Manning led the committee to believe. These discrepancies must\n\nnot be cast aside.\n\nI am concerned about the precedent that will be set for future\n\nnominees if my colleagues simply agree to accept or disregard these\n\ninconsistencies.\n\nI am very disappointed that my Democratic colleagues on the Energy\n\nCommittee moved forward with Ms. Stone-Manning's nomination. There are\n\nserious unanswered questions about her voracity and her qualifications\n\nto lead.\n\nI applaud my colleagues who have sought the truth, and I am\n\ndisheartened that those efforts have met with resistance. The American\n\npeople deserve transparency. I cannot support this nominee, and I would\n\nurge my colleagues to do the same.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:03:51Z"], ["https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/tax-increases", "TAX INCREASES", "2021-07-21", "2021", "2021-07", "Republican", "Senate", "MS", "Cindy Hyde-Smith", "H001079", "www.hydesmith.senate.gov", "hydesmith", "https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/newsroom", "scraper", "TAX INCREASES\n\nCongressional Record Vol. 167, No. 128\n\n(Senate - July 21, 2021) PDF\n\nMrs. HYDE-SMITH. Mr. President, I appreciate the opportunity to join\n\na number of my colleagues representing farm States to sound the alarm\n\nto the millions of rural Americans who will be harmed by proposed tax\n\nchanges outlined in the American Families Plan. Described as a plan to\n\nhelp American families, it would do the exact opposite for farm\n\nfamilies across the United States.\n\nThe most concerning changes to the Tax Code include decreasing the\n\nestate tax exemption, increasing capital gains tax rates on transfers\n\nof property to heirs, and increasing taxes on appreciated assets, such\n\nas farmland, which has increased in value very significantly in recent\n\nyears.\n\nThese misguided proposals fail to take into consideration the fact\n\nthat farmers in general are highly vulnerable to these types of tax\n\nchanges, as land and equipment comprise most of the farmer's net worth.\n\nIf enacted, these tax provisions would strongly discourage and make\n\nit more difficult for our next generation to get into farming. The\n\nprovisions would create significant hurdles from a financial\n\nperspective, to say the least.\n\nWith the average age of U.S. farmers being nearly 60 years old, do we\n\nreally want to force surviving spouses or heirs to sell half of the\n\nfarm they inherited simply to continue farming the land that has been\n\npassed down for generations?\n\nFamily farms are the backbone of American agriculture. Roughly 98\n\npercent of all U.S. farms are family owned and operated. Whether you\n\nlike large family farming operations or not, they account for 44\n\npercent of total U.S. farm production annually. That is a staggering\n\nfigure, given that American farmers contributed $136 billion to the\n\nU.S. gross domestic product in 2019. These people who put food on our\n\ntable and clothes on our back do not need to go out of business because\n\nthey are being taxed at every turn, punished for their achievements and\n\nsacrifices.\n\nInitial reports from the Biden administration suggested that the\n\nproposed tax changes I am discussing would have very little impact on\n\nAmerica's farmers and ranchers. However, recent research and analysis\n\nconducted by Texas A&M University paints a very different picture.\n\nFor instance, should the proposed capital gains tax changes and\n\ngenerational transfers become enacted into law, nearly all U.S. family\n\nfarms would face higher taxes. Nationwide, the average additional tax\n\nliability per farm under the capital gains tax change would be\n\n$726,104. Mississippi would be the State most heavily affected, with an\n\naverage additional tax liability per farm of $2.1 million. It is\n\ntotally unbelievable.\n\nShould the estate tax changes become law, recent analysis also\n\ndetermined that nearly half of all U.S. family farms would face higher\n\ntaxes. The average additional tax liability per farm nationwide would\n\nbe $2.2 million, and the fifth most heavily impacted State would again\n\nbe Mississippi, with an average additional tax liability per farm of\n\n$4.6 million. That is totally incredible. As a former ag commissioner\n\nof Mississippi, I personally know these farmers and their families.\n\nThis is truly unbelievable.\n\nMore than 3 years of net cash farm income would be needed to meet\n\nthese additional tax obligations alone. That is simply unmanageable. I\n\nam perplexed as to why Democrats want to place the highest tax burden\n\non one of the most economically challenged and socially disadvantaged\n\nStates in the Nation, my home State of Mississippi.\n\nLet's not forget that in rural America, the primary source of jobs\n\nand income are often associated with agriculture. It is the No. 1\n\nindustry in Mississippi, employing more than 17 percent of the State's\n\nworkforce either directly or indirectly.\n\nIf family farms are taxed out of business, far more than the farmers\n\nwill suffer. Low-income and minority populations across rural America\n\nwill lose jobs and be forced to rely on government support. I hope this\n\nis not the underlying plan of my Democratic colleagues.\n\nLet me be clear. For those who are willing to pay for reckless\n\nspending by punishing America's farmers and ranchers and everyone who\n\nrelies on them, you will be doing far more than just that. You will be\n\nrunning off our next generation of farmers. You will be making it\n\neasier for large corporations owned by foreign adversaries, such as\n\nChina, to buy up available farmland, and you will be ensuring that\n\nevery American pays more for the food they eat and the clothes they\n\nwear. The list goes on.\n\nI know there is a deep desire on the other side of the aisle to enact\n\na reckless tax-and-spending spree that makes Americans more dependent\n\non the Federal Government, but family farms cannot be caught up in the\n\nadministration's punitive dragnet to find ways to pay for it.\n\nAny changes to the Federal Tax Code should be geared toward\n\nsupporting economic growth and helping the next generation keep these\n\nfamily-owned operations alive. I hope that we can all come to our\n\nsenses on this.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:03:51Z"], ["https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/tribute-mississippi-state-university-baseball-team", "TRIBUTE TO MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY BASEBALL TEAM", "2021-07-20", "2021", "2021-07", "Republican", "Senate", "MS", "Cindy Hyde-Smith", "H001079", "www.hydesmith.senate.gov", "hydesmith", "https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/newsroom", "scraper", "Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 127\n\n(Senate - July 20, 2021) PDF\n\nMrs. HYDE-SMITH. Mr. President, I am so pleased to join my colleague\n\nin congratulating Mississippi State University's baseball team on its\n\nrecent 2021 NCAA College World Series championship, the first NCAA\n\nchampionship in school history.\n\nMississippi State capped off its extraordinary season by defeating an\n\nincredibly talented Vanderbilt University team 9 to 0 in game 3. My\n\nhouse was full. We were all cheering. Their impressive and remarkable\n\nrun through this year's College World Series is a testament to the rich\n\ntradition of the MSU baseball program, which has now appeared in 12\n\nNCAA College World Series in its history, including most recently 3\n\nconsecutive series. The inspiring performance of this baseball team\n\ncontinues to be celebrated all over our State. Maroon is everywhere.\n\nI truly appreciate the hard work, skill, and dedication that earned\n\nthese athletes the first NCAA Division I baseball championship for\n\nMississippi State, which are aptly described in the accompanying\n\nresolution.\n\nWe take pride in the legacy and inspiring example of these young men\n\nand their coaches. Thank you for such a wonderful and historic season.\n\nHail State.\n\n(Rings cowbell.)", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:03:51Z"], ["https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/unanimous-consent-request-s1899-stop-taxpayer-funding-hamas-act", "UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--S.1899, Stop Taxpayer Funding of Hamas Act", "2021-06-16", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "Senate", "MS", "Cindy Hyde-Smith", "H001079", "www.hydesmith.senate.gov", "hydesmith", "https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/newsroom", "scraper", "Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 105\n\n(Senate - June 16, 2021) PDF\n\nMrs. HYDE-SMITH. Madam President, I join my colleagues today in\n\ndefense of our longtime friend and trusted ally, Israel, and to argue\n\nthat absolutely no American taxpayer dollars should be spent to benefit\n\nterrorist organizations.\n\nIsrael has no greater friend than the United States, and the Israeli\n\npeople have long relied on assistance from the American people and\n\nother allies. It is an unshakeable bond based on mutual respect, shared\n\ndemocratic values, and common interests that existed long before the\n\nmodern State of Israel was founded. We must continue to support and\n\nfoster that relationship with everything we have as Israel faces\n\ngrowing threats from Hamas and other terrorist groups in the region.\n\nAs the annual appropriations process moves along, I am concerned, as\n\nare many of my colleagues, that foreign aid--U.S. taxpayer dollars--\n\ncould end up in the hands of those who have boldly proclaimed that\n\ntheir intent is to do harm to Israel and our interests in the region.\n\nThe most recent wave of violence in the Middle East makes it clear\n\nthat our resources must be responsibly spent and kept out of the\n\ncoffers of terrorist organizations and bad actors whose violence can be\n\nbankrolled by commandeering U.S. foreign aid.\n\nThe Biden administration admitted recently \"there are no\n\nguarantees\" our humanitarian assistance will reach the intended\n\nrecipients. I believe it is our duty to guarantee this. It is\n\nimperative that we are certain that not a single cent of taxpayer money\n\nis spent to fund Hamas and its military arsenal.\n\nIn this effort, my colleagues and I have teamed up to ensure that\n\nsafeguards are in place to make sure anti-American and anti-Israel\n\ngroups do not continue down this dangerous path of radicalization and\n\nindoctrination at the expense of hard-working Americans.\n\nThe Stop Taxpayer Funding of Hamas Act, introduced by my friend\n\nSenator Scott of Florida, is commonsense legislation. It protects\n\nAmerican assets and allies, while ensuring that not a penny of foreign\n\naid is spent indoctrinating students abroad and bankrolling terrorist\n\nactivities.\n\nThis is a nonpartisan issue. Americans do not support terrorism, so\n\nthey certainly should not have to subsidize terrorism. We must take a\n\nstand against this barbarism and the harm it poses to most innocent\n\ncivilians.\n\nI simply cannot imagine why any of my colleagues--Republican,\n\nDemocrat, or Independent--would oppose legislation that is fiscally\n\nresponsible, morally sound, and in the best interest of our allies,\n\nservicemembers, and our future generations.\n\nFinally, I believe we should recognize that American citizens feel\n\nthe painful effects from the recent flareup of violence toward Israel.\n\nIn tandem with the global unrest, we have witnessed the significant\n\nrise in anti-Semitic attacks largely fueled by old prejudices and\n\naccelerated by harmful political rhetoric. It is my fervent hope that\n\nwe would dedicate ourselves to stopping anti-Semitic violence, to\n\nfortifying our determination to protect the State of Israel, and to\n\npromoting peaceful relations in the Middle East.\n\nThank you.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/honoring-trooper-john-martin-harris", "HONORING TROOPER JOHN MARTIN HARRIS", "2021-06-08", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "Senate", "MS", "Cindy Hyde-Smith", "H001079", "www.hydesmith.senate.gov", "hydesmith", "https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/newsroom", "scraper", "Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 99\n\n(Senate - June 8, 2021) PDF\n\nMrs. HYDE-SMITH. Madam President, I rise to pay tribute to\n\nMississippi Highway Patrol Trooper John Martin Harris, who was killed\n\nin the line of duty on May 28, 2021. Harris was conducting a routine\n\ntraffic stop on Highway 16 in Madison County when a vehicle struck and\n\nkilled him. I honor Trooper Harris' service, extend my deepest\n\ncondolences to his family, and reiterate my unwavering support for our\n\nlaw enforcement personnel.\n\nA Clarksdale native, Harris knew from a young age he wanted to serve\n\nhis community as a law enforcement officer. Trooper Harris began his\n\nlaw enforcement career in 1997 in Webb, MS. He earned his first Law\n\nEnforcement Purple Heart while serving on the police force in Friars\n\nPoint and earned a second Purple Heart while serving at the Madison\n\nCounty Sheriff's Office. Harris then continued his career at the\n\nRichland Police Department. In 2018, Harris achieved his lifelong dream\n\nof becoming a Mississippi Highway Patrolman and graduated from Trooper\n\nSchool as part of Cadet Class No. 62. In addition to the Purple Heart\n\nmedals, Harris received dozens of awards, too numerous to mention here,\n\nfor valor and bravery. Several were commendations for his work on\n\nnarcotics teams and with K-9 units.\n\nTrooper Harris is survived by his wife Katie Parker Harris of\n\nMadison, his two children Parker and Cooper, and his parents Jean and\n\nJimmy Harris of Clarksdale. I send my deepest sympathies to his family\n\nand to all who knew him. May God grant them comfort, grace, and peace\n\nin these unspeakably difficult times.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/tribute-dr-heber-simmons-jr", "TRIBUTE TO DR. HEBER SIMMONS, JR.", "2021-06-07", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "Senate", "MS", "Cindy Hyde-Smith", "H001079", "www.hydesmith.senate.gov", "hydesmith", "https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/newsroom", "scraper", "Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 98\n\n(Senate - June 7, 2021) PDF\n\nMrs. HYDE-SMITH. Madam President, the American Academy of\n\nPediatric Dentists, AAPD, last month named Dr. Heber Simmons, Jr., of\n\nJackson, MS, as its 2021 Pediatric Dentist of the Year. I commend him\n\nfor his decades of service and for the significant contributions he has\n\nmade to the dental profession. His lifetime commitment to the specialty\n\nof pediatric dentistry has helped advance children's health in\n\nMississippi and around the country. Dr. Simmons' many years of clinical\n\npractice, his dedication to improving academic dentistry, and his\n\npassion for public policy make him a deserving recipient of the\n\nPediatric Dentist of the Year honor.\n\nDr. Simmons received his dental degree from the University of\n\nTennessee and completed his pediatric dentistry training there after\n\nserving our Nation for 3 years in the U.S. Army Dental Corps. Following\n\nhis training and military service, Dr. Simmons practiced for 57 years\n\nin Jackson before retiring recently from active practice. His passion\n\nand dedication have made him a national leader in dentistry, proven by\n\nhis past presidencies of the AAPD, the American Academy of Dental\n\nPractice Administration, the Pierre Fauchard Academy, and the\n\nMississippi Dental Association. Furthermore, he received the AAPD\n\nDistinguished Service Award in 1994 and the Ann Page Griffin\n\nHumanitarian Award in 2011. For many years, he served on the Board of\n\nTrustees of the American Dental Association, ADA, serving as a\n\nspokesperson for the ADA from 1981 to 2019. In this role, he was\n\nfeatured on nationally televised programs such as \"60 Minutes\" and\n\n\"Good Morning, America.\"\n\nDr. Simmons currently serves as a special consultant to the AAPD\n\nBoard of Trustees after serving as the academy's congressional liaison\n\nsince 1997. As AAPD Congressional Liaison, he helped educate Members of\n\nCongress and their staffs concerning oral health issues for children,\n\ntestified before Congress, and served in a key leadership role in AAPD\n\nadvocacy efforts. This includes helping to allocate more than $158\n\nmillion for pediatric dentistry to the title VII program at the Health\n\nResources and Services Administration. For this work, Heber was awarded\n\nan AAPD Presidential Citation in 2001, and more recently, his alma\n\nmater, the College of Dentistry at the University of Tennessee Health\n\nScience Center, recreated an endowed professorship in his name. Last\n\nyear, at the AAPD Pediatric Oral Health Advocacy Conference, Dr.\n\nSimmons was the keynote speaker and received another Presidential\n\ncitation in recognition of and appreciation for his tireless and\n\ndedicated national advocacy for his profession and the oral health of\n\nAmerica's children.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/tribute-paul-hollis", "TRIBUTE TO PAUL HOLLIS", "2021-05-27", "2021", "2021-05", "Republican", "Senate", "MS", "Cindy Hyde-Smith", "H001079", "www.hydesmith.senate.gov", "hydesmith", "https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/newsroom", "scraper", "Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 93\n\n(Senate - May 27, 2021) PDF\n\nMrs. HYDE-SMITH. Mr. President, I am pleased to commend Mr.\n\nPaul Hollis of Rolling Fork, MS, for his service and contributions to\n\nthe State of Mississippi while serving as the 85th president of Delta\n\nCouncil.\n\nOrganized in 1935, Delta Council plays an important role in uniting\n\nthe agricultural, business, and economic development leadership to\n\nsolve problems and promote greater opportunities in the Mississippi\n\nDelta region, which encompasses 19 counties in Northwest Mississippi.\n\nMr. Hollis has selflessly committed himself this year to the standing\n\npriorities of Delta Council's agenda, namely flood control, among other\n\nmajor issues the council addresses. As the owner and operator of Hollis\n\nFarms in Anguilla, MS, for over 30 years, he knows all too well the\n\nunjust history and devastation the incomplete Yazoo Backwater Pumps\n\nflood control project has brought to his community. There are few\n\nproponents of the Yazoo Backwater Pump Project who have volunteered the\n\ntime, loyalty, attention, and leadership as fervently as Paul Hollis.\n\nMr. Hollis assumed the role of Delta Council president in a\n\nnontraditional fashion by way of the first-ever virtual meeting of\n\nDelta Council, due to the unprecedented challenges we faced during the\n\nCOVID-19 global pandemic. Despite the hardships the virus brought upon\n\nour State and Delta Council, Mr. Hollis led this organization admirably\n\nthrough the rest of 2020 to restore the traditional Delta Council Day\n\nat the 86th annual meeting, at which I am honored to serve as the\n\nkeynote speaker.\n\nOutside of his time spent working on his farm and serving Delta\n\nCouncil, Mr. Hollis contributes his leadership skills to many valuable\n\ncommunity organizations. He serves as commissioner for the Mississippi\n\nLevee Board and chairman of the Delta Council Flood Control Committee.\n\nHe is president of his local Rotary Club, president of the Sharkey\n\nCountry Club, serves on the board for Sharkey-Issaquena Academy, as\n\nwell as Sharkey County School Board, chairman of the Board for Central\n\nMississippi Walk to Emmaus, and a board member for the Lower Delta\n\nPartnership. He has also served as past chairman of Farm Service Agency\n\nfor Sharkey County and is chairman of Trustees for Rolling Fork United\n\nMethodist Church.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:49:40Z"], ["https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/tribute-tom-gresham", "TRIBUTE TO TOM GRESHAM", "2021-05-27", "2021", "2021-05", "Republican", "Senate", "MS", "Cindy Hyde-Smith", "H001079", "www.hydesmith.senate.gov", "hydesmith", "https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/newsroom", "scraper", "Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 93\n\n(Senate - May 27, 2021) PDF\n\nMrs. HYDE-SMITH. Mr. President, on May 31, 2020, Mr. Tom\n\nGresham of Indianola, MS, concluded his term as the 84th president of\n\nDelta Council. I am pleased to commend him for his service and\n\ncontributions to the Delta region and the State of Mississippi.\n\nOrganized in 1935, Delta Council plays an important role in uniting\n\nthe agricultural, business, and economic development leadership to\n\nsolve problems and promote greater opportunities in the Mississippi\n\nDelta region, which encompasses 19 counties in Northwest Mississippi.\n\nMr. Gresham's tenure began on the heels of the devastating and\n\nhistorical Yazoo Backwater Flood of 2019, which destroyed thousands of\n\nacres, hundreds of homes, and took two lives. As a Delta native,\n\nbusiness owner, and servant to his community, his leadership helped\n\nbring tremendous attention and change to a new plan proposed by the\n\nU.S. Army Corps of Engineers to address this critical flood control\n\nissue.\n\nHe also met challenges unlike any other Delta Council president in\n\nthe unprecedented times we faced during the onset of the global\n\npandemic of COVID-19. In leading Delta Council throughout his\n\npresidency, he navigated the way for the council to continue its\n\ndevoted work to the region, despite the difficulties the virus brought\n\nus. This included the first-ever virtual meeting of Delta Council.\n\nI also applaud Mr. Gresham, as a longtime former chairman of Delta\n\nCouncil's Development Department, along with Delta Strong leadership,\n\non bringing hundreds of jobs to the Delta through the Delta Strong\n\nindustrial recruitment initiative. As the president of Double Quick,\n\nInc., for over 35 years, Tom Gresham knows what it takes to grow a\n\nsuccessful business in the Delta.\n\nDespite the time spent dedicated to his presidency and career, Mr.\n\nGresham still finds time to serve in a multitude of capacities locally\n\nand regionally. He has served in leadership roles as cochairman of the\n\nIndianola Promise Community, director of Northwest Mississippi\n\nCommunity Foundation, past chairman of Mississippi Economic Council\n\npast president of Mississippi Association of Convenience Stores,\n\nIndianola Educational Foundation, Indianola Rotary Flub, Mid-Delta Arts\n\nAssociation, Society of Independent Gas Marketers of America, and more.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:49:40Z"], ["https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/national-police-week-2", "NATIONAL POLICE WEEK", "2021-05-13", "2021", "2021-05", "Republican", "Senate", "MS", "Cindy Hyde-Smith", "H001079", "www.hydesmith.senate.gov", "hydesmith", "https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/newsroom", "scraper", "Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 83\n\n(Senate - May 13, 2021) PDF\n\nMrs. HYDE-SMITH.\n\nMr. President, it is a solemn honor to recognize National Police\n\nWeek. Each year, we dedicate this week to express our admiration\n\nand gratitude to all of the law enforcement officers working to\n\nkeep us safe. We also take this time to remember those who have\n\npaid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty over the past\n\nyear.\n\nLaw enforcement officers face many challenges in their mission to\n\nprotect and serve. I greatly admire members of the law enforcement\n\ncommunity who remain steadfast amidst the dangers of their noble\n\nprofession.\n\nTo all the law enforcement officers across the State of Mississippi,\n\nI want to say to you that I am in Washington, DC, as your Senator to\n\nsupport you and to work to ensure you have what you need to do your\n\njob. You are truly our hometown heroes. You are the thin blue line\n\nkeeping our families and our communities safe.\n\nThe loss of any officer deeply affects entire communities beyond\n\ntheir own department, and the ramifications for their family and\n\nfriends are heartbreaking.\n\nThis Police Week, we honor and mourn three heroes from Mississippi,\n\nofficers who died in the line of duty last year.\n\nMonroe County Deputy Sheriff Dylan Scott Pickle, 24, died on July 26,\n\n2020, while on duty after a vehicle struck him during a safety\n\ncheckpoint operation. Dylan, a decorated veteran awarded three medals\n\nfor his heroism in Syria, knew at an early age that he wanted to serve\n\nhis community and his country. An Amory native and an Itawamba\n\nCommunity College graduate, Deputy Pickle's life of service was cut\n\nshort soon after earning a promotion within the sheriff's department.\n\nHe leaves behind his mother, a sister, a brother, and stepsister.\n\nSimpson County Sheriff Deputy James Harold Blair lost his life on\n\nJuly 12, 2020, after a subject he was transporting fatally wounded him.\n\nThis 77-year-old grandfather served in law enforcement honorably for\n\nmore than 50 years in Simpson County, Lincoln County, Pike County, and\n\nLouisiana. He even worked as a crossing guard for his grandchildren's\n\nschool. Deputy Sheriff Blair leaves behind a large grieving family,\n\nincluding his wife, 3 sons, 4 daughters, 17 grandchildren, and 48\n\ngreat-grandchildren.\n\nCorrectional Officer Marshall Lee \"Bem\" London, Jr., 66, of the\n\nLincoln County Sheriff's Office, passed away May 18, 2020. A 16-year\n\nveteran of the sheriff's office, Bem is among the tragic number of law\n\nenforcement officers who succumbed to COVID-19 last year while serving\n\nthe public. A dedicated family man, Deputy London is survived by his\n\nchildren and grandchildren.\n\nAs a lasting tribute, the names of these three brave officers will be\n\nadded this year to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in\n\nWashington, DC.\n\nIn addition to these recent losses, the National Law Enforcement\n\nOfficers Memorial will now also bear the names of three DeSoto County\n\nsheriff's deputies who died in the line of duty 123 years ago. Deputy\n\nSheriffs Henry R. Campbell, William C. Cooper, and Carter I. Jones lost\n\ntheir lives on May 18, 1898, while attempting to arrest a father and\n\nson wanted for four murders. Even after more than a century, we still\n\nremember loss and honor their service.\n\nThen and now, our law enforcement offices face tremendous dangers as\n\nthey work to ensure the public safety and enforce the law. Today, all\n\nofficers must deal with unprecedented challenges, pressures, and\n\nscrutiny. Supporting our law enforcement ought to be uncontroversial.\n\nUnfortunately, that is not always the case.\n\nAs we mark National Police Week, let us embrace the memories of these\n\nfallen officers as a cause to redouble our commitment to supporting law\n\nenforcement. I assure you that I will continue to be an advocate for\n\nlaw enforcement professionals and do my very best to honor the legacy\n\nof all those lost in the line of duty.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:49:40Z"], ["https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/energy-policy", "ENERGY POLICY", "2021-02-03", "2021", "2021-02", "Republican", "Senate", "MS", "Cindy Hyde-Smith", "H001079", "www.hydesmith.senate.gov", "hydesmith", "https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/newsroom", "scraper", "ENERGY POLICY\n\nCongressional Record Vol. 167, No. 20\n\n(Senate - February 3, 2021) PDF\n\nMrs. HYDE-SMITH. Mr. President, I rise to discuss the importance of\n\nthe American energy sector and my concern about President Biden's\n\nExecutive orders regarding domestic energy policy.\n\nIn the first hours of the Biden administration, the President signed\n\nan Executive order revoking the Presidential permit of the Keystone XL\n\nPipeline, a project projected to add 11,000 American jobs this year and\n\npump $1.6 billion in wages into our economy. The new administration's\n\nactions ceased construction work, nullified contracts issued last\n\nOctober to hire an estimated 7,000 union construction workers, and\n\ndisappointed our Canadian ally.\n\nIt is deeply concerning that our national energy policy should take\n\nsuch a dramatic turn away from pro-jobs and pro-American energy\n\nindependence. Americans' unemployment rate is already in a precarious\n\nsituation due to the ongoing global pandemic, and I fail to see how\n\ndestroying more jobs unifies our Nation.\n\nMississippians and Americans in the energy industry have worked\n\ntirelessly for our Nation, and in 2019 America became energy\n\nindependent for the first time in 60 years. It is thanks to our energy\n\nworkers that we are no longer forced to rely on foreign powers who do\n\nnot wish America well.\n\nTerminating the Keystone XL Pipeline was just the start of what we\n\nnow recognize to be a concerted effort to bring down fossil fuel\n\nresources in our Nation. The administration's subsequent ban on new oil\n\nand gas leases on Federal lands will result in an estimated $33.5\n\nbillion in lost GDP across Western States in President Biden's first\n\nterm and risk over $8.8 billion annually in conservation funding.\n\nOil and natural gas from Federal lands accounted for 6.4 percent and\n\n9.2 percent, respectively, of the Nation's total production. Jobs and\n\neconomic opportunity are being carelessly stripped away.\n\nAnd while my State may not be burned by the Federal leasing ban as\n\nbadly as Wyoming, New Mexico, and other Western States, Mississippi\n\nwill certainly feel the heat from this. Mississippi has a significant\n\nenergy infrastructure which provides thousands of jobs and hundreds of\n\nmillions of dollars in economic output.\n\nThe Gulf of Mexico is one of the Nation's most important regions for\n\nenergy resources and accounts for a large portion of our crude oil and\n\nFederal offshore natural gas production.\n\nMy State is home to the 1,443-megawatt Grand Gulf nuclear power\n\nstation in Port Gibson, MS, which is the largest reactor in terms of\n\ngenerating capacity in the United States. We host a large petroleum\n\nrefinery, a natural gas processing plant, and a liquefied natural gas\n\nterminal located along the State's Gulf of Mexico coastline.\n\nAdditionally, the Red Hills surface coal mine provides lignite coal\n\nto the Red Hills Power Plant, creating jobs and generation capacity in\n\nNorth Mississippi. Along with these great sources, Mississippi has\n\ngrowing investments in natural gas and in solar power.\n\nDestructive policies that make fuel sources more difficult to obtain\n\ncould greatly harm economic growth and raise the cost of energy prices,\n\nwhich will ultimately harm low-income families and many small\n\nbusinesses, not just in Mississippi but across the entire Nation.\n\nMy concerns are not based on any objections to green or renewable\n\nenergy sources. I believe the American people want balanced national\n\nenergy policies that promote growth and price stability. However, the\n\nearly actions of the Biden administration are cause for concern and not\n\na source of unity. They signal a troubling willingness to sacrifice\n\nstrategic industries that are important to our economy and for the jobs\n\nthat they provide.\n\nThis body should take into consideration important legislation such\n\nas the POWER Act and the Conservation Funding Protection Act, which\n\nwould allow Congress to enact responsible energy policies and move away\n\nfrom policies landed in executive edits.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:26:35Z"], ["https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/tribute-sarah-thomas", "TRIBUTE TO SARAH THOMAS", "2021-02-03", "2021", "2021-02", "Republican", "Senate", "MS", "Cindy Hyde-Smith", "H001079", "www.hydesmith.senate.gov", "hydesmith", "https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/newsroom", "scraper", "Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 20\n\n(Senate - February 3, 2021) PDF\n\nMr. President, now on a more positive note, I would like to speak on\n\na separate and special matter.\n\nAs Americans and people around the world settle in front of their\n\ntelevisions this Sunday to watch the 55th annual Super Bowl, they will\n\nbe tuning in to a historic event. I am not speaking about the impact of\n\nthe COVID-19 pandemic on the game or Tom Brady's record Super Bowl\n\nappearances. Instead, I am focused on the history that will be made by\n\nan exceptional woman from Mississippi, my good friend Sarah Thomas.\n\nSarah Thomas, a native of Pascagoula, MS, will go down in sports\n\nhistory on Sunday as the first woman to officiate the Super Bowl.\n\nSarah has always had a passion for athletics. She made a name for\n\nherself in high school sports. She became an Academic All-American in\n\nbasketball at the University of Mobile, where she amassed a career\n\nrecord of 779 points, 441 rebounds, 108 assists, and 192 steals--\n\naccomplishments that illustrate her determination to perform at the\n\nhighest levels.\n\nWhile the news of a female officiant for the Super Bowl is a historic\n\nfirst, Sarah is no stranger to making history. Following college,\n\nSarah's attention shifted to football--namely, officiating games. She\n\nquickly earned a reputation as an elite referee while officiating high\n\nschool games.\n\nSarah became the first woman to officiate a Division 1A high school\n\ngame in Mississippi. Sarah continued to do so well in her craft that it\n\ncaught the attention of renowned NFL official Gerry Austin, who invited\n\nher to an officials' camp. Here again, Sarah's talents proved\n\nimpressive, and she soon became the first woman to officiate a college\n\nfootball game and the first woman to officiate a college bowl game.\n\nThe NFL hired Sarah as its first female official in 2015, and in 2019\n\nshe became the first woman to officiate an NFL playoff game.\n\nTo me and many others, Sarah's selection to officiate at Super Bowl\n\nLV is just a natural progression for a talented professional. I can\n\nassure you, anyone who knows Sarah as I do will not be surprised by her\n\nsuccessful career.\n\nSarah--a mother, a career woman--has all the qualities I imagine the\n\nNFL wants in a good official: smart, confident, decisive, reliable, and\n\ncommitted.\n\nMy State of Mississippi is extremely proud of Sarah Thomas, and we\n\nlook forward to watching her latest history-making appearance at the\n\nSuper Bowl.\n\nAnd to Sarah's children--these precious children: Bridley, Brady, and\n\nBailey--congratulations to you on this historic achievement, and you\n\ncan be so proud of your mother.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:26:35Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 14, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Senate", "p1": "MS", "p2": "2021"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=MS&year=2021", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 14, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=MS&year=2021&party=Republican", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=MS&year=2021", "results": [{"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 14, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=MS&year=2021", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=MS&year=2021", "results": [{"value": "MS", "label": "MS", "count": 14, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&year=2021", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=MS&year=2021", "results": [{"value": "2021", "label": "2021", "count": 14, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=MS", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": null, "next_url": null, "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 126.80529104545712, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}