url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at
https://palazzo.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401899,Palazzo Vote on NDAA Backs Military Men and Women,2020-12-28,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,MS,Steven Palazzo,P000601,palazzo.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC - Congressman Steven Palazzo (MS-4)released the following statementtoday after votingto override a presidential veto of the recently-passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included his legislation,the Coast Guard Retirement Parity Act.
From day one, as your member of Congress, my number one constitutional responsibilityhas been toprovide for the common defense of this nation, and I do believe this year's NDAA accomplishes that. While I understand and share the President's concern related to Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, I do not believe the annual defense bill is the right place to address this issue.But I do believe this issue needs to be addressed by Congress,""Palazzo said. 
""As bothan active National Guard memberandMarineveteranwith three decades of service, I know our men and womeninuniform must remainlethal andready to respond, which is why I believe it is critical togive them the tools and resources they need to accomplish their mission and return home safely to their loved ones.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://palazzo.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401900,Palazzo Issues Statement on Stimulus Payment Vote,2020-12-28,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,MS,Steven Palazzo,P000601,palazzo.house.gov,,,legacy,"Palazzo Issues Statement on Stimulus Payment Vote 
   
    
       
      
  
    
      f 
      t 
      #
      e
      
      
    
    
      
        Washington,
        December 28, 2020
      
       
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
      
      
      


    
        
            
            
            Washington, DC - Congressman Steven Palazzo (MS-4)today issued the following statement after votingagainst a$1,400increase fordirecteconomic stimulus payments that were included in the recentcoronavirus relief package that was passed by Congress andsigned by President Trump.
            There is no doubt that many Americans are suffering. For months,Ihave said that the passage of COVID relief should be the top priority of this Congress. Still, time and time again, Nancy Pelosi has come up with partisan proposals that do little to nothing to address our economy and jobs.The relief package signed by PresidentTrump is the result of a great deal of work between the White House and congressional leadership,""Palazzo said.
            ""While the idea of additional stimulus money sounds good, giving away cash without adequate barriers to ensure only those who need help get it is dangerous. This vote is the result of Nancy Pelosi and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez pushing their socialist agenda when given the opportunity.Our country is deeper in debt than we have everbeen, and the time for hard decisions is now.People across Mississippi would love to have $2,000 checks instead of $600 checks, but when it comes down to it, our country can't afford the nearly half trillion-dollarprice tag that comes along with that.###
            
            
        
    




    
  
  
  
    
      f 
      t 
      #
      e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/weekly-report?ContentRecord_id=83538FEE-49F2-4A43-BBB8-A2667FEE95FA,Wickers Investigation Reveals FAA Failures,2020-12-28,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Each year, millions of Americans take to the skies to be with their loved ones for the holidays. Those who board a commercial flight place their trust in the pilots, the aircraft, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which regulates the American aviation industry. That trust is warranted because our aviation system is among the safest in the world. Yet it is not without flaws. Recent findings of a Senate investigation revealed some troubling patterns within the FAA that require accountability and reform.
In March 2019, the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft was grounded worldwide after two crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia killed 346 people. After the second crash, investigators found that a design flaw contributed to both crashes. Soon, whistleblowers within the FAA and the aviation industry began reaching out to me to share information. As chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, which oversees air travel, Ilaunchedan investigation into the concerns being raised. Our 20-month investigation uncovered evidence of undue coziness between regulators and aircraft operators, violations of pilot testing standards, and a failed FAA management culture that punished whistleblowers for voicing safety concerns. I recently published the 101-page investigation report on the Commerce Committee website.
FAA Failed to Answer Many Questions
During the investigation, our committee received information from 57 whistleblowers with backgrounds in government, academia, and the aviation industry. Unfortunately, the FAA has not cooperated fully with the committee's constitutional oversight. I have sent seven letters to the FAA with 30 specific requests. To date, the FAA has failed to answer more than half. In addition, the FAA has failed to comply with interview requests, allowing only nine FAA employees to interview with the committee out of the 21 that I requested. The evidence we collected revealed inconsistencies, contradictions, and in one case, a possible lack of candor.
Although the 737 MAX crashes had initially prompted this investigation, whistleblower claims highlighted lapses in FAA oversight well beyond our initial scope of inquiry. For example, the committee found that between 2013 and 2017, the FAA permitted Southwest Airlines to operate dozens of aircraft that were not inspected properly. Whistleblowers alerted FAA managers about the issue, but the managers failed to act. Even after an internal audit urged the FAA to ground the aircraft until proper inspections were completed, the unapproved planes were allowed to continue flying passengers for months.
Other lapses occurred in Hawaii, leading to a series of preventable fatalities in recent years. After one crash killed 11 people, inspectors voiced long-held concerns regarding improper maintenance. Whistleblowers called for the implicated mechanic to have his license revoked, yet the FAA refused. In 2020, a second plane the same mechanic had worked on crashed, killing two people. Yet days later, the FAA renewed his license.
Holding FAA Accountable
The revelations of this report are troubling. The FAA has a solemn duty to protect the flying public and ensure the safety of U.S. aircraft. The failures uncovered in this investigation cannot continue.
Days after I published the report, Congress approved legislation I authored to overhaul the aircraft certification process. This bill will give the FAA more authority over private-sector aviation workers, like those from Boeing, who are involved in aircraft certification. It will take steps to protect against manufacturers placing undue pressure on employees during the certification process. And it will strengthen vital protections for whistleblowers. These measures should help restore the safety culture in the FAA, ensuring that America remains the safest place in the world to fly.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://palazzo.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401898,Palazzo Announces Congressional App Challenge Winners,2020-12-24,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,MS,Steven Palazzo,P000601,palazzo.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC - Congressman Steven Palazzo (MS-4)is pleased to announce Hannah Watts, Shawn Butler, Jade Thompson, and Cort Stephens from Columbia High Schoolare the winners of the 2020 Congressional App Challenge in Mississippi's Fourth Congressional District. The students created ""onTrack,"" a web application which allows high school students to organize their goals and to-do lists.
OnTrack is an app that allows high school students to organize their multi-faceted lives in a way that is effective and nonstrenuous. There are four sections of the app: information, planner, goal tracker, and to-do list. The information section explains how to students would use the app, the planner is a virtual calendar that allows students to plan events and activities, the goal tracker allows students to maintain and edit both long and short-term goals, and the to-do list enablesstudents to write down tasks and mark them off once completed.
""Congratulations to Hannah Watts, Shawn Butler, Jade Thompson, and Cort Stephens of Columbia High School for winning this year's Congressional App Challenge. Students lead very hectic schedules, and this app wouldkeep students organized and on track,""Palazzo said.""I am so proud of the work submitted by all South Mississippians in this year's Congressional App Challenge and thank everyone for participating.""
A video explaining the app can befound here.  

###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://guest.house.gov/media/press-releases/guest-reaffirms-commitment-fiscal-responsibility-bipartisan-resolution,Guest Reaffirms Commitment to Fiscal Responsibility in Bipartisan Resolution,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,MS,Michael Guest,G000591,guest.house.gov,guest,https://guest.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Michael Guest (MS-03) reaffirmed his commitment to fiscal responsibility while acknowledging the need for additional COVID-19 relief funds by cosponsoring a resolution ""expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on addressing the reckless and unsustainable national debt while committing necessary resources to the COVID-19 pandemic.""

""The source of American resiliency has always been our nation's adherence to our core values. Fiscal conservatism combined with common-sense legislation allows our economy to rebound while preparing our nation for future needs,"" Guest said. ""Unfortunately, we have become increasingly reliant on deficit spending in recent years, and, with the ongoing battle against the coronavirus, this has led our country down the path towards worrying levels of national debt. Once the coronavirus is defeated, Congress will need to make necessary reductions to our spending, which will allow the U.S. government to return to a state of fiscal security and preparedness.""

The resolution recognizes the importance of Congress's efforts to mitigate the impact of the virus but follows this recognition with concerning statistics. America's deficit widened from 4.6 percent of our GDP in 2019 to 16 percent of our GDP in 2020, and the FY20 budget deficit has grown by a factor of three above 2020 projections. This resolution also comes at a critical moment as the United States government's gross national debt has soared above $27 trillion.

The resolution outlines four provisions to fuel America's fight against the coronavirus while adhering to the promise of fiscal responsibility. The legislation resolves that the House of Representatives:

""recognizes that an unprecedented response to provide relief to hundreds of millions of Americans was required to address the COVID–19 pandemic;

realizes that additional relief measures are required;

believes that further efforts to address the COVID–19 pandemic must include measures and reforms to help Congress restore the Federal Government's long-term fiscal health once the pandemic ends and the economy regains its strength; and

believes Congress should promote the return to regular order and deliberation, and to change the broken and dysfunctional budget practices that threaten both economic stability and national security.""

The resolution is led by Reps. Jodey Arrington (R-TX) and Scott Peters (D-CA).

Congressman Michael Guest represents Mississippi's Third Congressional District. He serves on the House Committee on Homeland Security, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Committee on Ethics. Before beginning his first term in Congress, Congressman Guest served as the district attorney for Madison and Rankin Counties.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://palazzo.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401894,Palazzo Votes for Targeted COVID Relief,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,MS,Steven Palazzo,P000601,palazzo.house.gov,,,legacy,"Palazzo Votes for Targeted COVID Relief 
   
    
       
      
  
    
      f 
      t 
      #
      e
      
      
    
    
      
        Washington,
        December 21, 2020
      
       
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
      
      
      Washington, DC - Congressman Steven Palazzo (MS-4) today voted in support of a COVID-19 relief package that provides targeted relief for millions of Americans dealing with the impacts of the coronavirus. The relief package passed the House by a vote margin of 359-53.
""This legislation makes good on several key promises to restore our way of life and delivers targeted relief to millions of Americans in every corner of the country. After months of Speaker Pelosi refusing to act, I am pleased to see targeted aid will finally reach our small businesses, families, and those who need it most.""
Key Provisions:
 
    Extends the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to provide relief to small businesses, adds deductibility for PPP expenses, and includes 501(c)(6) organizations for eligibility
    Gives businesses experiencing severe revenue reductions an opportunity to apply for a second draw PPP loan
    Provides $20 billion for COVID-19 vaccine purchases, $8 billion for vaccine distribution in the United States
    Extends December 11, 2020 expiration of Section 3610 in the CARES Act toprotect the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) and Defense Contractors through April 30, 2020, benefitting contractors at Stennis Space Center and protecting our future space and defense missions from the potential loss of critical talent
    Provides one-time $600 economic stimulus payment for both adults and dependents and verifies each recipient is a U.S. citizen
    Extends and enhances requirements to prevent fraud and abuse of unemployment programs that were set to expire on December 31, 2020, and provides $300 per week for unemployed individuals for 10 weeks starting December 26, 2020
    Includes $82 billion in funding for schools and universities to assist with re-opening campuses for in-person learning
    Provides $25 billion in temporary and targeted rental assistance for Americans who lost their source of income and extends the eviction moratorium through January 31, 2021
    Includes $7 billion in broadband funding, including support for telehealth and rural broadband, a key priority pushed by Palazzo
    Provides $13 billion in support for U.S. agriculture, benefitting seafood producers in South Mississippi
 
In August, Palazzo penned a letter to House and Senate leadership outlining key priorities he believed should be included in additional relief packages. 
###
    
  
  
  
    
      f 
      t 
      #
      e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/hyde-smith-highlights-benefits-miss-senate-approves-fy21-funding-bills-new-covid-19-relief-package,"HYDE-SMITH HIGHLIGHTS BENEFITS TO MISS. AS SENATE APPROVES FY21 FUNDING BILLS, NEW COVID-19 RELIEF PACKAGE",2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,MS,Cindy Hyde-Smith,H001079,www.hydesmith.senate.gov,,,legacy,"HYDE-SMITH HIGHLIGHTS BENEFITS TO MISS. AS SENATE APPROVES FY21 FUNDING BILLS, NEW COVID-19 RELIEF PACKAGE
WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today highlighted benefits to Mississippi in an omnibus appropriations and COVID-19 relief package approved by the Senate late Monday night.
The comprehensive package with all 12 FY2021 appropriations bills and $892 billion in targeted pandemic relief (HR.133) now heads to President Trump for his consideration.
This year has been anything but conventional and that includes the unwieldy legislation to maintain federal programs and to continue the fight against the coronavirus, Hyde-Smith said. 
I support the appropriations measures, and worked to include important funding for Mississippi and its citizens, she added. In addition, including coronavirus relief in this legislation will ensure the timely delivery of benefits for working families, the jobless, small businesses, and our healthcare system.
Hyde-Smith worked to advocate priorities for Mississippi and the nation in the FY2021 appropriations bills. Notably, the final product includes these priorities:
 
National Defense  A $2.6 billion increase in defense funding to continue rebuilding the U.S. military and to provide servicemembers with a 3 percent pay raise;
Shipbuilding  $23.27 billion for 10 battle force ships including: two DDG-51 Arleigh Burke Class Flight III destroyers; an additional $130 million for long lead time material for a third DDG-51 destroyer in FY2022; one LPD-17 amphibious warship and addresses economic order quantity opportunities for LPD 32 and LPD 33; and $500 million to fund the advanced procurement of the LHA-9 amphibious assault ship.
Department of Defense Research Activities  $107 billion for research, development, test, and evaluation accounts to support Army, Air Force, Navy, Space Force, and Defense Department research initiatives, including multiple projects involving the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center in Vicksburg, Mississippi State University, University of Mississippi, University of Southern Mississippi, and other Mississippi academic and industry partners.
USDA Disaster Assistance for 2018 and 2019 Losses  Repurposes $1.5 billion in previously appropriated funds to ensure that producers impacted by natural disasters in 2018 and 2019 can receive assistance under the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+).
Gulf of Mexico Water and Aquatic Habitat Quality  $20 million, $2.5 million above FY2020 enacted, for the Environmental Protection Agency Gulf of Mexico Program to address water quality and hypoxia problems in the Gulf.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Projects  $74.1 million for 27 authorized flood control, navigation, and related projects and activities in Mississippi, including: $22 million for operation, maintenance, and recreation at Mississippi flood control reservoirs (Arkabutla, Enid, Grenada, and Sardis Lakes), $30.6 million for operation, maintenance, and wildlife mitigation activities on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, and $14.7 million for dredging operations at ports in Gulfport, Pascagoula, Biloxi, Vicksburg, Greenville and Rosedale.
Surprise Medical Billing Fix  Includes the No Surprises Act to end surprise billings in which patients receive unexpected medical bills from their insurer due to out-of-network care. Hyde-Smith cosponsored early versions of this legislation and called on Leadership to include this in the final package.
Pandemic Preparedness  $4.1 billion for Health and Human Services preparedness programs.
Overall Medical Research  $1.25 billion increase for National Institutes of Health medical research, bringing total annual funding to $42.9 billion. This includes $3.1 billion specifically for Alzheimer's research, a $300 million increase.
Telehealth Expansion  Eliminates Medicare restrictions to allow all beneficiaries to receive mental health services through telehealth on a permanent basis. This is from Section 4 of the CONNECT for Health Act, introduced by Hyde-Smith and other Senate Telehealth Working Group members.
Member Pay Freeze  The bill continues a provision to freeze the pay of Members of Congress, preventing any pay increases in FY2021 as strongly advocated by some in the House of Representatives. A freeze on Members' salaries has been in place since 2009. Hyde-Smith chairs the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee that held the line to retain the member pay freeze.
 
A broader summary of FY2021 appropriations items of interest to Mississippi is available here.
Coronavirus response and relief package repurposes more than $560 billion in unspent CARES Act funding to support new help for those most affected by the pandemic. It would provide, among other things:
 
$8.75 billion to plan, prepare for, promote, distribute, administer, monitor, and track coronavirus vaccines
A second round of Paycheck Protection Program loans for eligible small businesses, including restaurants and live-venue operations
$600 direct impact payments to eligible families and individuals
$300 per week for 10 weeks of federal unemployment benefits
$54.3 billion for elementary and secondary schools pandemic safety and other requirements, in addition to $22.7 billion for higher education and $4.1 million for the Governors Emergency Education Relief Fund
$11.187 billion for the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture to support agricultural producers, processors, and contract growers affected by COVID-19
 
Summaries of major provisions in the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 are available here.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=1BE26969-1D88-4D9B-851A-E86422A92088,Wicker Supports Coronavirus Relief Package,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today released the following statement ahead of a vote to advance a coronavirus relief package. The legislation will be included as part of a year-end agreement that will fund the government through the end of the fiscal year.
After months of unnecessary delays, Congress is working to deliver much-needed relief to the American people, Wicker said. Although this is not the legislation I would have written, it represents a strong, bipartisan compromise that will help millions of Americans through what I hope are the final months of this pandemic.
This package boosts resources for vaccine distribution and our frontline health workers. It also extends and improves upon the Paycheck Protection Program, providing a lifeline to our smallest businesses and local restaurants. The temporary expansion of unemployment benefits and another round of direct payments should help many families who continue to struggle through no fault of their own. With this additional targeted support, I am confident we are on the path to beating this virus and restoring our economy.
Among other provisions, the final coronavirus relief package would:
 
Accelerate vaccine development and coronavirus response efforts by providing $68 billion in additional support for front-line providers, vaccine distribution, and testing and tracing efforts.
Add $284 billion to the highly-successful Paycheck Protection Program and make key modifications to the program to make it work better for small businesses with high-operating costs and low margins, including local restaurants.
Extend additional federal unemployment insurance payments at a rate of $300 per week.
Include a one-time direct payment of up to $600 each for legal residents, including adults and children.
Extend aid to key transportation sectors, including airports, passenger rail, motor coaches, passenger vessels, transit, and highways.
Include $82 billion to help schools and institutions of higher learning cover expenses necessary for safe reopening and continued learning.
Include $10.25 billion to support child care providers.
Provide $11 billion to support agricultural producers impacted by COVID-19.
 
As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Wicker led provisions to:
 
Provide $7 billion for broadband expansion, including telehealth and supply chain security.
Continue support for the Payroll Support Program, which provides support to keep thousands of aviation industry employees employed.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/weekly-report?ContentRecord_id=77CCF5AC-76F5-40FF-A555-75D53FA62099,Wicker: FCC Award Will Expand High-Speed Internet in Rural Mississippi,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Mississippi scored an important victory this month in our effort to connect rural communities to the internet. On December 7, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) announced the results of a competitive auction in which private-sector companies bid for the opportunity to supply broadband to rural communities. Mississippi received an award of $495 million for these efforts  second only to California, the nation's most populous state. This means one out of every 18 dollars from this auction will go to Mississippi's broadband deployment efforts.
This investment is a major step forward for our state. The FCC estimates 435,000 Mississippi residents will gain access to reliable, high-speed internet because of this award. Still, the buildout will take time, and some communities may have to wait longer than others. I am taking steps to try to speed up this process as much as possible.
Deployment Set to Begin This Spring
Broadband is critical to our nation's economy and way of life. The pandemic has made the internet even more crucial, as many Americans are now attending school, going to work, and receiving health care online. Yet 18 million Americans, largely in rural areas, are still unconnected. The FCC recognized this disparity last year by launching the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF), a program aimed at closing the digital divide between rural and urban America. This fund will provide $20 billion to deploy broadband in rural communities over the next decade.
Deployment funds are awarded to private-sector companies through two separate auctions. These bidding contests allow taxpayers to get the best value for their money. Funding from the first auction will be put to use starting this spring and will focus on areas with no broadband coverage at all. The second auction will benefit a wide range of underserved areas, and I am working to have this auction conducted as soon as possible.
Speeding Up the Process
As chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, which oversees broadband policy, I have made access to high-speed internet for all Americans a top priority. In June, I wrote a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai about the need to accelerate the distribution of federal funds to eligible providers, like the Rural Electric Cooperative Consortium in Mississippi. I have also introduced legislation that would offer incentives for providers to complete their buildout obligations in half the time. This would extend internet access to more homes and businesses sooner.
Earlier this year, Congress passed and President Trump signed the Broadband DATA Act, a law I authored to improve the way broadband data is collected. For years, the FCC has used flawed data maps that showed many parts of Mississippi having connectivity, when in fact they did not. My legislation requires the FCC to collect more accurate and granular data, providing a better picture of the gaps in broadband coverage. I am working to ensure these improved maps are in place before the second RDOF auction. If accurate data is being used, Mississippi should receive another substantial award to support broadband construction in our rural communities.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/hyde-smith-statement-targeted-covid-19-relief-package-completed-fy2021-appropriations-bills,"HYDE-SMITH STATEMENT ON TARGETED COVID-19 RELIEF PACKAGE, COMPLETED FY2021 APPROPRIATIONS BILLS",2020-12-20,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,MS,Cindy Hyde-Smith,H001079,www.hydesmith.senate.gov,,,legacy,"HYDE-SMITH STATEMENT ON TARGETED COVID-19 RELIEF PACKAGE, COMPLETED FY2021 APPROPRIATIONS BILLS
Targeted Coronavirus Aid Agreement Much like Senate GOP Plan Blocked by Democrats since Summer
WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, on Sunday night issued the following statement regarding anagreement on must-pass legislation to provide a new round of COVID-19 relief and to complete the FY2021 appropriations process:
I share the frustration many Mississippians must feel during last-minute wrangling of Congress every December to complete its work. However, I am heartened that a spirit of compromise prevailed to ensure we continue needed relief for hard-hit families, unemployed workers, small businesses, and healthcare providers on the front lines of our fight against COVID-19. Much of the assistance in this package resembles the targeted aid Senate Republicans have advocated since July. 
Mississippi will also benefit from the funding and certainty contained in the omnibus appropriations package for Fiscal Year 2021. I've worked hard to represent Mississippi's interests in these annual funding bills, and believe the final legislation reflects that fact.
The Senate could vote Monday to pass the legislation and send it to the President.
Briefly, the COVID-19 relief package will:
 
Repurpose more than $560 billion in unspent CARES Act funding
Increase support for healthcare providers, including vaccine distribution
Extend the Paycheck Protection Program for hard-hit small businesses
Provide direct impact payments to families and individuals
Continue a number of federal unemployment benefits
Direct additional resources to return students to schools safely
Provide additional support for American agricultural producers, processors, and contract growers
 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=8A4D8913-0B54-483C-8868-401D05AF3EEC,Wicker Statement on the Passing of William Forrest Winter,2020-12-19,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today released the following statement on the passing of former Mississippi governor and education reformer, William Forrest Winter: 
Mississippi has lost a giant, and my family has lost a friend and neighbor, Wicker said. Another courageous member of the greatest generation joins the great cloud of witnesses.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://palazzo.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401895,Palazzo Honors Late Staff Sergeant in House of Representatives,2020-12-17,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,MS,Steven Palazzo,P000601,palazzo.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC - Congressman Steven Palazzo (MS-4)recently spoke on the House floor to honor the life of the late Staff SergeantRobert E. Carterof Hattiesburg.Palazzo's office successfullyworkedwiththe Department of the Army's Award and Decorations Branch to gain approval for Ssgt. Carter to receive the Purple Heart Medal.In January of 2020,Palazzopresented SSgt.Carter with a Purple Heart Medalduring a quaint ceremony at the Congressman's Hattiesburg office.
You can read the remarks by Palazzo below orclick here to watch.
Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the legacy and the outstanding life of service of Purple Heart Recipient, Staff Sergeant Robert E. Carter.
He was born September 2, 1986, in San Luis Obispo, California,to Rick and Linda Carter. Staff Sergeant Carter attended Rio Vista High School and San Joaquin Delta College as a firefighter for a degree in Fire Science. He was also in the process of completing his Bachelor of Science in Public Health at the University of Southern Mississippi, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Staff Sergeant Carter joined the United States Army on April 25, 2007, and attended training at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he graduated as an 11Bravo Infantryman.
Staff Sergeant Carter's first deployment was in 2007 to Baghdad under the Dagger Brigade in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. His second deployment was from November 2008 to November 2009 for Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Rifle Team leader and Platoon designated marksman in charge of Small Denial Team's counteroffensive for IEDs. It was during this deployment on April 5, 2009, that he sustained injuries from an IED explosion while conducting dismounted clearance of a hostile village in Balad Ruz, Iraq.
His final deployment was in July 2011 to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. During this deployment, he created and implemented the Afghanistan National Army's Sniper course. His last assignment before retirement was to serve as a Sniper Observer Course Trainer.
A few of Staff Sergeant Carter's awards and decorations included the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Valorous Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, NATO Medal, Expert Infantryman's Badge and Combat Infantryman's Badge. He earned each of these accolades and will be remembered for his unwavering service to his country.
Staff Sergeant Carter was laid to rest on October 19, 2020 at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery. He is survived by his fianc Erica Farmer. Staff Sergeant Carter was a beloved son, brother, and friend to all that knew him. He accomplished more in just his 34 years on this earth than most do in a lifetime.
I had the pleasure of meeting with and presenting Staff Sergeant Carter with his Purple Heart Award on January 24, 2020. He was a true American hero, motivated by the love of his fellow men. We are all indebted to the sacrifices he made through his unwavering commitment to boldly defending our country. It is an honor to recognize Staff Sergeant Robert E. Carter's life and legacy of service.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=2564B279-544A-472D-AC72-8DA151F25762,"Congress Adopts Wicker Plan to Improve Hurricane Forecasting, Storm Damage Claims, and Flood Mapping",2020-12-17,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today cheered Senate passage of S. 914, The Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act. Among other provisions, Wicker's legislation would renew support for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ocean data collection network used to predict hurricanes and would improve the flood insurance claims process for homeowners suffering a total loss of their homes after a hurricane.
After withstanding the most active hurricane season on record, our nation needs continued advances in tracking, measuring, and reporting on the impact of severe weather and flooding, Wicker said. The Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act will build on our existing data collection efforts and help homeowners recover insurance funds when all that remains of their homes after a hurricane is a concrete slab. I hope the new efforts authorized by my proposal will make a marked difference for communities that are affected by storms.
Wicker's legislation reauthorizes and makes targeted improvements to the national Integrated Ocean Observation System (IOOS). IOOS strengthens ocean observation efforts by coordinating a network of people and technology to generate and distribute a continuous feed of standardized data, information, models, products, and services from the coastal and marine environment across the U.S. The data is used to provide the nation with better predictions of hazardous events such as hurricanes by improving forecasting.
S. 914 also includes provisions to help NOAA and FEMA implement Wicker's COASTAL Act of 2012, which was written to help homeowners recover insurance funds for their property if losses could not be determined to be caused by wind or water. These so-called indeterminate loss or slab properties created many legal disputes after Hurricane Katrina between private home insurance providers, the National Flood Insurance Program, and their policyholders. NOAA has been developing advanced weather hindcast models to create post-storm assessments after catastrophic weather events that would be available for use by homeowners and insurance providers to determine responsibility for damage to properties where no other evidence is available.
Wicker's legislation also formally authorizes the National Water Center (NWC) within the National Weather Service at NOAA. The NWC will be tasked with coordinating all water prediction activities from global to local levels. It will be capable of simulating and forecasting how water moves throughout the nation's rivers and streams, providing hourly forecasts. These new, more granular forecasts will help communities, first responders, and industries make better-informed decisions about water management and how to prepare for and respond to extreme water events.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/hyde-smith-colleagues-seek-inclusion-surprise-medical-billing-fix-year-end-spending-bill,"HYDE-SMITH, COLLEAGUES SEEK INCLUSION OF SURPRISE MEDICAL BILLING FIX IN YEAR-END SPENDING BILL",2020-12-16,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,MS,Cindy Hyde-Smith,H001079,www.hydesmith.senate.gov,,,legacy,"HYDE-SMITH, COLLEAGUES SEEK INCLUSION OF SURPRISE MEDICAL BILLING FIX IN YEAR-END SPENDING BILL
Senators Promote Bipartisan, Bicameral Agreement to Shield Patients from Damaging Billing Practice
WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today said she is part of a bipartisan push to protect patients from surprise medical bills by including a legislative fix in a year-end spending bill.
Hyde-Smith, Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (La.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and others signed a letter asking Senate leadership to include a bicameral agreement on ending surprise medical billing practices in must-pass, year-end legislation. Hyde-Smith in 2019 cosponsored Cassidy's STOP Surprise Medical Bill Act (S.1531).
A short legislative calendar shouldn't keep us from shielding families from surprise medical bills, those truly outrageous medical charges that seemingly come out of nowhere, Hyde-Smith said. Committees of jurisdiction in the Senate and House have an agreement on how to best protect patients and we should not delay in enacting this plan.
A Senate and House agreement would hold patients harmless from surprise medical bills and provide a fair arbitration process to resolve disputes between health care providers and insurers. It would not undermine any existing state laws or include rate setting or a threshold to access arbitration to resolve billing disputes.
In their letter, the Senators wrote, The practice of surprise medical billing needs to end. This practice has been especially damaging during COVID-19 when patients receive large unexpected bills weeks after they go to the emergency room There will never be a broader bipartisan, bicameral solution to ending surprise medical billing, and we should deal with it now. Patients cannot wait any longer.
The letter also notes that inclusion of this agreement to end surprise medical billing would also allow approximately $18 billion in savings to fund Community Health Centers and other crucial primary care programs for four years.
A copy of the letter is available here.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/weekly-report?ContentRecord_id=F8F7EFF4-75B5-40E1-AF62-A0773E3D793E,Wicker Celebrates Recent Foreign Policy Achievements,2020-12-14,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Congress took an important step for national security this past week by passing the National Defense Authorization Act, a bipartisan bill that will unlock critical funding for our military. This milestone provides a good opportunity to assess international challenges and reflect on America's recent foreign policy achievements.
Putting America First
As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I have seen firsthand that our nation is facing new military threats around the world. Over the past four years, I have helped write legislation to strengthen our Armed Forces. We have grown each branch of the military, equipped the Navy with more ships to counter global threats, and created the Space Force to protect American space assets. At the same time, we have successfully persuaded our allies to shoulder more of the financial burden of our mutual defense.
President Trump has made important decisions to protect American workers. I supported the order to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord, a job-killing agreement that would have severely hurt America's energy sector and done little to help prevent global warming. I also supported the negotiation of a new trade deal with Canada and Mexico, which will help save American jobs.
For many years, our southern border was porous and insufficiently protected. Over the last four years, Congress has boosted resources for border security, and more than 400 miles of new border wall have been built. President Trump also convinced Mexico to deploy 27,000 of their own troops south of our border, helping bring migration under control at no cost to American taxpayers.
Peace Advances in Middle East
President Trump made the right call to withdraw from President Obama's disastrous Iran nuclear deal, which Congress never approved. That agreement would not have stopped Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and the missiles necessary to launch them. We have now imposed heavy sanctions on Iran, which are pressuring that radical regime to behave responsibly. And the U.S. military took out Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, who was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American troops and attacks on our Embassy in Iraq.
Our position in the Middle East has been further strengthened by the decisions to move the American Embassy to Jerusalem and to recognize the Golan Heights as Israeli territory. These bold steps have encouraged Arab countries to make peace with the Jewish state. This year, three Middle Eastern nations have signed historic peace agreements with Israel.
In 2017, the U.S. military stepped up its campaign to destroy ISIS and roundly succeeded. We should now be vigilant to prevent any resurgence of this terrorist group, which has threatened America and our allies.
Holding China Accountable
For decades, China has broken international trade rules and stolen intellectual property from U.S. companies. President Trump imposed huge tariffs on Chinese products and issued an executive order to block Huawei, a telecom giant loyal to Beijing, from doing business in America. I led the effort in Congress to pass legislation helping American companies replace Huawei equipment with secure alternatives.
It is clearer than ever that China is a long-term adversary. We need to hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable for failing to contain the spread of COVID-19. I am also concerned about China's persecution of Uighurs and Falun Gong practitioners, and the loss of freedom in Hong Kong. We cannot afford to weaken our stance toward Beijing. Curbing China's influence should remain a top national security priority as we enter 2021.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://palazzo.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401887,Palazzo Celebrates South Mississippi Blue Ribbon Schools on House Floor,2020-12-11,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,MS,Steven Palazzo,P000601,palazzo.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC - Congressman Steven Palazzo (MS-4)celebrated two schools located in Mississippi's Fourth Congressional District designated Blue Ribbon Award Schools by the Department of Education. Biloxi Elementary School and D'Iberville Elementary received this recognition for their academic excellence or progress in closing achievement gaps among students.
Palazzo delivered the following remarks,also found here:
""Mr. Speaker,
I rise in recognition today of two Mississippi elementary schools that were awarded the 2020 National Blue Ribbon School Award.
This prestigious award is given in acknowledgement of overall progress in closing achievement gaps and/or being among the state's highest performing schools.
The first school is Popp's Ferry Elementary School, located in Biloxi, Mississippi. Popp's Ferry is a Title I School for kindergarten through third grade, serving 500 students.
I want to congratulate the principal at the time of nomination, Dr. Todd Boucher,current principal Dr. Vivian Malone,Biloxi Public Schools Superintendent Marcus Boudreaux,as well asthe members of the Popp's Ferry faculty and staff.
The second school is D'Iberville Elementary School in D'Iberville, Mississippi. D'Iberville Elementary is a Title I School for kindergarten through fourth grade, serving over 700 students. This is their second Blue Ribbon School Award, having previously been honored in 2009.
I want to congratulatePrincipal Cindy Dusang,Harrison County Schools Superintendent Roy Gill,and all of D'IbervilleElementary faculty and staff members.
It is an honor that two of the four Mississippi schools awarded the National Blue Ribbon School Award call the Fourth District of Mississippi home. Mississippi is fortunate to have schools and educators dedicated to preparing the next generation.Congratulations again to Popp's Ferry and D'Iberville Elementary Schools this incredible achievement!""
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://palazzo.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401888,Palazzo Stands for Election Integrity,2020-12-11,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,MS,Steven Palazzo,P000601,palazzo.house.gov,,,legacy,"Palazzo Stands for Election Integrity 
   
    
       
      
  
    
      f 
      t 
      #
      e
      
      
    
    
      
        Washington,
        December 11, 2020
      
       
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
      
      
      Washington, DC - Congressman Steven Palazzo (MS-4)released the following statement after joining over 100 of his House Republican colleauges in filing an amicus brief to the United States Supreme Courtsupporting the casefiled by the state of Texas v. Pennsylvania, et al, to address voting irregularities.
""Americans deserve assurances that we can trust our democratic process and that the 2020 presidential election wassecure and free of corruption. This amicus brief is about affirming our deep concerns with the integrity of our election system. Honest and transparent elections are the bedrock of our American democracy,""Palazzo said.
Filed by Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04) on Thursday, December 10,the amicus brief included 106 cosigners and has since beenamended to account for aclerical error that left off several original cosigners, including Palazzo.
###
    
  
  
  
    
      f 
      t 
      #
      e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://trentkelly.house.gov/newsroom/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5149,"Congressman Kelly Announces Congressional App Challenge Winner

December 11, 2020 | Posted in Press Releases




Louisville, Mississippi - Congressman Trent Kelly (MS-01) is pleased to announce that Camryn Colter of Louisville High School is the winner of the First Congressional District's 2020 Congressional App Challenge (CAC). The CAC, an initiative of the U.S. House of Representatives, invites middle and high school students to create an informational app. 

Camryn, a 9th grade student,… Read more »",2020-12-11,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,MS,Trent Kelly,K000388,trentkelly.house.gov,trentkelly,https://trentkelly.house.gov/newsroom/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Louisville, Mississippi - Congressman Trent Kelly (MS-01) is pleased to announce that Camryn Colter of Louisville High School is the winner of the First Congressional District's 2020 Congressional App Challenge (CAC). The CAC, an initiative of the U.S. House of Representatives, invites middle and high school students to create an informational app.

Camryn, a 9th grade student, created an app called Mississippi Census 4H Counts. The app gives information to the user about the Mississippi Census and how to complete the survey.

""It is my pleasure to congratulate Camryn for the hard work and dedication required to win the 2020 Congressional App Challenge,"" Rep. Kelly said. ""The CAC is a great program that encourages the development of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics skills. These are the building blocks needed to build solid, cutting-edge computer skills - a necessity in today's world.""

For additional details about the program, please visit www.CongressionalAppChallenge.us.

Congressman Trent Kelly represents Mississippi's First Congressional District. He serves on the House Armed Services Committee, serving as Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Military Personnel. Rep. Kelly also serves on the House Agriculture Committee. January will mark the beginning of his fourth term.

###",1,2026-04-07T14:16:54Z,2026-04-07T14:20:23Z
https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/hyde-smith-cosponsors-bill-stop-medicare-physician-payment-cuts,HYDE-SMITH COSPONSORS BILL TO STOP MEDICARE PHYSICIAN PAYMENT CUTS,2020-12-11,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,MS,Cindy Hyde-Smith,H001079,www.hydesmith.senate.gov,,,legacy,"HYDE-SMITH COSPONSORS BILL TO STOP MEDICARE PHYSICIAN PAYMENT CUTS
Without Congressional Action, Medicare Physician Payment Cuts Start Jan. 1, 2021
WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today joined in introducing legislation to prevent cuts to physician payments planned by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to begin Jan. 1, 2021.
The Holding Providers Harmless from Medicare Cuts During COVID-19 Act of 2020 (S.5007) would ensure payments to medical physicians are maintained at current levels for the next two years. The measure was introduced by Senator John Boozman (R-Ark.), Hyde-Smith, and Senators Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), and Susan Collins (R-Maine).
If our heroes this year are people who wear scrubs, then it is unconscionable to hit them with Medicare cuts as a New Year's gift, Hyde-Smith said. This legislation needs to be passed before the holidays to provide relief to the very healthcare professionals who bear the burden of fighting this pandemic.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2021, CMS plans to increase the payment levels for stand-alone office and outpatient evaluation and management visits. This will result in payment cuts for surgical services due to statutory budget neutrality requirements.
In a letter sent last week, the sponsors of the new legislation called on Senate leadership to stop the scheduled cuts. More than 70 medical colleges and associations support the effort to stop the cuts.  
  
2021 is fast approaching, and time is running out. We need Congress to protect our patients by passing legislation that stops these cuts, said John A. Wilson, MD, FAANS, FACS, President of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. The legislation introduced by Sens. Boozman, Cramer, Hyde-Smith, Cotton, and Collins will preserve patient access to quality care.
Our nation's physicians are under incredible strain due to COVID-19, and this bill begins to correct a misguided and ill-timed policy that would cut health care spending in the middle of a pandemic. Time is running out to reverse these cuts and protect patients. We thank Sen. Boozman for his leadership on this issue and will continue to partner with him and his Congressional colleagues to protect patients' access to quality surgical care, said David B. Hoyt, MD, FACS, American College of Surgeons Executive Director.
Companion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/hyde-smith-hails-release-final-environmental-impact-statement-yazoo-backwater-pumps,HYDE-SMITH HAILS RELEASE OF FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR YAZOO BACKWATER PUMPS,2020-12-11,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,MS,Cindy Hyde-Smith,H001079,www.hydesmith.senate.gov,,,legacy,"HYDE-SMITH HAILS RELEASE OF FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR YAZOO BACKWATER PUMPS
Army Corps Final Pump Plan Marks Significant Progress Toward Flood Protection, Environmental Improvements
WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith today praised the release of a final U.S. Army Corps of Engineers environmental document that outlines the flood reduction and environmental benefits of its new Proposed Plan to address catastrophic flooding in the South Mississippi Delta.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Friday morning released a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register for the Final Supplement No. 2 to the 1982 Yazoo Area Pump Project Final Environmental Impact Statement. The Corps will post the final SEIS and accompanying appendices here: https://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/missions/programs-and-project-management/project-management/yazoo-backwater-report/
The release of this environmental report represents significant progress toward providing residents of the South Mississippi Delta the flood protection promised by the federal government for eight decades, said Hyde-Smith, who has spearheaded this effort since becoming a U.S. Senator.
With the information provided in the Corps' Final Environmental Impact Statement, there is no justifiable reason to oppose the new Proposed Plan, she said. After extensive review, the Corps has determined that it will reduce annual flood damages, and provide net gains in environmental value to the entire Yazoo Backwater Area.
In the final environmental impact statement, the Corps concludes, that the Proposed Plan as designed would benefit low-income and minority populations in the Yazoo Study Area. The vast majority of structures and homes would be better protected from flooding, there would be a discernible economic benefit separate from agricultural benefits, and the negative effects of extended duration backwater flooding on aquatic resources, wildlife, and recreational resources would be dampened.
The Proposed Plan in the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement outlines:
 
A new location for the pump station, approximately eight miles northeast of the 2007 proposed location);
A system operated by natural gas rather than diesel to reduce the carbon footprint;
The installation of 34 groundwater wells to re-establish flows for fish species in approximately 9,321 acres of streams; and
The acquisition and reforestation of 5,105 acres of agricultural lands for the purposes of enhancing wetlands, terrestrial, aquatic, and waterfowl resources. 
 
A November 30 EPA Region 4 letter to the Corps regarding the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statementstated, The EPA fully supports the purpose of the project to reduce flood damages in the Yazoo Backwater Area. EPA has determined that the proposed project is not subject to EPA's 2008 Final Determination.
Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Senate appropriations subcommittee with jurisdiction over the Corps, expressed gratitude to the Corps for its diligence in renewing the prospect for flood control for an area that has experienced significant flooding in nine of the last 10 years. The historic 2019 flood caused two deaths, hundreds of millions of dollars in damages, flooded over 600 homes, and severely affected wildlife and the environment.
I commend Commander Colonel Robert Hilliard, Project Manager Kent Parrish, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District for their swift and thorough work in completing the extensive environmental documentation mandated by law for water resources projects, Hyde-Smith said.
Seeing firsthand the disruptions the backwater flooding has on the lives of Mississippians has made this my top priority from day one. On my first day in office as a United States Senator, more than 300,000 acres were under water, and I am pleased with the progress we have made on this effort thus far, she said. 
As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Hyde-Smith worked to secure $1.5 million in FY2020 appropriations legislation to fund the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement announced in the Federal Register on Friday.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/hyde-smith-votes-send-defense-policy-bill-white-house,HYDE-SMITH VOTES TO SEND DEFENSE POLICY BILL TO WHITE HOUSE,2020-12-11,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,MS,Cindy Hyde-Smith,H001079,www.hydesmith.senate.gov,,,legacy,"HYDE-SMITH VOTES TO SEND DEFENSE POLICY BILL TO WHITE HOUSE
FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act Gets Senate Approval
WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today voted to send President Trump the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a military and national defense policy measure that builds on his promise to rebuild the U.S. Armed Forces.
The NDAA, a Senate-House compromise agreement, authorizes $740.5 billion in funding to fulfill the requirements of the President's National Defense Strategy. 
This is strong legislation to continue rebuilding our military and national defense strategies, Hyde-Smith said. The policies in this bill support Mississippi's national defense interests, including benefits for servicemembers and their families, investments in cutting-edge technologies, and authorizing additional shipbuilding funding.
This final bill is by no means perfect, but it does advance many strong policies while doing away with progressive Democratic provisions to gut defense funding and use the military for social engineering experiments, she said.
Items of interest:
 
Approves a 3 percent pay raise for members of the Armed Forces
Supports military family readiness by advocating for high-quality, accessible child care, and the employment of military spouses
Authorizes $23.4 billion for shipbuilding, and continues investment in the next generation of ships, planes, tanks, and weapons.
Strengthens U.S. strategic alliances, including the United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2020 that Hyde-Smith cosponsored in February
Invests in research and development on equipment and weapons platforms to secure U.S. military supremacy
Encourages innovative technological development to restore, maintain, or expand U.S. comparative advantages over China and Russia for key capabilities and technologies
Improves fiscal responsibility by making the Pentagon budget and management processes more transparent and accountable to Congress and the American people
Directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to complete a comprehensive study of insulin affordability and the impacts higher costs have on treatment programs. (Senator Hyde-Smith cosponsored an amendment to include this provision, which follows similar legislation introduced last November.)
 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=AAB6F525-AF57-49D3-8ECA-7C95869EBF3A,Wicker Votes to Advance National Defense Bill,2020-12-11,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today praised passage of the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. Among other provisions, the critical legislation will authorize all funding for the U.S. military, including troop pay and benefits, equipment and munitions procurement, and operational expenses.
Passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for the 60th year in a row is a huge win for America's military men and women, Wicker said. This legislation guarantees a well-deserved pay raise for our troops, while also making the investments in military manufacturing and research that will be critical to defending America's interests and ensuring our military might remains unrivaled. This proposal will also support the livelihoods of thousands of Mississippi residents who build and support the ships, aircraft, vehicles, munitions, and other equipment our troops use every day.
The legislation would authorize a topline figure of $740.5 billion for national defense, consistent with the 2019 bipartisan budget agreement. Among other provisions, it would also provide a 3 percent pay raise for all members of the Armed Forces and $23.4 billion for the U.S. Navy's shipbuilding plan.
The defense proposal will:
 
Support the implementation of Wicker's SHIPS Act, which made it the policy of the United States to acquire a 355-ship fleet as soon as practicable.
Reauthorize the U.S. Coast Guard and provide retirement pay parity for Coast Guard members and their families.
Reauthorize key parts of the Maritime Administration, which is responsible for America's waterborne transportation system and provides logistical support for the U.S. Armed Forces.
Support military family readiness by advocating for the employment of military spouses and ensuring the Department provides high-quality and accessible child care.
 
 
Support the whole-of-government response to the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure troops have adequate diagnostic equipment, testing capabilities, and personal protective equipment.
Ensure that previous reforms to the military privatized housing program are implemented.
 
 
Improve how the Pentagon manages its budget and make the process more transparent and accountable to Congress and the American people.
Strengthens America's national defense supply chain and reduces reliance on foreign adversaries like China for mission-critical components like microelectronics, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices.
Include a Wicker-led amendment to create a whole-of-government response to spectrum management.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=D1231088-E4A0-43D7-B23A-B1412D802698,"Wicker, Cardin, Kaine Commend Passage of Organization of American States Legislative Engagement Act",2020-12-11,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Ben Cardin, D-Md., and Tim Kaine, D-Va., this week lauded passage of the Organization of American States Legislative Engagement Act (S.1310). This legislation would improve the Organization of American States (OAS) by increasing the participation of elected national legislators from across the Western Hemisphere within the organization. The bill reaffirms United States support for the OAS' efforts to safeguard human rights, increase regional good governance, and combat corruption in the region. By using the success of legislative participation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE PA) as a model, this bill would enhance the representation and effectiveness of the OAS. Senator Wicker is Co-Chair and Senator Cardin is the Ranking Senate Democrat of the U.S. Commission on Security and cooperation in Europe (CSCE).
I appreciate that my colleagues have shown their support for strengthening the Organization of American States and fighting corruption abroad, Wicker said. Much as the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has promoted democracy, human rights, and good governance in Europe, I hope a new assembly of legislators within the OAS would advance better governance and help our nations confront pressing challenges throughout the Americas.
The OAS is vital for upholding democracy, reducing corruption, and protecting human rights in our Hemisphere, Cardin said, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere. Responding to these challenges requires multilateral cooperation and engagement not only from heads of state, but also from those who were elected to legislate in their nations. I am proud to support this bill that would further strengthen the OAS's ability to engage national representatives in these efforts.
The Americas face critical challenges today: corruption, narrowing political freedoms, the democratic crisis in Venezuela, Kaine said. The OAS plays an essential role in bringing the region together to find solutions, and improving our ability to work with legislators from across the Hemisphere will only strengthen our efforts.
The full bill text can be found here. The legislation will next be considered by the House of Representatives.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://guest.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-guest-announces-congressional-app-challenge-winner-0,Congressman Guest Announces Congressional App Challenge Winner,2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,MS,Michael Guest,G000591,guest.house.gov,guest,https://guest.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Brandon, Mississippi – Congressman Guest (MS-03) is pleased to announce that Kylar DeLoach of Enterprise High School was selected by a panel of professionals in the technology industry as the winner of the Third Congressional District's 2020 Congressional App Challenge (CAC). The CAC is an initiative of the U.S. House of Representatives where Members of Congress host contests in their districts for middle school and high school students, encouraging them to learn to code and inspiring them to pursue careers in computer science. Students identified a local, national, or global problem and created an app to help solve that problem.

Kylar's winning app, Map It!, uses Google Maps to create an interactive way for middle school and high school students to learn certain events in history. The user can choose one of four areas of history (the Colonial Period, the Civil War, World War One, and World War Two) to study.

Kyler also placed in the 2019 Congressional App challenge with his innovative app, X Squared.

""Congratulations to Kylar. Through hard work and dedication, Kylar earned this recognition. I have full faith in his talents and am proud that he will represent the Third District of Mississippi as he presents his app in the national competition,"" Guest said.

The CAC was created by Congress as a recognition that Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and computer-based skills are essential for economic growth and innovation. Unfortunately, the U.S. has been falling behind on these fronts. These are high-paying, high-demand jobs. To maintain American competitiveness, it's crucial that the United States invests in our youth now and helps them acquire these valuable skills. The CAC encourages students to pursue those skills and recognizes their achievements in the STEM and computer-based fields. For further information about the Congressional App Challenge, please visit www.CongressionalAppChallenge.us.

Congressman Michael Guest represents Mississippi's Third Congressional District. He serves on the House Committee on Homeland Security, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Committee on Ethics. Before beginning his first term in Congress, Congressman Guest served as the district attorney for Madison and Rankin Counties.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://guest.house.gov/media/press-releases/members-congress-file-amicus-brief-support-texas-elections-suit,Members of Congress File Amicus Brief in Support of Texas Elections Suit,2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,MS,Michael Guest,G000591,guest.house.gov,guest,https://guest.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Michael Guest (MS-03) joined 106 Members of Congress in an amicus brief in support of the plaintiff in the case of State ofTexas v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, State of Georgia, State of Michigan, and State of Wisconsin. The amicus brief supports the position of the plaintiff that government officials in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, and Wisconsin (Defendant states) acted in clear violation of Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution of the United States to revise certain processes in their respective states for the appointment of Presidential electors for the 2020 Presidential election and requests that the Supreme Court of the United States carefully review these concerns.

""I understand that many sacrifices and changes have been necessary to protect individuals during this pandemic. However, there is no situation, including a pandemic, that offers any elected officials a legitimate reason to disregard the Constitution of the United States or the constitutions of individual states,"" Guest said. ""The bill of complaint prepared by Attorney General Paxton calls attention to many irregularities that justify review by the Supreme Court, and my colleagues and I offer this amicus brief for its consideration. If the court finds that these elected officials overstepped their Constitutional duties and, therefore, tainted their states' elections, we must focus on restoring the integrity of the electoral process that was found to be undermined.""

Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution of the United States of America directs state legislatures to determine the manner in which Presidential electors are chosen. By subjecting the electorate to changes in the election process of the Presidential electors without the approval of their respective state's legislatures, the Defendant states acted outside the scope of the Constitution.

The bill of complaint in the case, presented to the Supreme Court by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, accuses government officials in the Defendant States of ""[u]sing the COVID-19 pandemic as justification… [to usurp] their legislatures' authority and unconstitutionally [revise] their state's election statutes.""

The Members support this claim in their amicus brief, stating, ""the unconstitutional irregularities involved in the 2020 presidential election cast doubt upon its outcome and the integrity of the American system of elections. Amici respectfully aver that the broad scope and impact of the various irregularities in the Defendant states necessitate careful and timely review by… [the Supreme] Court… As members of the federal legislature, these amici seek to protect the constitutional role of state legislatures in determining the manner by which states choose their electors.""

Read the full Bill of Complaint submitted to the Supreme Court

Read the Amicus brief presented by Members of Congress

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/wicker-hyde-smith-thompson-commend-park-service-designating-medgar-and-myrlie-evers-home-national,"WICKER, HYDE-SMITH & THOMPSON COMMEND PARK SERVICE FOR DESIGNATING MEDGAR AND MYRLIE EVERS HOME AS A NATIONAL MONUMENT",2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,MS,Cindy Hyde-Smith,H001079,www.hydesmith.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WICKER, HYDE-SMITH & THOMPSON COMMEND PARK SERVICE FOR DESIGNATING MEDGAR AND MYRLIE EVERS HOME AS A NATIONAL MONUMENT
Miss. Lawmakers Championed Efforts to Make Jackson Civil Rights Landmark Part of the National Park System
  The Medgar and Myrlie Evers home in Jackson, Miss. (Photo by U.S. Civil Rights Trail)
WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) today commended the National Park Service (NPS) and the Department of the Interior for officially designating the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home in Jackson as the 422nd unit of the National Park System.
The announcement fulfills the requirements of the lawmakers' legislation to designate the Evers Home as a national monument within the NPS system.
The Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home serves as a permanent reminder of the legacy of the Evers family, whose contributions advanced the cause of justice in our nation, Wicker said. I was proud to champion legislation with Representative Bennie Thompson and Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith to designate this historic site as a national monument and preserve it for future generations. I appreciate President Trump, the National Park Service, and the Department of the Interior for their work to make this designation a reality.
The national monument designation represents a great honor for the Evers family and their sacrifices and accomplishments for the cause of civil rights. This new national site will also stand in recognition of the overall pursuit of equality and justice in Mississippi and our nation, Hyde-Smith said. I am proud to have worked with Senator Wicker and Congressman Thompson to secure this designation.
I, like many others, was inspired by the magnitude of determination Mr. Evers showed by dedicating himself to others and fighting against adversity, said Thompson. The designation of his home is an everlasting tribute to his legacy. The importance of protecting the heritage and important artifacts for the enjoyment of all, and historical understanding, cannot be overstated. As many members of communities, their existence contributes to local economies directly and indirectly. After working on this legislation diligently for 16 years, I am honored that the legacy of an icon in American history, Medgar Wiley Evers, will forever be preserved. His widow Myrlie Evers-Williams was instrumental in helping us achieve this goal. Mr. Evers was an inspiration to all Americans by dedicating his life to others and fighting against racism and discrimination.
The lawmakers introduced their legislation in an effort to bring additional federal resources to the site. The proposal was signed into law by President Trump as part of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (S.47) in March 2019.
The national monument designation is reserved for sites of great cultural, historical, or natural significance to the United States. It provides permanent protection by Congress under the Antiquities Act.
The Evers home, acquired by Tougaloo College in 1993 and labeled a museum in 1997, is a designated Mississippi landmark under the State Antiquity Law and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=3B229ABB-3089-46E0-B01C-DB1912E7D7D0,Wicker Endorses Bill Cook to Serve on Tennessee Valley Authority Board,2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today introduced Charles William Bill Cook, President Trump's nominee to serve on the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), at a meeting of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety.
I wholeheartedly support President Trump's nomination of Bill Cook for this positon. He brings a wealth of private-sector experience that would serve him well on the TVA Board of Directors, Wicker said. Having spent 30 years in the telecommunications and broadband infrastructure industry, Mr. Cook understands the resources that communities need to prosper in the 21st century.
He currently serves as the president of Cook Consulting in Oxford, Mississippi, which provides guidance on telecommunications issues. Cook has acquired a wide range of expertise, having served as a senior director of engineering and construction, director of project management, vice president of network development, and CEO for various companies throughout his career.
TVA is the nation's largest public utility. It has locations in 36 Mississippi counties and serves more than 346,000 households across the state. Between 2015 and 2020, TVA created or maintained nearly 25,000 jobs in Mississippi and invested $3.4 billion in the state's economy.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=8830AC60-C559-4C53-B1E8-E27B6A7CD319,Wicker: Presidents 30-Year Shipbuilding Plan Would Help Renew American Seapower Superiority,2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today commended President Donald J. Trump and Acting Secretary of the Navy Kenneth J. Braithwaite for releasing a long-awaited update to the U.S. Navy's 30-year shipbuilding plan.
Our nation's ability to counter emerging threats from abroad is increasingly dependent upon a stronger Navy. The 30-year shipbuilding plan the President and his team released today sets a strong benchmark for a growing U.S. fleet. It addresses current challenges and prepares for the future. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to ensure our U.S. Navy remains the unrivaled leader of the seas, Wicker said.
As the author of the SHIPS Act, which made it the policy of the United States to reach a 355-ship Navy as soon as practicable, Wicker has been a strong supporter of a larger fleet.
The plan sets the Navy's priorities for shipbuilding, force structure, and modernization efforts to meet future combat and security needs. Congress uses the plan as a guide for setting budgets and authorizing construction of new vessels from year to year.
Among other provisions, the 30-year shipbuilding plan would:
 
Provide a battle force of 355 vessels within 10 years and nearly 400 within 20 years, up from 296 ships today;
Boost ship procurement quantities by 26 ships over the next four fiscal years;
Increase shipbuilding budgets by $39 billion through FY 2026;
Significantly increase investment in unmanned vessels to provide additional sensing and firepower capabilities at a lower cost; and
Support construction of three classes of ships built in Mississippi, including two Arleigh-Burke class destroyers (DDG) per year for the next five years, one San Antonio-class amphibious landing platform dock ship (LPD) every other year, and the third America-class large deck amphibious ship (LHA 9).",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=AA29F202-A024-4C0E-BBC5-94CFA9DD9E15,"Wicker, Hyde-Smith, and Thompson Commend Park Service for Designating Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home as a National Monument",2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and Congressman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., today commended the National Park Service (NPS) and the Department of the Interior for officially designating the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home in Jackson as the 422nd unit of the National Park System. The announcement fulfills the requirements of the lawmakers' legislation to designate the Evers Home as a national monument within the NPS system.
The Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home serves as a permanent reminder of the legacy of the Evers family, whose contributions advanced the cause of justice in our nation, Wicker said. I was proud to champion legislation with Representative Bennie Thompson and Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith to designate this historic site as a national monument and preserve it for future generations. I appreciate President Trump, the National Park Service, and the Department of the Interior for their work to make this designation a reality.
The national monument designation represents a great honor for the Evers family and their sacrifices and accomplishments for the cause of civil rights. This new national site will also stand in recognition of the overall pursuit of equality and justice in Mississippi and our nation, Hyde-Smith said. I am proud to have worked with Senator Wicker and Congressman Thompson to secure this designation.
I, like many others, was inspired by the magnitude of determination Mr. Evers showed by dedicating himself to others and fighting against adversity, said Thompson. The designation of his home is an everlasting tribute to his legacy. The importance of protecting the heritage and important artifacts for the enjoyment of all, and historical understanding, cannot be overstated. As many members of communities, their existence contributes to local economies directly and indirectly. After working on this legislation diligently for 16 years, I am honored that the legacy of an icon in American history, Medgar Wiley Evers, will forever be preserved. His widow Myrlie Evers-Williams was instrumental in helping us achieve this goal. Mr. Evers was an inspiration to all Americans by dedicating his life to others and fighting against racism and discrimination.
The lawmakers introduced their legislation in an effort to bring additional federal resources to the site. The proposal was signed into law by President Trump as part of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (S. 47) in March 2019.
The national monument designation is reserved for sites of great cultural, historical, or natural significance to the United States. It provides permanent protection by Congress under the Antiquities Act.
The Evers home, acquired by Tougaloo College in 1993 and labeled a museum in 1997, is a designated Mississippi landmark under the State Antiquity Law and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://guest.house.gov/media/press-releases/legislation-preserve-integrity-elections-add-new-cosponsor-congressman-guest,Legislation to Preserve Integrity of Elections Add New Cosponsor: Congressman Guest,2020-12-09,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,MS,Michael Guest,G000591,guest.house.gov,guest,https://guest.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Congressman Michael Guest (MS-03) announced that he has cosponsored legislation to protect our elections from irregularities. A shift to a Universal Vote by Mail System by many states has presented new possibilities for problems to occur in the voting process, such as those we saw in states like Ohio and Pennsylvania. H.R. 8072, the Integrity of Our Elections Act, would help ensure that only U.S. citizens who are eligible to vote receive a mail ballot for a federal election. Specifically, the bill would require each chief state election official to certify that recipients of mail-in or absentee ballots are living and are U.S. citizens who are eligible to vote.

""The foundation of any democracy is the trust that the people place in the process of the election,"" Guest said. ""Since our country's founding, most voting has taken place at the polls. However, the 2020 election introduced America to an entirely new election process that relied on mail-in voting, a process that presents many potential pitfalls that we don't yet fully understand. We must set up provisions that protect our elections from natural human error, from the unknown risks of a new style of voting, and, most importantly, from those who desire to intentionally undermine our elections. This bill is a strong first step towards addressing those concerns.""

H.R. 8072 was introduced by Congressman Jason Smith (R-MO).

Congressman Michael Guest represents Mississippi's Third Congressional District. He serves on the House Committee on Homeland Security, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Committee on Ethics. Before beginning his first term in Congress, Congressman Guest served as the district attorney for Madison and Rankin Counties.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://palazzo.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401884,Palazzo Applauds Inclusion of Coast Guard Retirement Parity Legislation in NDAA,2020-12-09,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,MS,Steven Palazzo,P000601,palazzo.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC - Congressman Steven Palazzo (MS-4) last night voted to pass the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included his legislation with Rep. Charlie Crist (FL-13), the Coast Guard Retirement Parity Act (H.R. 6072). Once signed into law, this provision will protect the retirement benefits of United States Coast Guard retirees.
Unlike the otherU.S. Armed Forces branches, under current law, Coast Guard retirement benefits require annual funding from Congress through theHouse Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee where Palazzo serves. Because they rely on this funding mechanism, if the federal government shuts down due to budget disagreements, Coast Guard servicemembers and retirees go without pay.
During the January 2019 government shutdown, when active duty Coasties were not being paid, over 50,000 Coast Guard retirees were just days away from missing their retirement check. The bill will protect these earned benefits of thousands of USCG retirees by including the Coast Guard in the Military Retirement Fund  just like every other branch of the military  providing protection from a potential government shutdown.
""Any veteranwho has honorably served this nation should never wonder if they will receive their retirement benefits. This legislative solution will make things right by our Coast Guard retirees and safeguard the benefits they've rightfully earned,"" Palazzo said.
The NDAA provides critical national security measures that will bolster the strength and readiness of our military. As Chair of the House National Guard and Reserve Caucus, Palazzo was also pleased to see the inclusion of his amendment with Rep. Joe Cunningham (SC-1)that will provide transitional health care benefits to National Guard servicemembers who are supporting the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
""I am pleased to see the House come together and pass our annual defense bill, giving our servicemembers the resources they need to execute their mission. The NDAA supports our National Guard servicemembers and will ensure our military maintains America's competitive edge against our adversaries. I was pleased to see support for our military families and improvements to military housing were included in the legislation. South Mississippi is a military community and will stand to benefit from this bill.""###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://trentkelly.house.gov/newsroom/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5147,"Wicker, Hyde-Smith, & Kelly Announce $24.3 Million Project to Renovate Aberdeen Courthouse

December 9, 2020 | Posted in Press Releases



WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and Representative Trent Kelly, R-Miss., today announced that Congress has approved a $24.3 million plan by the General Services Administration (GSA) to renovate the Thomas G. Abernethy Courthouse in Aberdeen, Miss. The building was deemed uninhabitable in 2017 because of mold and moisture… Read more »",2020-12-09,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,MS,Trent Kelly,K000388,trentkelly.house.gov,trentkelly,https://trentkelly.house.gov/newsroom/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and Representative Trent Kelly, R-Miss., today announced that Congress has approved a $24.3 million plan by the General Services Administration (GSA) to renovate the Thomas G. Abernethy Courthouse in Aberdeen, Miss. The building was deemed uninhabitable in 2017 because of mold and moisture infiltration.

“This is an outstanding outcome for the federal courthouse in Aberdeen,” Wicker said. “This long overdue project will allow the GSA to complete decades of deferred maintenance, ensuring the health and safety of the public and federal workers for years to come. I am glad to have partnered with members of the Mississippi congressional delegation, Judge Sharion Aycock, and community leaders to get this project the attention it deserved.”

“The repair to the Aberdeen courthouse means it can become a fully functional federal facility to serve North Mississippi, particularly for the federal judiciary system. I’m pleased with the GSA plan to reprogram existing dollars to undertake this extensive project,” said Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee. “I credit Chief Judge Sharion Aycock and her team for their determination to get this project done and resume public services from the courthouse.”

""This project will ensure a safer environment for our community and hardworking court officials,” Kelly said.

The GSA, which maintains the building, will support the project using excess funds from other repair and construction projects. Congressional committees with authorization and appropriations jurisdiction over the GSA approved the agency’s plan to reprogram existing funding to repair the facility. A GSA project prospectus indicates a design and construction schedule beginning in 2021 with work completed in 2024.

The project will include:

• HVAC replacement;

• Building envelope repair;

• Electrical, fire protection, and life safety upgrades;

• Associated demolition; and,

• Hazardous materials (mold, lead-based paint) abatement.

The Thomas G. Abernethy Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse is a 64,000-square-foot, three-story building built in 1973 in downtown Aberdeen, Miss. Before being abandoned in February 2018, the building housed the U.S. District Court, the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services System, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Marshal Service, and the GSA.

###",1,2026-04-07T14:16:54Z,2026-04-07T14:20:23Z
https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/hyde-smith-stresses-need-covid-19-vaccine-rural-america,HYDE-SMITH STRESSES NEED FOR COVID-19 VACCINE IN RURAL AMERICA,2020-12-09,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,MS,Cindy Hyde-Smith,H001079,www.hydesmith.senate.gov,,,legacy,"HYDE-SMITH STRESSES NEED FOR COVID-19 VACCINE IN RURAL AMERICA
Senator Discusses Rural Care Challenges with Pandemic Preparedness Steering Committee
WASHINGTON, D.C.  With the impending approval of COVID-19 vaccines in the United States, U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today stressed the importance of distributing the vaccine to rural and harder to reach communities.
Hyde-Smith aired these concerns in remarks by Zoom to a Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Pandemic Preparedness and Health Security panel discussion on coronavirus vaccine policies. Hyde-Smith is a founding co-chair of the Steering Committee, which the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security staffs and manages.
I am particularly concerned about how to get this vaccine to every corner of the country, especially rural and harder to reach communities, Hyde-Smith said. Delivering the vaccine to Americans in rural areas will be difficult considering these areas have fewer healthcare providers, less healthcare infrastructure, longer travel times, more remote populations, and less reliable internet connectivity.
Under the umbrella of the President's Operation Warp Speed, vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna are in the last stages of approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use throughout the nation. As early as next week, the Mississippi State Department of Health expects to receive an initial 25,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, the storage and distribution of which will challenge rural providers.
I have spoken with Operation Warp Speed leadership about this issue, and I continue to urge HHS to ensure rural Americans have the same access to the vaccine as more urban areas, Hyde-Smith said.
Ultimately, success in this, like in so many things, will require close coordination between the federal government and our state governments. I came to the Senate from state government, so I have a special appreciation of how truly important that coordination is, the Senator told the Steering Committee. I have worked hand-in-hand with our state leaders in Mississippi throughout this pandemic, and that will continue as we work to ensure the vaccine is distributed to all areas of my state and our nation.
Hyde-Smith and fellow co-chairs Senator Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) addressed the panel, which was one of the monthly Steering Committee events hosted to examine lessons from responses to natural, man-made, and other complex health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and how to better mitigate and respond to future health crises.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/wicker-hyde-smith-kelly-announce-243-million-project-renovate-aberdeen-courthouse,"WICKER, HYDE-SMITH & KELLY ANNOUNCE $24.3 MILLION PROJECT TO RENOVATE ABERDEEN COURTHOUSE",2020-12-09,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,MS,Cindy Hyde-Smith,H001079,www.hydesmith.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WICKER, HYDE-SMITH & KELLY ANNOUNCE $24.3 MILLION PROJECT TO RENOVATE ABERDEEN COURTHOUSE
Congress Approves Plan to Repair Federal Courthouse Plagued With Mold and Moisture
WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and Congressman Trent Kelly (R-Miss.) today announced that Congress has approved a $24.3 million plan by the General Services Administration (GSA) to renovate the Thomas G. Abernethy Courthouse in Aberdeen, Miss.
The GSA deemed the building uninhabitable in 2017 because of mold and moisture infiltration. Congressional committees with authorization and appropriations jurisdiction over the GSA approved the agency's plan to reprogram existing funding to repair the federal facility.
This is an outstanding outcome for the federal courthouse in Aberdeen, Wicker said. This long overdue project will allow the GSA to complete decades of deferred maintenance, ensuring the health and safety of the public and federal workers for years to come. I am glad to have partnered with members of the Mississippi congressional delegation, Judge Sharion Aycock, and community leaders to get this project the attention it deserved.
The repair to the Aberdeen courthouse means it can become a fully functional federal facility to serve North Mississippi, particularly for the federal judiciary system. I'm pleased with the GSA plan to reprogram existing dollars to undertake this extensive project, said Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee. I credit Chief Judge Sharion Aycock and her team for their determination to get this project done and resume public services from the courthouse.
This project will ensure a safer environment for our community and hardworking court officials, Kelly said.
The GSA, which maintains the building, will support the project using excess funds from other repair and construction projects. A GSA project prospectus indicates a design and construction schedule beginning in 2021 with work completed in 2024.
The project will include:
 
HVAC replacement;
Building envelope repair;
Electrical, fire protection, and life safety upgrades;
Associated demolition; and,
Hazardous materials (mold, lead-based paint) abatement.
 
The Thomas G. Abernethy Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse is a 64,000-square-foot, three-story building built in 1973 and in downtown Aberdeen. Before being abandoned in February 2018, the building housed the U.S. District Court, the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services System, the U.S. Attorney's Office, the U.S. Marshal Service, and the GSA.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=E4B12A59-4BE2-4A78-8AD4-D416AEBFCAEE,"Wicker, Hyde-Smith, & Kelly Announce $24.3 Million Project to Renovate Aberdeen Courthouse",2020-12-09,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and Representative Trent Kelly, R-Miss., today announced that Congress has approved a $24.3 million plan by the General Services Administration (GSA) to renovate the Thomas G. Abernethy Courthouse in Aberdeen, Miss. The building was deemed uninhabitable in 2017 because of mold and moisture infiltration.
This is an outstanding outcome for the federal courthouse in Aberdeen, Wicker said. This long overdue project will allow the GSA to complete decades of deferred maintenance, ensuring the health and safety of the public and federal workers for years to come. I am glad to have partnered with members of the Mississippi congressional delegation, Judge Sharion Aycock, and community leaders to get this project the attention it deserved.
The repair to the Aberdeen courthouse means it can become a fully functional federal facility to serve North Mississippi, particularly for the federal judiciary system.I'm pleased with the GSA plan to reprogram existing dollars to undertake this extensive project, said Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee.I credit Chief Judge Sharion Aycock and her team for their determination to get this project done and resume public services from the courthouse.
""This project will ensure a safer environment for our community and hardworking court officials, Kelly said.
The GSA, which maintains the building, will support the project using excess funds from other repair and construction projects. Congressional committees with authorization and appropriations jurisdiction over the GSA approved the agency's plan to reprogram existing funding to repair the facility. A GSA project prospectus indicates a design and construction schedule beginning in 2021 with work completed in 2024.
The project will include:
 
HVAC replacement;
Building envelope repair;
Electrical, fire protection, and life safety upgrades;
Associated demolition; and,
Hazardous materials (mold, lead-based paint) abatement.
 
The Thomas G. Abernethy Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse is a 64,000-square-foot, three-story building built in 1973 in downtown Aberdeen, Miss. Before being abandoned in February 2018, the building housed the U.S. District Court, the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services System, the U.S. Attorney's Office, the U.S. Marshal Service, and the GSA.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=2E73C7BB-AFEE-4490-A2A0-C28932B78198,Wicker Celebrates Award of $495.7 Million to Expand Internet Access in Mississippi,2020-12-07,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today celebrated the award of $495,725,799.60 from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to expand high-speed broadband internet access in Mississippi. The funding, which is being made available to Internet Service Providers in Mississippi through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) Phase I auction, is the highest amount awarded to any state except California.
This first round of funds from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund will make an incredible difference in the state of Mississippi as we work toward connecting every person to reliable high-speed internet, Wicker said. There is much more work left to do, but this strong showing for our state's internet providers is good news. I will continue working to improve internet access for all Mississippians and ensure the next phases of aid are awarded where they are most needed.
The funding will support broadband infrastructure construction over a 10-year period. Providers have to meet periodic buildout requirements that will require them to reach all assigned locations by the end of the sixth year.They are incentivized to build out to all locations as quickly as possible.
Wicker introduced legislation earlier this year to provide additional incentives for providers to complete their RDOF buildouts earlier. This followed public and private efforts by Wicker to urge the FCC to expedite their award of broadband support to help Americans get online during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction is part of a broader effort by the FCC to close the digital divide in rural America and focus limited universal service funds on unserved areas that most need support. In October 2020, the Commission adopted rules creating the 5G Fund for Rural America, which will distribute up to $9 billion over the next decade to bring 5G wireless broadband connectivity to unserved areas in rural America.
More information on the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction is available at https://www.fcc.gov/auction/904, including complete auction results and a map of winning bids.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/weekly-report?ContentRecord_id=BECD075E-B791-403B-B762-5FD8D82F20E0,Wicker Reflects on Accomplishments of 116th Congress,2020-12-07,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"This year has brought challenges that few could have imagined. The coronavirus pandemic has upended daily routines and claimed more than 275,000 American lives. Last month, however, we received some positive news with the announcement that several vaccines are effective and safe for use. With vaccine distribution beginning later this month, Americans can take heart that this dark season may soon be behind us.
The coronavirus has consumed much of Congress's attention this year. As we enter the final weeks of the 116th Congress, it is worth reflecting on the major actions Congress has taken both before and during the pandemic.
Wicker Chairs Commerce Committee
Two years ago, I became chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee. This committee oversees a range of issues affecting our economy, including the internet, broadband, transportation, oceans, space, and the Coast Guard. Since I became chairman, the committee has passed nearly 20 bills that have become law, and dozens more are nearing completion. We have also helped shape many laws written by the House.
One of our major achievements was the Broadband DATA Act, a law I authored to make sure broadband is deployed in unserved rural communities. We also crafted a law to protect U.S. telecommunications networks from Chinese espionage. We approved a law ratifying the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement, a pivotal treaty that will help protect American jobs. And we have led the way in fighting online censorship and bias. I convened the CEOs of Facebook, Twitter, and Google for a hearing on this issue and have introduced legislation to encourage the protection of free speech online.
Another proud moment this Congress was getting Medgar and Myrlie Evers's home in Jackson established as a National Monument. I am glad his brother Charles lived to see this important recognition take place before his passing a few months ago.
COVID-19 Legislation Leads to Vaccines
Soon after the pandemic began, Congress passed the CARES Act to provide relief for families, workers, and businesses across America. This included relief checks for individuals and forgivable loans for small businesses. I helped write a section of the law that gave a critical lifeline to airlines and airports, which are vital in connecting our economy. I also worked to include a provision expanding telehealth services for Medicare patients, and I supported investing billions in vaccine research and development. Because of this crucial investment, Operation Warp Speed is developing vaccines at a record pace for distribution to the public soon.
Senate Delivers on Long-Term Priorities
In 2017, lawmakers recognized the need for a bigger Navy by passing my SHIPS Act, which requires the Navy to have 355 ships as soon as possible. The current Congress has made progress toward that goal by authorizing the construction of 13 new ships in 2020 and seven additional ships in pending legislation. Several of these vessels will be built by our expert shipbuilders in Mississippi.
One of the most important legacies of this Congress will be a strengthened judiciary. The Senate has confirmed 144 judges in the last two years and nearly 230 judges since President Trump took office. These include three Supreme Court justices and three judges from Mississippi. Because of the Senate's work, more than one-quarter of all federal judges serving lifetime terms are Trump appointees. These conservative judges will help preserve our constitutional freedoms and the rule of law for decades to come.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://guest.house.gov/media/press-releases/president-trump-receive-bill-name-brookhaven-post-office-fallen-officers,President Trump to Receive Bill to Name Brookhaven Post Office for Fallen Officers,2020-12-04,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,MS,Michael Guest,G000591,guest.house.gov,guest,https://guest.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Senate has passed legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) and Congressman Michael Guest (R-Miss.) to name a Brookhaven post office in honor of three local law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.

The legislation, which U.S. Senator Roger Wicker cosponsored, was approved by unanimous consent late Thursday, clearing it for President Trump's signature. The bill, passed by the House of Representatives on Sept. 14, 2020, designates the U.S. Postal Service facility at 201 West Cherokee Street, Brookhaven, as the ""Deputy Donald William Durr, Corporal Zach Moak, and Patrolman James White Memorial Post Office Building.""

""Brookhaven is my home and the loss of these officers continues to break the hearts of so many in our community. Senate passage of our legislation puts us a step closer to ensuring their service is honored and remembered,"" Hyde-Smith said. ""I commend Congressman Guest for his good stewardship in getting us to this point.""

""Mississippi respects our law enforcement officers, and we are grateful for the risk they take on in the line of duty. For this reason, it's important to commemorate those we've lost in remembrance of their sacrifice. It's my hope that our efforts will preserve the memory of Deputy Donald William Durr, Corporal Zach Moak, and Patrolman James White, who demonstrated John 15:13 in their heroism: ‘Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.' I'd like to recognize Senator Hyde-Smith and Senator Wicker for their commitment to honoring these fallen officers,"" Guest said.

""Every single day, our law enforcement officers risk their lives to protect and serve their communities,"" Wicker said. ""Renaming the Brookhaven Post Office is a small but fitting tribute to the sacrifices of Deputy Durr, Corporal Moak, and Patrolman White. I hope this renaming will serve as a powerful reminder of all those men and women who wear the badge.""

Hyde-Smith and Guest introduced companion bills (S.1182 and HR.2246) in April 2019 to honor the fallen officers. U.S. Senator Roger Wicker cosponsored the Senate measure.

Lincoln County Deputy Sheriff William Durr was killed while responding to a domestic dispute in May 2017. A veteran law enforcement officer, he previously served with the Brookhaven Police Department.

Brookhaven Police Officer James Kevin White and Corporal Walter Zachery Marshall Moak lost their lives in a standoff in September 2018. Moak served with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department before serving with the Wesson and Brookhaven police departments. In addition to serving as a police officer, White served in Iraq with the Mississippi National Guard where he sustained a serious injury.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://palazzo.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401882,Palazzo Speaks in Support of NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps,2020-12-04,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,MS,Steven Palazzo,P000601,palazzo.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC - Congressman Steven Palazzo (MS-4)today spoke on the floor of the United States House of Representativesin support ofS. 2981, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Commissioned Officer Corps Amendments Act of 2020. The legislation will stand to benefit NOAA's Office of Marine and Aviation Operations'expansion on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Key Details:
The bill aligns NOAA Corps' regulations with the nation's other uniformed services andimproves the recruitment and retention of NOAA Corps Officers, increases parity with other uniformed services with respect to benefits such as family programs, mental health resources, and educational assistance. The legislation alsorequires the Secretary of Commerce to enter into contracts or the procurement of multi-year charters for hydrographic services survey vessels.
Palazzo is aco-sponsor of the House versionof this legislation.
Palazzo delivered the following remarks which can also be watched here.
I rise today in support of S. 2981 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Amendments Act of 2020. 
This bicameral and bipartisan legislation aims to improve the smallest uniformed service in our country - the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps.
The men and women of the NOAA Corps operate a highly specialized fleet of scientific ships and aircraft, several of which are based in my district on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and along coastlines around the nation. The research conducted on these scientific platforms helps to improve hurricane forecasts, manage healthy and sustainable fisheries such as red snapper, and ensure safe and efficient maritime commerce on America's waters. 
Members of the NOAA Corps are the ones who operate the nineaircraftand 15 vessels in NOAA's growing fleet. During a hurricane, they deploy on missions into the storm, and immediately after hurricanes they deploy to assess damage and map out debris in the channels to open our ports back up as soon as possible.All these activities are essential to my districtand many others, especially this year, where we had back-to-back hurricanes in the Gulf impacting our maritime economy and ecosystems.
NOAA Corps Officers provide essential scientific and operational expertise needed for NOAA to meet its missions every day. Recognizing NOAA's 50thanniversary and their growing responsibilities, this legislation will help NOAA retain and recruit the most qualified officers and will offer these service members the level of personal and professional support that they deserve.
The 2020 hurricane season confirms that we need to make the right investments so the NOAA Corps can become even better at predicting storms, in turn protecting life and property while helping conserve our fisheries that are vital to our national heritage.
Mr.Speaker, I believe it is crucial that we reauthorize and support the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of it.
I yield back.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://trentkelly.house.gov/newsroom/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5132,"Miss. Lawmakers Calling for Permanent Expansion of Telehealth Coverage in End-of-Year Legislation

December 4, 2020 | Posted in Press Releases

Tags:
Healthcare



Bipartisan, Bicameral Support to Extend Telehealth Measures Included in COVID-19 Relief Bills on Temporary Basis

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and Representatives Trent Kelly (R-Miss.) and Michael Guest (R-Miss.) today joined a bipartisan group of 49 lawmakers pushing congressional leaders to make permanent the telehealth services… Read more »",2020-12-04,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,MS,Trent Kelly,K000388,trentkelly.house.gov,trentkelly,https://trentkelly.house.gov/newsroom/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Bipartisan, Bicameral Support to Extend Telehealth Measures Included in COVID-19 Relief Bills on Temporary Basis

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and Representatives Trent Kelly (R-Miss.) and Michael Guest (R-Miss.) today joined a bipartisan group of 49 lawmakers pushing congressional leaders to make permanent the telehealth services expanded temporarily to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

The lawmakers signed a letter advocating action on telehealth services in end-of-year legislation considered by Congress this month.

“Telehealth has been a critical tool during the COVID-19 pandemic in ensuring that patients can continue to receive the health care services that they need while minimizing the spread of the virus and keeping health care providers and patients healthy and safe,” the lawmakers wrote.

“We continue to hear from our constituents and health care providers that the uncertainty about the long-term future of Medicare telehealth coverage is a barrier to organizations investing fully in telehealth. Congress needs to act now to better serve patients and health care providers during the pandemic, and to ensure that telehealth remains an option after the pandemic is over,” the letter stated.

The letter highlights the growing use and benefits of telehealth during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, as patients seek to avoid traveling to hospitals and other providers and instead receive care at home. New data shows that the number of Medicare beneficiaries using telehealth services increased by nearly 13,000 percent in just a month and a half during the pandemic.

This spring, Congress enacted provisions from the bipartisan, bicameral Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act to expand telehealth benefits for Medicare beneficiaries and to allow more types of health care providers to provide telehealth services. Those provisions are only temporary through the extent of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The Mississippi lawmakers cosponsored the bipartisan, bicameral CONNECT for Health Act, which is considered the most comprehensive telehealth legislation in Congress. Forty-six Senators have cosponsored the Senate bill (S.2741), while 68 Congressmen cosponsored the House measure (HR.4932).

A signed copy of the letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is available here.

###",1,2026-04-07T14:16:54Z,2026-04-07T14:20:23Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=1B9AA5BC-D7AD-4C32-97ED-645E128EE09A,Legislators Urge Congressional Leadership to Support RESTAURANTS Act,2020-12-04,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., and Representatives Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., todayled a letter to Congressional leaders urging them to include a $120 billion revitalization fund for small and independent restaurants in any future COVID-19 relief package or year-end spending bill. The proposal, which has earned the support of 50 senators and passed the U.S. House in October, was introduced in June as the RESTAURANTS Act of 2020.
In their letter, the legislators cited a wave of new restrictions on restaurants as coronavirus cases surge across the nation.
For the second time this year,restaurantsand barsare having tolimitoperations or closetheir doors completely,raising concerns about their ability to survive the long winter ahead.They need quick relief tokeep their workers employed and hold onto their businesses. Congress needs to act speedily andpass the RESTAURANTS Act to help save local restaurants across the country and the millions of workers they employ, the legislators wrote.
We urge you to pass the RESTAURANTS Act quickly as part of a COVID-19 relief bill or a year-end spending bill. We look forward to partnering with you to save local restaurants across America.
In addition to Wicker, Sinema, Blumenauer, and Fitzpatrick, the letter is signed by 159 other legislators, totaling 25 senators and 138 members of the House.
Read the full text of the letter here and below.
Dear Majority Leader McConnell, Minority Leader Schumer, Speaker Pelosi, and Leader McCarthy:
America faces its most difficult phase in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). COVID-19 case numbers are spiking across the nation, with more than one in 400 Americans testing positive in the last week alone. This unprecedented increase has prompted a wave of new restrictions ranging from nighttime closures and restrictions on indoor dining in New York, North Dakota, and Maryland to takeout-only in Oregon and stay-at-home orders in New Mexico. For the second time this year, restaurants and bars are having to limit operations or close their doors completely, raising concerns about their ability to survive the long winter ahead. They need quick relief to keep their workers employed and hold onto their businesses. Congress needs to act speedily and pass the RESTAURANTS Act to help save local restaurants across the country and the millions of workers they employ.
The restaurant industry has been uniquely devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly one in four jobs lost from the pandemic were those of restaurant and bar workers. The food and beverage industry is still down 2.3 million jobs since the pandemic began, a number that is sure to rise with increasing infection rates and new restrictions. Despite bearing the brunt of this economic crisis, independent restaurants have received no directly tailored federal aid. Many independent restaurant owners did not benefit from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) because the program did not match their business model or needs.
The restaurant sector is the second-largest private employer after health care, and for countless Americans they provide the first opportunity for a job. These businesses are the beating heart of communities across America, but the pandemic puts their survival in jeopardy. This threat affects restaurants and their employees and every other link in the $1 trillion restaurant supply chain. The food supply chain touches every corner of the country and supports tens of millions of livelihoods, including farm workers, fishermen, and truck drivers. A new round of restaurant closures is likely to have dire effects on the entire food supply chain.
The RESTAURANTS Act would create a restaurant revitalization fund that can be used for a wide range of expenses, including payroll and benefits, food, utilities, rent, maintenance, and supplies. This legislation has gained bipartisan support in Congress, as well as backing from restauranteurs and a large coalition of industries that rely on restaurants. It passed the House of Representatives on October 1, 2020, in H.R. 925 (Section 607, Division O). A June 2020 study on the legislation found it would generate at least $183 billion in primary benefits and $65 billion in secondary benefits  more than double the amount of the fund itself. This type of economic multiplier is needed now more than ever. 
We urge you to pass the RESTAURANTS Act quickly as part of a COVID-19 relief bill or a year-end spending bill. We look forward to partnering with you to save local restaurants across America.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=EDB28546-D983-4A4A-BB7C-CE163FD57089,President Trump to Receive Bill to Name Brookhaven Post Office for Fallen Officers,2020-12-04,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  The United States Senate has passed legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and Congressman Michael Guest, R-Miss., to name a Brookhaven post office in honor of three local law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.
The legislation, which U.S. Senator Roger Wicker cosponsored, was approved by unanimous consent late Thursday, clearing it for President Trump's signature. The bill, passed by the House of Representatives on Sept. 14, 2020, designates the U.S. Postal Service facility at 201 West Cherokee Street, Brookhaven, as the Deputy Donald William Durr, Corporal Zach Moak, and Patrolman James White Memorial Post Office Building.
Every single day, our law enforcement officers risk their lives to protect and serve their communities, Wicker said. Renaming the Brookhaven Post Office is a small but fitting tribute to the sacrifices of Deputy Durr, Corporal Moak, and Patrolman White.I hope this renaming will serve as a powerful reminder of all those men and women who wear the badge.
Brookhaven is my home and the loss of these officers continues to break the hearts of so many in our community.Senate passage of our legislation puts us a step closer to ensuring their service is honored and remembered, Hyde-Smith said. I commend Congressman Guest for his good stewardship in getting us to this point.
Mississippi respects our law enforcement officers, and we are grateful for the risk they take on in the line of duty.For this reason, it's important to commemorate those we've lost in remembrance of their sacrifice.It's my hope that our efforts will preserve the memory of Deputy Donald William Durr, Corporal Zach Moak, and Patrolman James White, who demonstrated John 15:13 in their heroism: Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.'I'd like to recognize Senator Hyde-Smith and Senator Wicker for their commitment to honoring these fallen officers, Guest said.
Hyde-Smith and Guest introduced companion bills (S.1182 and HR.2246) in April 2019 to honor the fallen officers.U.S. Senator Roger Wicker cosponsored the Senate measure.
Lincoln County Deputy Sheriff William Durr was killed while responding to a domestic dispute in May 2017.A veteran law enforcement officer, he previously served with the Brookhaven Police Department.
Brookhaven Police Officer James Kevin White and Corporal Walter Zachery Marshall Moak lost their lives in a standoff in September 2018.Moak served with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department before serving with the Wesson and Brookhaven police departments. In addition to serving as a police officer, White served in Iraq with the Mississippi National Guard where he sustained a serious injury.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://palazzo.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401880,Miss. Delegation Requests Federal Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Zeta,2020-12-03,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,MS,Steven Palazzo,P000601,palazzo.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  The Mississippi congressional delegation, which includes U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and U.S. Representatives Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., Steven Palazzo, R-Miss., Trent Kelly, R-Miss., and Michael Guest, R-Miss., today sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump urging him to approve Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves's request for a major disaster declaration for Hurricane Zeta.
The damage from the October 28 storm has put an additional strain on the state's emergency response capability in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, warranting a federal response. If approved, the disaster declaration would unlock additional federal resources to supplement state recovery efforts.
The delegation letter referenced initial damage reports indicating two confirmed deaths and at least 135 injuries. The state has also reported at least $79 million in damage to public infrastructure and more than $10 million in damage to homes and businesses. Storm surge levels reached eight feet in some counties and spanned the entire Mississippi coastline. More than 200,000 Mississippians reported power outages across 38 counties, and many did not regain power for more than a week. The full text of the delegation letter is below:
Dear President Trump,
In light of the significant damage that resulted from Hurricane Zeta, a Category 2 storm that hit the State of Mississippi on October 28, 2020, we request your full consideration of Governor Tate Reeves's request for a Major Disaster Declaration under the Stafford Act for individual and public assistance, as well as U.S. Small Business Administration assistance.
We appreciate the continued efforts of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and anticipate expeditious assistance from the agency to support state and local officials in Mississippi who are responding to the devastating effects of Hurricane Zeta and other storms while simultaneously working to mitigate COVID-19 in our state.
As Governor Reeves indicated in his request, current reports indicate that at least 135 people were injured and two Mississippians lost their lives as a result of these storms. Damage also severely devastated local communities, homes, and public infrastructure. Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments found an estimated $79 million in damage to public infrastructure and more than $10 million in damage to homes and businesses.
In addition to damage caused by sustained winds of 104 miles per hour, storm surge levels reached eight feet in some counties and spanned the Mississippi coastline. Over 200,000 Mississippians reported power outages across 38 counties, and many did not regain power for more than a week.
On October 28, 2020, Governor Reeves declared a State of Emergency in Mississippi to assist in the recovery and requested a Pre-Landfall Disaster Declaration ahead of the storm. Members of the Mississippi delegation also sent a letter in support of Governor Reeves's request for a Pre-Landfall Disaster Declaration. The request was not granted.
State resources are already strained by the ongoing effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and the quantity and severity of multiple federally declared disasters this hurricane season, including Hurricanes Laura, Delta, and Sally. In addition, the State continues to support efforts to recover from 10 federally declared disasters that have impacted citizens within all 82 counties in Mississippi during 2020. Without significant additional federal resources, we are concerned that Mississippi may not be able to recover.
We are determined to help Mississippi recover by supporting the affected local communities and the State as they work to rebuild from these devastating weather events.
Thank you for your consideration of this request. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you need further assistance in this effort.
Sincerely,
Roger F. Wicker, United States Senator
Cindy Hyde-Smith, United States Senator
Bennie G. Thompson, Member of Congress
Steven Palazzo, Member of Congress
Trent Kelly, Member of Congress
Michael Guest, Member of Congress
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://trentkelly.house.gov/newsroom/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5131,"Miss. Delegation Requests Federal Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Zeta

December 3, 2020 | Posted in Press Releases




Miss. Delegation Requests Federal Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Zeta

WASHINGTON – The Mississippi congressional delegation, which includes U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and U.S. Representatives Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., Steven Palazzo, R-Miss., Trent Kelly, R-Miss., and Michael Guest, R-Miss., today sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump… Read more »",2020-12-03,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,MS,Trent Kelly,K000388,trentkelly.house.gov,trentkelly,https://trentkelly.house.gov/newsroom/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"WASHINGTON – The Mississippi congressional delegation, which includes U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and U.S. Representatives Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., Steven Palazzo, R-Miss., Trent Kelly, R-Miss., and Michael Guest, R-Miss., today sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump urging him to approve Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves’s request for a major disaster declaration for Hurricane Zeta.

The damage from the October 28 storm has put an additional strain on the state’s emergency response capability in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, warranting a federal response. If approved, the disaster declaration would unlock additional federal resources to supplement state recovery efforts.

The delegation’s letter referenced initial damage reports indicating two confirmed deaths and at least 135 injuries. The state has also reported at least $79 million in damage to public infrastructure and more than $10 million in damage to homes and businesses. Storm surge levels reached eight feet in some counties and spanned the Mississippi coastline. More than 200,000 Mississippians reported power outages across 38 counties, and many did not regain power for more than a week. The full text of the delegation’s letter is below:

Dear President Trump,

In light of the significant damage that resulted from Hurricane Zeta, a Category 2 storm that hit the State of Mississippi on October 28, 2020, we request your full consideration of Governor Tate Reeves’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration under the Stafford Act for individual and public assistance, as well as U.S. Small Business Administration assistance.

We appreciate the continued efforts of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and anticipate expeditious assistance from the agency to support state and local officials in Mississippi who are responding to the devastating effects of Hurricane Zeta and other storms while simultaneously working to mitigate COVID-19 in our state.

As Governor Reeves indicated in his request, current reports indicate that at least 135 people were injured and two Mississippians lost their lives as a result of these storms. Damage also severely devastated local communities, homes, and public infrastructure. Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments found an estimated $79 million in damage to public infrastructure and more than $10 million in damage to homes and businesses.

In addition to damage caused by sustained winds of 104 miles per hour, storm surge levels reached eight feet in some counties and spanned the Mississippi coastline. Over 200,000 Mississippians reported power outages across 38 counties, and many did not regain power for more than a week.

On October 28, 2020, Governor Reeves declared a State of Emergency in Mississippi to assist in the recovery and requested a Pre-Landfall Disaster Declaration ahead of the storm. Members of the Mississippi delegation also sent a letter in support of Governor Reeves’s request for a Pre-Landfall Disaster Declaration. The request was not granted.

State resources are already strained by the ongoing effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and the quantity and severity of multiple federally declared disasters this hurricane season, including Hurricanes Laura, Delta, and Sally. In addition, the State continues to support efforts to recover from 10 federally declared disasters that have impacted citizens within all 82 counties in Mississippi during 2020. Without significant additional federal resources, we are concerned that Mississippi may not be able to recover.

We are determined to help Mississippi recover by supporting the affected local communities and the State as they work to rebuild from these devastating weather events.

Thank you for your consideration of this request. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you need further assistance in this effort.

Sincerely,

Roger F. Wicker, United States Senator

Cindy Hyde-Smith, United States Senator

Bennie G. Thompson, Member of Congress

Steven Palazzo, Member of Congress

Trent Kelly, Member of Congress

Michael Guest, Member of Congress

###",1,2026-04-07T14:16:54Z,2026-04-07T14:20:23Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=FC6260E7-1F78-4179-927F-3AD3C08BD2A7,Miss. Delegation Requests Federal Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Zeta,2020-12-03,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  The Mississippi congressional delegation, which includes U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and U.S. Representatives Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., Steven Palazzo, R-Miss., Trent Kelly, R-Miss., and Michael Guest, R-Miss., today sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump urging him to approve Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves's request for a major disaster declaration for Hurricane Zeta.
The damage from the October 28 storm has put an additional strain on the state's emergency response capability in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, warranting a federal response. If approved, the disaster declaration would unlock additional federal resources to supplement state recovery efforts.
The delegation letter referenced initial damage reports indicating two confirmed deaths and at least 135 injuries. The state has also reported at least $79 million in damage to public infrastructure and more than $10 million in damage to homes and businesses. Storm surge levels reached eight feet in some counties and spanned the entire Mississippi coastline. More than 200,000 Mississippians reported power outages across 38 counties, and many did not regain power for more than a week. The full text of the delegation letter is below:
Dear President Trump,
In light of the significant damage that resulted from Hurricane Zeta, a Category 2 storm that hit the State of Mississippi on October 28, 2020, we request your full consideration of Governor Tate Reeves's request for a Major Disaster Declaration under the Stafford Act for individual and public assistance, as well as U.S. Small Business Administration assistance.
We appreciate the continued efforts of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and anticipate expeditious assistance from the agency to support state and local officials in Mississippi who are responding to the devastating effects of Hurricane Zeta and other storms while simultaneously working to mitigate COVID-19 in our state.
As Governor Reeves indicated in his request, current reports indicate that at least 135 people were injured and two Mississippians lost their lives as a result of these storms. Damage also severely devastated local communities, homes, and public infrastructure. Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments found an estimated $79 million in damage to public infrastructure and more than $10 million in damage to homes and businesses.
In addition to damage caused by sustained winds of 104 miles per hour, storm surge levels reached eight feet in some counties and spanned the Mississippi coastline. Over 200,000 Mississippians reported power outages across 38 counties, and many did not regain power for more than a week.
On October 28, 2020, Governor Reeves declared a State of Emergency in Mississippi to assist in the recovery and requested a Pre-Landfall Disaster Declaration ahead of the storm. Members of the Mississippi delegation also sent a letter in support of Governor Reeves's request for a Pre-Landfall Disaster Declaration. The request was not granted.
State resources are already strained by the ongoing effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and the quantity and severity of multiple federally declared disasters this hurricane season, including Hurricanes Laura, Delta, and Sally. In addition, the State continues to support efforts to recover from 10 federally declared disasters that have impacted citizens within all 82 counties in Mississippi during 2020. Without significant additional federal resources, we are concerned that Mississippi may not be able to recover.
We are determined to help Mississippi recover by supporting the affected local communities and the State as they work to rebuild from these devastating weather events.
Thank you for your consideration of this request. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you need further assistance in this effort.
Sincerely,
Roger F. Wicker, United States Senator
Cindy Hyde-Smith, United States Senator
Bennie G. Thompson, Member of Congress
Steven Palazzo, Member of Congress
Trent Kelly, Member of Congress
Michael Guest, Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://trentkelly.house.gov/newsroom/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5125,"Wicker, Hyde-Smith, Palazzo, Kelly, Guest Call for Transparency and Accountability in 2020 Election Count

December 1, 2020 | Posted in Press Releases




WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and U.S. Representatives Steven Palazzo, R-Miss, Trent Kelly, R-Miss., and Michael Guest, R-Miss., on November 2, 2020, released the following statement on the 2020 election:

“Americans should have confidence in our voting system and that all ballots have been submitted correctly and legally. This is… Read more »",2020-12-01,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,MS,Trent Kelly,K000388,trentkelly.house.gov,trentkelly,https://trentkelly.house.gov/newsroom/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and U.S. Representatives Steven Palazzo, R-Miss, Trent Kelly, R-Miss., and Michael Guest, R-Miss., on November 2, 2020, released the following statement on the 2020 election:

“Americans should have confidence in our voting system and that all ballots have been submitted correctly and legally. This is precisely what President Trump and his legal team are seeking.

“Any allegations of voting irregularities, including ballot tampering or voting by ineligible persons, should be investigated and adjudicated to the fullest extent of the law.

“It is essential to our democracy and the integrity of our elections that this process be allowed to play out in full view of the American people, and that election observers from both sides of the aisle be allowed to participate.

“Neither the media nor states should rush to declare a winner in closely contested states until all legally-cast ballots have been counted and all legal challenges and required recounts have been resolved.”

###",1,2026-04-07T14:16:54Z,2026-04-07T14:20:23Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=02BAFEA9-85FC-4761-9908-8DC60EB9574F,"Wicker, Hyde-Smith Celebrate Confirmation of Taylor McNeel to Serve as U.S. District Judge",2020-12-01,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., today hailed Senate confirmation of Taylor B. McNeel of Pascagoula to serve as a U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi. McNeel will be the 228th federal judge confirmed to a lifetime appointment by the Senate since President Donald J. Trump took office in January 2017.
Taylor McNeel's academic, judicial, and personal qualifications are beyond reproach, Wicker said. He has distinguished himself as a practitioner of the law and demonstrated that he will interpret the law as written. His extensive experience will serve him well as a federal judge. I am delighted with Mr. McNeel's bipartisan confirmation vote.
I am delighted the Senate has confirmed Taylor McNeel of Pascagoula to be a U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi, Hyde-Smith said.Taylor's extensive litigation experience made him a promising and well-qualified candidate for service on the federal judiciary.He is well-prepared to excel as a federal judge, and I am confident Taylor will serve the people of Mississippi with honor and distinction.
McNeel was an Eagle Scout, student body president, and an all-state quarterback in high school and was elected Governor of American Legion Boys State. He graduated cum laude from Ole Miss in 2005, where he was a member of the football team for two seasons and served as senior class president. In 2008, he graduated cum laude from the University of Mississippi Law School where he was a member of the Mississippi Law Journal.
McNeel is a partner in the law firm of Brunini, Grantham, Grower, and Hewes, where he heads the Mississippi Gulf Coast office and has led a number of cases before the Mississippi Supreme Court, Mississippi Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
He is an elder at the First Presbyterian Church of Pascagoula and has served as president of the Harrison County Bar Association. Additionally, McNeel has held several leadership positions in the Mississippi Bar Association.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/weekly-report?ContentRecord_id=ECF1E7FB-D2C2-48B3-8A97-505702BE2156,Wicker Welcomes News of COVID-19 Vaccines,2020-11-30,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Americans received uplifting news recently in our fight against the coronavirus. Two American drug companies, Pfizer and Moderna, announced that their newly developed COVID-19 vaccines were highly successful in late clinical trials and are safe for use. Pfizer's vaccine was 95 percent effective in producing immunity against the virus, and Moderna's vaccine posted a similar success rate of 94.5 percent. These results are the clearest signs yet that Congress's multi-billion dollar investment in vaccines this year is paying off. Americans can be encouraged that victory against this virus may finally be on the horizon.
Vaccine Distribution Should Start by December
As clinical trials reach the finish line, drug companies are going ahead with mass-production of their vaccines so they can be deployed quickly if approved. Moderna, for example, is ramping up production and is ready to begin shipping vaccines immediately once the FDA issues an emergency authorization. Pfizer has set up a massive distribution network and says it can deliver vaccines anywhere in the U.S. within days. Meanwhile, four other drug makers are making steady progress through clinical trials and expect to distribute their vaccines early next year. One of those vaccines, developed by AstraZeneca in England, shows the potential to be 90 percent effective.
The federal government has agreed to purchase hundreds of millions of vaccine doses, which Americans will receive free of charge. States will receive the vaccine in proportion to their population, and state governments will be allowed to prioritize which groups are vaccinated first. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that frontline health care workers and first responders be immunized first, followed by the elderly and those with preexisting conditions. Health experts estimate most Americans will receive the vaccine by June of next year.
Government Harnessed the Power of Private Innovation
Vaccines normally take years to develop, go through clinical trials, receive FDA approval, and become available to the public. These COVID-19 vaccines were produced in record time because of Operation Warp Speed, a public-private partnership devised by the Trump Administration and funded by Congress. In March, Congress passed legislation to invest billions in vaccine research and development, streamline the approval process, and pre-purchase millions of vaccine doses.
As a result of Operation Warp Speed, the U.S. government will own the first 100 million doses of the Moderna vaccine as well as the first 100 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine. Officials estimate there will be enough doses to immunize 20 million American adults by the end of 2020, and at least 25 million more each month after that. Vaccinations will be made available at major drug stores, pharmacies, and shopping centers. I am pushing Congress to provide additional funding to help states prepare for and manage vaccine distribution.
These COVID-19 vaccines are a triumph of American ingenuity and scientific genius. They are a testament to what our nation can accomplish when we work together to meet an urgent need. But even as we celebrate, we cannot let our guard down. In recent weeks we have seen a spike in coronavirus cases, with deaths and hospitalizations reaching new highs. Until the vaccines are approved and widely distributed to the general public, we all need to keep taking health precautions to slow the spread of the virus  wearing masks, standing six feet apart, and washing hands frequently. Taking these steps, even with the end in sight, can save lives.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://palazzo.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401878,Palazzo Cosigns Letter Expressing Concerns Over Backlog of Veterans Records Requests,2020-11-24,2020,2020-11,Republican,House,MS,Steven Palazzo,P000601,palazzo.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC - Congressman Steven Palazzo (MS-4)recently joined 233 lawmakersin a bipartisanletter to the National Archives and Records Administration Director Scott Levins expressing concerns over the rising number of unprocessed requests for military personnel, health, and medical records from theNational Personnel Records Center (NPRC) amidst the pandemic.
A signed copy of the letter can befound here,and the full text is included below.
Director Levins,
We write to voice our growing concern with the rising number of unprocessed requests for military personnel, health, and medical records from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) amidst the current pandemic. Except for a limited number of emergency requests, since March of this year, our constituents' requests for military personnel records from NPRC have largely been unfulfilled. Moreover, there remains no definitive timeline in which our constituent veterans can expect to have their requests processed. As you know, personnel records are needed for veterans and their dependents to qualify for a range of benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense.
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a significant challenge for all Americans and the Federal agencies who serve them, and efforts to protect workforce health and safety are absolutely of top importance. However, as more time continues to elapse, these delays are causing significant anxiety and hardship for many of our nation's veterans.
It's for that reason we write to strongly encourage you to work to implement new policies and procedures that can both protect the NPRC's workforce and ensure our nation's veterans are getting the records they need and deserve in a timely fashion. We also ask that you provide our offices with a working plan including a timeline for how your agency intends to address the growing backlog of military personnel records requests. As many of our constituents have already been waiting for months to obtain their records, providing.
TheNPRC serves as an important cornerstone in our nation's system to provide and care for veterans, but without your agency's needed services many of those who have worn the uniform are experiencing significant claims processing delays. We ask for your committed leadership to overcome these challenges and to assist in providing veterans with the records needed to pursue their earned benefits. As Members of Congress we stand ready to assist in these efforts.
Sincerely,
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/weekly-report?ContentRecord_id=699DC833-3547-49AE-8839-3CD17536E046,Wicker Marks 400th Anniversary of Mayflower Arrival,2020-11-23,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"On a cold November day in 1620, a small ship appeared off the coast of present-day Massachusetts. The English settlers on board were tired and hungry but grateful to be alive. Their daring voyage across the Atlantic had been rocked by violent storms that damaged and nearly crippled their vessel. As they came ashore, the Pilgrims knelt to thank God for bringing them to dry land. Unfortunately, many would not survive the first winter. But with the help of Native American neighbors, the Pilgrims learned to build a new life on the American continent.
The Pilgrims took this extraordinary risk in pursuit of a better life and the freedom to live out their faith. In the process, they launched a new experiment in self-government. The Mayflower Compact, which the Pilgrims signed upon arrival, achieved a new high-water mark for self-government. This document would eventually bring us government of, by, and for the people secured by the U.S. Constitution. It is just as important as ever that we give thanks for those pioneering Pilgrims who planted the seeds of our freedom 400 years ago this month.
Religious Freedom Is Under Threat
The Pilgrims understood that government has no rightful claim over the human soul. Our Constitution's Bill of Rights enshrined this truth into our system of government by protecting not only freedom of worship, but also the free exercise of religion. This freedom has attracted millions of people to America since our nation's founding.
Unfortunately, religious freedom is increasingly under attack today. Government is trying to force businesses, artists, and even religious groups to do things that violate their religious beliefs. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that will determine whether a Christian adoption provider can continue operating according to its sincerely held religious beliefs. These are troubling developments. These cases highlight the importance of having faithful judges and justices in our federal courts who will defend our constitutional freedoms. The Senate has made historic progress on this front, confirming more than 220 of President Trump's judicial nominees to lifetime appointments.
Churches Singled Out in COVID-19 Restrictions
During the coronavirus pandemic, many churches in Mississippi and across the nation have felt that government restrictions on worship services have gone too far. One of those churches, Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., sued the District's mayor for prohibiting them from gathering as a church body while allowing other groups, such as protesters, to congregate. I led a group of 34 U.S. senators in writing a legal brief to the court in support of the church. A federal judge ruled in favor of the church, and they are now allowed to meet, albeit outside, within the District of Columbia. This ruling sent an important signal to officials across the country that the pandemic cannot be used to discriminate against people of faith.
I am also concerned about encroachments on religious freedom in the military. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I have fought to preserve the right of chaplains and others in uniform to live by their religious convictions despite political pressure. It is essential that religious freedom protect views and beliefs that may be unpopular.
The freedoms we have inherited are always being tested under new circumstances. I am committed to making sure that religious freedom weathers this pandemic and other cultural changes. In defending our first freedom, we honor the legacy of our Pilgrim forbearers and protect an American birthright for future generations.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=95E71D93-1DFA-444D-91A1-CE93EB5DEDE8,Wicker Urges Senate to Pass Ukraine Religious Freedom Support Act,2020-11-20,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., praised House leaders for passing the bipartisan Ukraine Religious Freedom Support Act (H.R. 5408) led by Representatives Joe Wilson, R-S.C., and Emanuel Cleaver II, D-M.O. Senator Wicker and Senator Shaheen, D-N.H., led the companion bill in the Senate (S. 3064) along with eight other senators.
This vote in the House is a major step forward for international religious freedom and for the rule of law, Wicker said. Russia's government should be held accountable for brutal crackdowns on people of faith by the forces and illegal aggressors that it commands in Ukraine's territories. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass this bill and hold the Kremlin accountable for these vicious abuses.
The Ukraine Religious Freedom Support Act would require the President of the United States to consider particularly severe abuses of religious freedom such as torture, prolonged detention without charges, abduction, and killings in Russian-occupied or otherwise controlled territory when determining whether to designate Russia as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for such abuses.
The International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 requires the President to designate CPCs when their governments engage in or tolerate particularly severe abuses of religious freedom in their countries. The Ukraine Religious Freedom Support Act ensures that the President can also hold Russian officials accountable for abuses in Ukrainian territory they illegally occupy or control, not just for abuses inside Russia's internationally recognized borders.
Russian forces invaded Crimea in southern Ukraine in February 2014 and continue to occupy it illegally in an attempt to annex it. The Russian government has also established control over parts of the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine through armed groups and illegal entities it created, commands, and supports. Under the binding laws of war, Russia is responsible for religious freedom abuses in these territories. The International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 requires the President to ban responsible officials from entering or remaining in the United States and to take one or more of 15 specific actions, or comparable actions, against CPCs.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=26060291-B8EF-4650-8189-98AB230678CA,"Wicker Recognizes Asya Branch, Miss USA 2020",2020-11-19,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., took to the Senate floor torecognize and congratulate Mississippi resident Asya Branch, who was recently crowned Miss USA 2020. In 2019, she became the first African American woman to win Miss Mississippi USA and is now the first Mississippi state titleholder to win the Miss USA crown. In 2018, she won the title of Miss Mississippi under the Miss America Organization. She is only the seventh person to hold both state titles.
It gives me great pleasure to rise this afternoon to commend an outstanding young American Miss Asya Branch, Wicker said. She has gained wide recognition because she is beautiful, well-spoken, and she's a gifted vocalist, but also there is a serious part of her platform  and a serious personal story of Asya's in overcoming adversity She speaks openly about her father's 10 years in the state prison, resulting in his absence for much of her upbringing. That difficult period shaped who Asya Branch is and gave her strength and a unique perspective on incarceration.
In his remarks, Wicker shared how Branch has devoted her time to her platform, which includes criminal justice reform and support for children who have incarcerated parents.
During her year as Miss Mississippi, she was part of a White House roundtable where she discussed criminal justice reform, prison reform, and the First Step Act with President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant, and other lawmakers.
Branch plans to continue advocating for criminal justice and prison reform throughout her year as Miss USA. She will represent the United States at the Miss Universe Pageant in 2021.
She's made Mississippi proud. I think she's going to make the United States proud as she moves forward next year to the Miss Universe pageant, where I'm sure she'll do well. I encourage all Americans to root for her next year as we will certainly be doing at my house, Wicker concluded.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=B74FB4ED-F6D4-43A7-B170-81EE3A3FF62E,Wicker Gives Thanks to Americas Veterans,2020-11-18,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  In advance of the Thanksgiving holiday, U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today took to the Senate floor to recognize and give thanks to America's veterans.
One of the things that we are most thankful about in this nation is the service of our veterans who have stepped forward in uniform to give us the free country that we enjoy today It is a proud recognition that we make as members of Congress to take care that the promises we made to armed services members that have stepped forward, donned the uniform, and then gone on to other service, that those promises are kept Members of the Senate are working hard today to make our National Defense Authorization Act a reality again for the 60th straight year and to serve those veterans and future veterans who have done so much to make our country free, Wicker said.
Wicker's remarks follow a column he wrote for Veterans Day outlining progress Congress has made in supporting veterans and their families.
Wicker cited efforts to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by passing laws like the VA MISSION Act and the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act. These laws have reduced wait times, expanded access to telemedicine and private care, and allowed the VA to fire employees for poor performance.
The Senate recently passed legislation authored by Wicker and Senator Tim Kaine, D-Va., that would designate September 30 as National Veterans Suicide Prevention Day in response to the troubling rise in veteran suicides during the coronavirus pandemic.
Wicker has also sponsored legislation that would provide compensation to veterans who were forced to retire early because of disabilities.
Wicker, who is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, is the son of a World War II veteran and the father of an Air Force officer.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/wicker-hyde-smith-celebrate-senate-confirmation-kristi-johnson-be-us-district-judge,"WICKER, HYDE-SMITH CELEBRATE SENATE CONFIRMATION OF KRISTI JOHNSON TO BE U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE",2020-11-17,2020,2020-11,Republican,House,MS,Cindy Hyde-Smith,H001079,www.hydesmith.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WICKER, HYDE-SMITH CELEBRATE SENATE CONFIRMATION OF KRISTI JOHNSON TO BE U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE
Johnson Is Southern District of Mississippi's First Female Jurist
WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today hailed Senate confirmation of Kristi H. Johnson of Brandon to serve as a U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi.
Johnson, who will be the first female jurist in the Southern District of Mississippi, is a native of Hurley and served most recently as the first Solicitor General of Mississippi. The Senate confirmed Johnson, 53-43.
Kristi Johnson's confirmation is good news for Mississippi and the United States as a whole, Wicker said. She has a unique record of accomplishment as a public servant, a private attorney, a scholar, and a professor. She will make a great judge, and I know Mississippians will join me in congratulating her on this accomplishment.
I am thrilled the Senate has confirmed Kristi Johnson to be a U.S. District Judge. She is well-prepared and well-equipped to take her seat on the federal bench, and I'm proud she is making history to be the first woman judge to serve in the Southern District, Hyde-Smith said. I am confident that she will serve Mississippi and our nation with distinction as she upholds the Constitution and the rule of law.
Johnson is the 223rd federal judge confirmed by the Senate to serve lifetime appointments on the federal bench since President Donald J. Trump took office in January 2017.  
  
Johnson earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi and a law degree from Mississippi College, where she graduated summa cum laude and served as executive editor of the Mississippi College Law Review. She served as a law clerk for the Honorable Sharion Aycock with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi and for the Honorable Leslie H. Southwick with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Johnson has also served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Mississippi, an adjunct professor at Mississippi College, and as Treasurer and Secretary of the Mississippi Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=FE966612-D63D-44A6-AB86-50FE26E388A8,"Wicker, Hyde-Smith Celebrate Senate Confirmation of Kristi Johnson to be U.S. District Judge",2020-11-17,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., today hailed Senate confirmation of Kristi H. Johnson of Brandon to serve as a U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi. Johnson, who will be the first female jurist for the Southern District of Mississippi, is a native of Hurley and served most recently as the first Solicitor General of Mississippi.
Kristi Johnson's confirmation is good news for Mississippi and the United States as a whole, Wicker said. She has a unique record of accomplishment as a public servant, a private attorney, a scholar, and a professor. She will make a great judge, and I know Mississippians will join me in congratulating her on this accomplishment.
I am thrilled the Senate has confirmed Kristi Johnson to be a U.S. District Judge. She is well-prepared and well-equipped to take her seat on the federal bench, and I'm proud she is making history to be the first woman judge to serve in the Southern District, Hyde-Smith said. I am confident that she will serve Mississippi and our nation with distinction as she upholds the Constitution and the rule of law.
Johnson is the 223rd federal judge to be confirmed to a lifetime appointment by the Senate since President Donald J. Trump took office in January 2017.
Johnson earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi and a law degree from Mississippi College, where she graduated summa cum laude and served as executive editor of the Mississippi College Law Review. She served as a law clerk for the Honorable Sharion Aycock with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi and for the Honorable Leslie H. Southwick with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Johnson has also served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Mississippi, an adjunct professor at Mississippi College, and as Treasurer and Secretary of the Mississippi Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/weekly-report?ContentRecord_id=D3DDD401-A034-472C-8E31-180AB90225F7,Wicker: Senate Resumes Work on Major Priorities,2020-11-16,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"With less than two months remaining in the 116th Congress, the Senate is working to complete several important priorities for Mississippi and the nation. These include an annual military authorization bill and funding for the federal government. We are continuing to confirm Trump-nominated judges to lifetime appointments on the federal bench. And the Commerce Committee, which I chair, is finalizing several important bills that I hope will be considered by the full Senate before January.
Funding the Federal Government
House and Senate leaders are negotiating a final version of the National Defense Authorization Act, the annual bill that funds our military. This year's legislation would fund the construction of several new ships, which would strengthen our naval fleet and keep Mississippi's shipbuilders busy. As this bill comes together, I am pushing for additional measures to protect our defense industrial base and provide certainty to military suppliers. We cannot let the pandemic jeopardize our national security.
Congress will also need to fund the federal government into the new year. Government funding is set to expire on December 11, and I hope congressional leaders can reach a long-term agreement. In the future, Congress needs to get back to the practice of passing individual appropriations bills on time. Threats of government shutdowns, short-term bills to continue funding at current levels, and massive last-minute agreements have become the norm in recent years. Getting back to regular order would result in smarter policies, benefit our national security, and protect taxpayers.
Commerce Committee Advances Key Bills
As chairman of the Commerce Committee, I am working to bring several important bills to completion. One of those bills is NASA reauthorization. This legislation would advance NASA's deep space exploration program and maintain the Stennis Space Center as the world's premier rocket testing facility. We are also moving legislation to speed up broadband deployment in rural areas. We have approved substantial funding for the Coast Guard, which is vital to protecting American commerce at sea.
Another important question before the committee is what to do about the growing number of states that now allow college athletes to be compensated for their name, image, and likeness. The various state laws have created a patchwork of different rules that could put some student athletes at a disadvantage and give some schools an unfair recruiting edge. I will soon introduce legislation to set national standards for college athletes who earn money through private contracts and endorsements. This legislation is needed to ensure a level playing field across the country for all college athletes and prevent corruption in college athletics.
Confirming President Trump's Nominees
In the last four years, the Senate has made historic progress in confirming more than 220 of President Trump's judicial nominees. That number is set to expand as the Senate takes up new nominations in the final weeks of this Congress. Two of the President's nominees  Kristi Johnson and Taylor McNeel  are Mississippi natives who have been selected to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. Both individuals bring impressive records of experience and a conservative judicial philosophy. I believe they will serve our nation well for many years to come.
The final weeks of the legislative calendar are always busy, and this year is no exception. I am confident we can use this time to yield lasting benefits for the American people.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://palazzo.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401870,Palazzo Encourages South Mississippi Veterans to Share Their Stories,2020-11-10,2020,2020-11,Republican,House,MS,Steven Palazzo,P000601,palazzo.house.gov,,,legacy,"Palazzo Encourages South Mississippi Veterans to Share Their Stories 
   
    
       
      
  
    
      f 
      t 
      #
      e
      
      
    
    
      
        Washington,
        November 10, 2020
      
       
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
      
      
      Washington, DC - Congressman Steven Palazzo (MS-4),a veteran of the United States Marine Corpsand current member of the Mississippi National Guard,is calling on veterans in South Mississippi to take part in the Library of Congress's Veterans History Project,which allows veterans across the United States to share their stories from their timein the military. The project invites anyone who has servedin the U.S. militaryduring World WarI to present, regardless of branch or rank,to submit their personal account of serving in the military. Palazzo issued the following statement requesting South Mississippi's participation.
""South Mississippi is home to the state's largest veteran population and through this projectI want to amplify the heroic accounts I've heardthrough the years. Every story in South Mississippi deserves to be shared.This project isan engaging way to allow these stories of service to live on whileeducatingfuture generations on the sacrifices made by so many brave Americans.""
How to participate:  
1.Visit loc.gov/vets  
2. Select""How to Participate""  
3. Select""Print theVeterans History Project Field Kit""and print/complete required forms  
4.Conduct the Interview  
5.Mailyour story to the Library of Congress
The Project collects first-hand accounts ofU.S. Veterans from the following wars:
 
    World War, 1914-1918
    World War, 1939-1945
    Cold War
    Korean War, 1950-1953
    Vietnam War, 1961-1975
    Grenada--History--American Invasion, 1983
    Panama--History--American Invasion, 1989
    Operation Restore Hope, 1992-1993
    Persian Gulf War, 1991
    United Nations Operation in Somalia
    Haiti--History--American intervention, 1994-1995
    Operation Allied Force, 1999
    Peacekeeping forces--Bosnia and Hercegovina
    Operation Joint Guardian, 1999-
    War on Terrorism, 2001-2009
    Afghan War, 2001-
    Iraq War, 2003-2011
 
Palazzo's office is available to answer any questions about submitting recorded interviews to the Library of Congress.
Click here for a list of Frequently Asked Questions. ###  

    
  
  
  
    
      f 
      t 
      #
      e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/hyde-smith-encourages-citizens-honor-veterans-moment-silence,HYDE-SMITH ENCOURAGES CITIZENS TO HONOR VETERANS WITH MOMENT OF SILENCE,2020-11-10,2020,2020-11,Republican,House,MS,Cindy Hyde-Smith,H001079,www.hydesmith.senate.gov,,,legacy,"HYDE-SMITH ENCOURAGES CITIZENS TO HONOR VETERANS WITH MOMENT OF SILENCE
Miss. Senator Promotes National Campaign for Veterans in 2020 Veterans Day Tribute
  VIDEO: Senator Hyde-Smith's Veterans Day Tribute
WASHINGTON, D.C.  In a Veterans Day tribute, U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today encouraged Mississippians to participate in a national moment of silence on Wednesday to honor veterans and their families. The Senator's tribute:
The freedoms and liberties we, as Americans, enjoy every day are due to the courage and bravery of our veteranspast and present. They deserve our admiration and gratitude every day.
Veterans Day this year will mark our nation's first observance of Veterans Day Moment of Silence'a time to reflect on the sacrifices made by the men and women of the Armed Forces and their families.
I encourage Mississippians to join our nation in standing in silence for two minutes at 1:11 p.m. Central Time on Veterans Day, November 11th, to honor and remember our veterans.
To every veteran in Mississippi, thank you for your service. As your Senator, I will continue to do all I can to fulfill the promises our nation has made to all veterans and their families.
For more information on the Veterans Day Moment of Silence, visit: https://veteransdaymomentofsilence.org/
Engaging with Veterans
Veterans who need assistance with federal agencies can find assistance through Hyde-Smith offices or visiting here: https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/casework
Families, students, and others can contribute to the nation's understanding of military service by participating in the Library of Congress Veterans History Project, which collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans. Learn more here: https://www.loc.gov/vets/vets-home.html  
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/hyde-smith-welcomes-roll-out-fy2021-appropriations-bills-senate,HYDE-SMITH WELCOMES ROLL OUT FY2021 APPROPRIATIONS BILLS IN THE SENATE,2020-11-10,2020,2020-11,Republican,House,MS,Cindy Hyde-Smith,H001079,www.hydesmith.senate.gov,,,legacy,"HYDE-SMITH WELCOMES ROLL OUT FY2021 APPROPRIATIONS BILLS IN THE SENATE
Twelve Bills Set Table for Negotiations to Fund Federal Programs for Remainder of Fiscal Year
WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today welcomed the releases of the FY2021 appropriations bills developed and unveiled by the Senate Appropriations Committee and pledged to work to complete the appropriations process that will fund important federal projects and programs in Mississippi.
Hyde-Smith said the 12 bills will serve as the basis for negotiations with the House of Representatives as Congress attempts to clear FY2021 appropriations during the lame-duck session. Federal programs are currently operating under a continuing resolution, which expires Dec. 11, 2020.
Mississippi stands to benefit if we can work together to complete the FY2021 appropriations process, despite the forces that have disrupted typical consideration of these spending bills this year, Hyde-Smith said. I will do my best to protect Mississippi's interests as we work in good faith to deliver certainty for our military, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and other critical programs.
On the Senate Appropriations Committee, Hyde-Smith serves on six subcommittees, including: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development; Homeland Security; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; and Legislative Branch, on which she serves as chairman.
The Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday provided the following links to legislative text, accompanying reports, and overall highlights for each of the Senate's FY2021 appropriations bills:
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies  
Bill Text | Explanatory Statement | Highlights
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies  
Bill Text | Explanatory Statement | Highlights
Defense  
Bill Text | Explanatory Statement | Highlights
Energy and Water Development  
Bill Text | Explanatory Statement | Highlights
Financial Services and General Government  
Bill Text | Explanatory Statement | Highlights
Homeland Security  
Bill Text | Explanatory Statement | Highlights
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies  
Bill Text | Explanatory Statement | Highlights
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies  
Bill Text | Explanatory Statement | Highlights
Legislative Branch  
Bill Text | Explanatory Statement | Highlights
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies  
Bill Text | Explanatory Statement | Highlights
State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs  
Bill Text | Explanatory Statement | Highlights
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies  
Bill Text | Explanatory Statement | Highlights
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/weekly-report?ContentRecord_id=7B5C94C6-FE12-4262-A0BA-FC73302F8B30,Wicker Honors Americas Veterans,2020-11-09,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Each year on November 11, our nation honors those who have served in the U.S. military. We show our appreciation through parades, ceremonies, and simple words of thanks. The opportunity to cast ballots in the recent election is one reason to be thankful for those who have defended our freedoms. As we continue to deal with the coronavirus, Veterans Day celebrations may look different from previous years, but our gratitude for our veterans has not changed.
Not long ago, I was privileged to help a family recognize their father, a World War II veteran, with a Bronze Star Medal on his 100th birthday. This man, Bill Allen, served as an Army platoon leader in Europe and fought courageously under enemy fire. When his family contacted my office earlier this year, my staff and I assisted with their application, and he received the medal in a surprise ceremony in Ridgeland. Mr. Allen and veterans like him deserve our praise and recognition.
Keeping Promises to Our Veterans
One of my top priorities in Congress has been improving the quality of life for our veterans. This has come into focus recently as many of our nation's retirement homes, including the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, have grappled with the coronavirus. I am determined to make sure federally-run retirement homes have the resources needed to keep our retired veterans safe.
I have also worked to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs, which for years failed to provide veterans with the care and respect they deserve. I supported the VA MISSION Act to improve health care access for our veterans. This law has reduced wait times by cutting red tape and removing restrictions on telemedicine and private care. I also supported the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017, which allows the VA to fire employees for bad performance. More recently, I have supported bills to boost benefits for World War II veterans, expand mental health services for all veterans, and provide compensation to veterans who were forced to retire early because of disabilities.
I have been deeply concerned about the growing number of suicides among veterans and service members, which have continued to spike during the pandemic. In 2015, I wrote a law requiring service members to receive yearly mental health screenings, providing early help for at-risk individuals. And this year I led a bipartisan effort with Sen. Tim Kaine to designate September 30 as National Veterans Suicide Prevention Day. We need to raise awareness about the invisible wounds suffered by our veterans.
Supporting Military Families
We also have an obligation to meet the practical needs of military families. This year, I helped write the annual National Defense Authorization Act, which the Senate passed for the 60th year in a row. This legislation, which awaits action by a House-Senate conference committee, would give a three percent pay raise to our troops, expand services for military children with special needs, and make it easier for military spouses to gain employment in licensed professions. I also support the military's decision to create a bill of rights for those living in military housing. Military families, like those experiencing mold problems at Keesler Air Force Base, should benefit from this new policy.
I will always work to put our veterans and military families first. As an Air Force veteran, the son of a World War II veteran, and the father of an Air Force officer, I appreciate the sacrifices our service members make to keep us safe. As we approach Veterans Day, I join all Mississippians in thanking our veterans for their service.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://guest.house.gov/media/press-releases/wicker-hyde-smith-palazzo-kelly-guest-call-transparency-and-accountability,"Wicker, Hyde-Smith, Palazzo, Kelly, Guest Call for Transparency and Accountability in 2020 Election Count",2020-11-06,2020,2020-11,Republican,House,MS,Michael Guest,G000591,guest.house.gov,guest,https://guest.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and U.S. Representatives Steven Palazzo, R-Miss, Trent Kelly, R-Miss., and Michael Guest, R-Miss., today released the following statement on the 2020 election:

""Americans should have confidence in our voting system and that all ballots have been submitted correctly and legally. This is precisely what President Trump and his legal team are seeking.

""Any allegations of voting irregularities, including ballot tampering or voting by ineligible persons, should be investigated and adjudicated to the fullest extent of the law.

""It is essential to our democracy and the integrity of our elections that this process be allowed to play out in full view of the American people, and that election observers from both sides of the aisle be allowed to participate.

""Neither the media nor states should rush to declare a winner in closely contested states until all legally-cast ballots have been counted and all legal challenges and required recounts have been resolved.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:39:51Z
https://guest.house.gov/media/press-releases/wicker-hyde-smith-palazzo-kelly-guest-call-transparency-and-accountability-2020,"Wicker, Hyde-Smith, Palazzo, Kelly, Guest Call for Transparency and Accountability in 2020 Election Count",2020-11-06,2020,2020-11,Republican,House,MS,Michael Guest,G000591,guest.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and U.S. Representatives Steven Palazzo, R-Miss, Trent Kelly, R-Miss., and Michael Guest, R-Miss., today released the following statement on the 2020 election:
Americans should have confidence in our voting system and that all ballots have been submitted correctly and legally. This is precisely what President Trump and his legal team are seeking.
Any allegations of voting irregularities, including ballot tampering or voting by ineligible persons, should be investigated and adjudicated to the fullest extent of the law.
It is essential to our democracy and the integrity of our elections that this process be allowed to play out in full view of the American people, and that election observers from both sides of the aisle be allowed to participate.
Neither the media nor states should rush to declare a winner in closely contested states until all legally-cast ballots have been counted and all legal challenges and required recounts have been resolved.

###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://palazzo.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401864,"Wicker, Hyde-Smith, Palazzo, Kelly, Guest Call for Transparency and Accountability in 2020 Election Count",2020-11-06,2020,2020-11,Republican,House,MS,Steven Palazzo,P000601,palazzo.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and U.S. Representatives Steven Palazzo, R-Miss, Trent Kelly, R-Miss., and Michael Guest, R-Miss., today released the following statement on the 2020 election:
Americans should have confidence in our voting system and that all ballots have been submitted correctly and legally. This is precisely what President Trump and his legal team are seeking.
Any allegations of voting irregularities, including ballot tampering or voting by ineligible persons, should be investigated and adjudicated to the fullest extent of the law.
It is essential to our democracy and the integrity of our elections that this process be allowed to play out in full view of the American people, and that election observers from both sides of the aisle be allowed to participate.
Neither the media nor states should rush to declare a winner in closely contested states until all legally-cast ballots have been counted and all legal challenges and required recounts have been resolved.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/wicker-hyde-smith-palazzo-kelly-guest-call-transparency-and-accountability-2020-election-count,"WICKER, HYDE-SMITH, PALAZZO, KELLY, GUEST CALL FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN 2020 ELECTION COUNT",2020-11-06,2020,2020-11,Republican,House,MS,Cindy Hyde-Smith,H001079,www.hydesmith.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WICKER, HYDE-SMITH, PALAZZO, KELLY, GUEST CALL FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN 2020 ELECTION COUNT
WASHINGTON  U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and S. Representatives Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.), Trent Kelly (R-Miss.), and Michael Guest (R-Miss.) today released the following statement on the 2020 election:
Americans should have confidence in our voting system and that all ballots have been submitted correctly and legally. This is precisely what President Trump and his legal team are seeking.
Any allegations of voting irregularities, including ballot tampering or voting by ineligible persons, should be investigated and adjudicated to the fullest extent of the law.
It is essential to our democracy and the integrity of our elections that this process be allowed to play out in full view of the American people, and that election observers from both sides of the aisle be allowed to participate.
Neither the media nor states should rush to declare a winner in closely contested states until all legally-cast ballots have been counted and all legal challenges and required recounts have been resolved.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=5AF7F45B-B1C1-4C7B-A1F3-3232F4D7A0F1,"Wicker, Hyde-Smith, Palazzo, Kelly, Guest Call for Transparency and Accountability in 2020 Election Count",2020-11-06,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and U.S. Representatives Steven Palazzo, R-Miss, Trent Kelly, R-Miss., and Michael Guest, R-Miss., today released the following statement on the 2020 election:
Americans should have confidence in our voting system and that all ballots have been submitted correctly and legally. This is precisely what President Trump and his legal team are seeking.
Any allegations of voting irregularities, including ballot tampering or voting by ineligible persons, should be investigated and adjudicated to the fullest extent of the law.
It is essential to our democracy and the integrity of our elections that this process be allowed to play out in full view of the American people, and that election observers from both sides of the aisle be allowed to participate.
Neither the media nor states should rush to declare a winner in closely contested states until all legally-cast ballots have been counted and all legal challenges and required recounts have been resolved.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=10861BDB-3F0E-477A-BF5B-6879A587A674,Mississippi HBCUs Support Reaching Americas Rural Minority Businesses Act,2020-11-05,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  Last week, U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., introduced the Reaching America's Rural Minority Businesses Act of 2020 (S.4873), which would authorize the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) within the Department of Commerce to establish up to 10 business centers at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to serve rural and underserved communities. MBDA's existing Minority Business Centers are concentrated in select urban areas in 18 states, leaving vast swaths of the country without easy access to MBDA's services.
Wicker's legislation was praised by all of Mississippi's HBCUs, including Alcorn State University, Coahoma Community College, Hinds Community College-Utica, Jackson State University, Mississippi Valley State University, Rust College, and Tougaloo College.
Here is what they are saying:
Alcorn State University  As America's most-rural HBCU land-grant, Alcorn State University and our surrounding communities would greatly benefit from the establishment of a business development center focused on helping rural, minority entrepreneurs. Recent reports indicate small businesses in rural communities of color experience unequal access to federal assistance, yet thrive when provided more tailored support, education and outreach. Alcorn fully supports the distinct opportunity this legislation presents to address longstanding challenges for rural, minority-owned businesses. The Reaching America's Rural Minority Businesses Act firmly aligns with our robust mission to successfully prepare a well-rounded community of high character leaders for the the 21st century global marketplace, said Dr. Felecia M. Nave, President.
Coahoma Community College  Coahoma Community College is excited to learn of your efforts to create rural Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) business centers so that Mississippi small businesses can position themselves to receive assistance that has been previously limited to businesses located in nonrural areas. As an HBCU in the Mississippi Delta, we anticipate opportunities that will come from the Reaching America's Rural Minority Businesses Act to serve small businesses in our surrounding communities. We fully support the efforts of Senator Roger Wicker, said Dr. Valmadge T. Towner, President.
Hinds Community College  Utica - Hinds Community College is extremely excited about the Reaching America's Rural Minority Businesses Act, specifically the potential allocation of resources through the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) to support economic development of minority businesses in rural America. The Utica Campus of Hinds CC, a dedicated HBCU, would certainly realize a deeper impact on community and workforce development through the establishment of a dedicated business center to work directly with minority students and community members, especially small business owners. These minority entrepreneurs and leaders in rural Mississippi, particularly within the African-American community, are poised to create opportunities for better lives for our citizens  all that is needed is the training and technical support that the community college can deliver, said Dr. Stephen Vacik, President.
Jackson State University  This Act means that Jackson State University will now have the resources to make systemic changes for our local communities. The creation of Rural MBDA Minority Business Centers and the funding provided allow us to help rural minority businesses by improving pathways for global competition, uncovering new streams of commerce that are forthcoming in the import/export business, both interstate and globallyThis is also a significant opportunity for our institutions to continue producing tomorrow's business leaders who are critical thinkers that address societal issues effectively, said Thomas K. Hudson, J.D., Acting President.
Mississippi Valley State University - We are pleased with the added resources and incentives that the Reaching America's Rural Minority Businesses Act will bring to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) like Mississippi Valley State University. This legislation is designed to utilize HBCUs as a vehicle to help foster entrepreneurship among rural minority populations and will position us to better serve our respective communities, said Dr. Jerryl Briggs, President.
Rust College  As the President of an HBCU located in a rural community, I am aware first-hand of the challenges that exist for minority owned businesses in this area. These challenges, and the lack of resources for overcoming these challenges have become more apparent as many businesses fight to survive during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Establishing rural-focused business centers at HBCUs, through partnership with the MBDA, would provide opportunities for our institutions to serve as hubs for collaboration while sharing MBDA resources, our expertise, connections, and innovative ideas with the surrounding community, said Dr. Ivy R. Taylor, President.
Tougaloo College  We are excited about the potential resources and training provided by Reaching America's Rural Minority Businesses Act (RARMBA). Through this initiative, Tougaloo College and other HBCUs will have the ability to prepare its graduates and local communities to be productive in their time and lead the change for a better world. Partnerships between the Minority Business Development Agency and HBCUs would facilitate long-term economic growth in rural communities across Mississippi, said Dr. Carmen J. Walters, President.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/wicker-hyde-smith-announce-18-million-support-mississippi-delta-health-care,"WICKER, HYDE-SMITH ANNOUNCE $1.8 MILLION IN SUPPORT FOR MISSISSIPPI DELTA HEALTH CARE",2020-11-02,2020,2020-11,Republican,House,MS,Cindy Hyde-Smith,H001079,www.hydesmith.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WICKER, HYDE-SMITH ANNOUNCE $1.8 MILLION IN SUPPORT FOR MISSISSIPPI DELTA HEALTH CARE
Miss. Senators Welcome USDA Rural Development Awards to Support Workforce Development and Training
WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today praised the award of $1,803,058 for two healthcare training and workforce development projects in the Mississippi Delta.
The Delta Health Care Services Program grants will be awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development.
The University of Mississippi's ALERT Program and Mississippi State University's Delta BroadReach Healthcare project will help to expand high quality healthcare training and workforce development across the entire Mississippi Delta, Wicker said. I appreciate USDA Rural Development and the Trump administration for continuing to invest in programs that will improve quality of care and patient safety for Mississippians.
These grants will apply the expertise of UMMC and Mississippi State to address healthcare disparities in the Delta and improve services overall. I'm excited that USDA Rural Development is investing in projects to implement training and best practices to affect healthcare in our state, Hyde-Smith said.
The USDA Rural Development grants for Mississippi will support the following projects:
 
University of Mississippi Medical Center  $1,000,000 to help create the Advancing Local Emergency Responder Training (ALERT) program, which will provide a wide range of low to no-cost medical education classes and emergency response training programs throughout the entire Mississippi Delta Region.
Mississippi State University  $803,058 to help establish the Delta BroadReach Healthcare project, which will train healthcare professionals, telehealth providers, and entry-level EMTs.
 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=6F290443-0140-4687-817A-F1522B941287,"Wicker, Hyde-Smith Announce $1.8M in Support for Mississippi Delta Health Care",2020-11-02,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., today praised the award of $1,803,058 for two healthcare training and workforce development projects in the Mississippi Delta. The Delta Health Care Services Program grants will be awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development.
The University of Mississippi's ALERT Program and Mississippi State University's Delta BroadReach Healthcare project will help to expand high quality health care training and workforce development across the entire Mississippi Delta, Wicker said. I appreciate USDA Rural Development and the Trump administration for continuing to invest in programs that will improve quality of care and patient safety for Mississippians.
These grants will apply the expertise of UMMC and Mississippi State to address healthcare disparities in the Delta and improve services overall. I'm excited that USDA Rural Development is investing in projects to implement training and best practices to affect healthcare in our state, Hyde-Smith said.
The USDA Rural Development grants for Mississippi will support the following projects:
 
University of Mississippi Medical Center - $1,000,000 to help create the Advancing Local Emergency Responder Training (ALERT) program, which will provide a wide range of low to no-cost medical education classes and emergency response training programs throughout the entire Mississippi Delta Region.
Mississippi State University - $803,058 to help establish the Delta BroadReach Healthcare project, which will train healthcare professionals, telehealth providers, and entry-level EMTs.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/weekly-report?ContentRecord_id=F493EC7E-1422-49CD-9163-8127104DCB73,Wicker Convenes Tech CEOs to Discuss Online Censorship,2020-11-02,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"This past week, I convened the CEOs of Facebook, Twitter, and Google for an important hearing addressing censorship and political bias on their platforms. These companies control the vast flow of news and information online and have faced growing criticism for restricting conservative voices and the free spread of information. The hearing, which I chaired in the Senate Commerce Committee, gave senators the opportunity to challenge these executives on their content moderation practices and discuss what reforms are needed to bring accountability to this powerful industry.
Much of our discussion centered on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which Congress passed in 1996. Section 230 protects online platforms from liability in removing content they find objectionable. These protections have been pivotal in shielding tech companies from potentially ruinous lawsuits and promoting the growth of the internet. But they have also given Big Tech free reign to censor content as they see fit without facing consequences for their actions. Their decision-making processes remain largely hidden, and users have few options when they are censored or restricted.
Big Tech's Double Standard
During the hearing, I pressed the witnesses for answers about the recent suppression of a news story involving Joe Biden and his son Hunter. On October 15, the New York Post published a story that included damaging allegations against the former Vice President, who is now the Democrat nominee for President. Almost immediately after publication, Facebook and Twitter took steps to block or limit access to the story. Facebook suppressed the story's distribution pending a third-party fact check. Twitter went further and blocked all users from sharing the content. It even locked the Post's account, claiming the story included hacked materials and was potentially harmful.
The CEO of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, admitted in our hearing that his company had made a mistake. Both he and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said they have no evidence that the story came from Russian disinformation. Even so, the Post's Twitter account remained locked when we held the hearing almost two weeks after the fact.
It is worth noting that Twitter and Facebook have not been consistent in censoring illegally obtained materials. For example, when the President's tax returns were leaked without his permission in September, neither company acted to restrict access to the information. Similarly, social media companies have allowed the now-discredited Steele dossier to be shared widely without fact-checking or disclaimers. And Twitter routinely allows foreign dictators, such as Iran's Ayatollah, to post anti-Semitic and threatening tweets, which Mr. Dorsey dismissed as mere saber rattling.
This double standard would be appalling under normal circumstances, but selectively censoring the New York Post story during an election cycle is beyond the pale. It is no wonder many conservatives accuse tech companies of hypocrisy and election interference.
Time to Reform Section 230
In the 24 years since Congress passed Section 230, tech companies have become enormously powerful. I am concerned that they have become unchecked referees determining what is true and what information Americans can access. The time is ripe to revisit Section 230
With this goal in mind, I recently introduced the Online Freedom and Viewpoint Diversity Act to clarify Section 230 and make the law less prone to abuse. This legislation would place a check on powerful tech giants while still preserving the core aspects of Section 230 that have allowed the tech industry to thrive and innovate. Congress needs to strike a reasonable balance, but it is clear that tech companies should no longer receive a free pass for acts of political bias.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/hyde-smith-highlights-manufacturers-expansion-sign-future-grenada-county-growth,HYDE-SMITH HIGHLIGHTS MANUFACTURER’S EXPANSION AS SIGN OF FUTURE GRENADA COUNTY GROWTH,2020-10-30,2020,2020-10,Republican,House,MS,Cindy Hyde-Smith,H001079,www.hydesmith.senate.gov,,,legacy,"HYDE-SMITH HIGHLIGHTS MANUFACTURER'S EXPANSION AS SIGN OF FUTURE GRENADA COUNTY GROWTH
At Advanced Distributor Products Ribbon Cutting, Senator Links Business Growth with Benefits of USDA Rural Development Grant Programs
  Photo: Advanced Distributor Products Expansion Ceremony.
GRENADA, Miss.  U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today highlighted the benefits of federal rural development programs as part of a greater effort to improve economic development in areas like Grenada County, which today celebrated the expansion of a major manufacturer.
Hyde-Smith participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a 288,000-square-foot expansion for Advanced Distributor Products, the leading national manufacturer of air conditioning coils and HVAC systems. It is a major employer in Grenada County. In her remarks, the Senator pointed to the award of $455,400 in U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grants that will help the county fortify its vehicular service fleet.
The Advanced Distributor Products expansion is exciting because it signals future job growth and economic activity in Grenada County, Hyde-Smith said.
With such growth, there will be greater demands for county services, which is where USDA Rural Development programs come into play. The USDA investment of $455,400 in Grenada County makes it a partner with the county to ensure it has the vehicles and equipment needed to serve the public, she said.
Serving on the Senate Agriculture Committee and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, Hyde-Smith has supported strong funding for USDA Rural Development programs, including the Community Facilities Program grants that will support Grenada County's replacement of outdated law enforcement, service, and maintenance vehicles.
The Communities Facilities Program is helping counties across Mississippi improve healthcare, education, public safety, and public services for our citizens, Hyde-Smith said. I will continue working to support the USDA programs that help rural communities with water and wastewater systems, broadband service, infrastructure, and economic development.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://guest.house.gov/media/press-releases/mississippi-delegation-supports-governor-s-request-disaster-declaration-advance,Mississippi Delegation Supports Governor’s Request for Disaster Declaration in Advance of Hurricane Zeta,2020-10-29,2020,2020-10,Republican,House,MS,Michael Guest,G000591,guest.house.gov,,,legacy,"Pre-Landfall Declaration Would Provide Assistance to Save Lives and Protect Property
WASHINGTON  U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and U.S. Representatives Steven Palazzo, R-Miss., and Michael Guest, R-Miss., today sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump urging him to approve Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves's request for a Pre-Landfall Disaster Declaration in advance of Hurricane Zeta. The storm is expected to have a severe impact on the southeastern portion of Mississippi, including heavy rainfall, damaging winds, and possible tornadoes.
In their letter, the lawmakers note that under a federal emergency declaration the Federal Emergency Management Agency would be authorized to provide emergency protective measures and direct federal assistance for 13 Mississippi counties, including Clarke, Jones, Wayne, Lamar, Forrest, Perry, Greene, Pearl River, Stone, George, Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson.
See the full text of the letter below:

Dear President Trump,
In anticipation of landfall of Hurricane Zeta, we request your full consideration of Governor Tate Reeves's request for a Pre-Landfall Disaster Declaration under Section 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. 
Under the requested federal emergency declaration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would be authorized to provide emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance under the Public Assistance program at 75 percent federal funding for thirteen Mississippi counties including Clarke, Jones, Wayne, Lamar, Forrest, Perry, Greene, Pearl River, Stone, George, Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson. 
As noted in the Governor's request, Mississippi is forecasted to face devastating impacts in the southeast portion of the State including heavy rainfall, damaging winds, and possible tornadoes. 
This declaration would provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen the threat of a catastrophe in the designated areas.
Thank you for your consideration of this request. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you need further assistance in this effort.

Sincerely,

Roger F. Wicker
United States Senator 

Cindy Hyde-Smith
United States Senator 

Steven M. Palazzo
Member of Congress 

Michael Guest
Member of Congress 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://guest.house.gov/media/press-releases/mississippi-delegation-supports-governors-request-disaster-declaration-advance,Mississippi Delegation Supports Governor’s Request for Disaster Declaration in Advance of Hurricane Zeta,2020-10-29,2020,2020-10,Republican,House,MS,Michael Guest,G000591,guest.house.gov,guest,https://guest.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Pre-Landfall Declaration Would Provide Assistance to Save Lives and Protect Property

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and U.S. Representatives Steven Palazzo, R-Miss., and Michael Guest, R-Miss., today sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump urging him to approve Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves's request for a Pre-Landfall Disaster Declaration in advance of Hurricane Zeta. The storm is expected to have a severe impact on the southeastern portion of Mississippi, including heavy rainfall, damaging winds, and possible tornadoes.

In their letter, the lawmakers note that under a federal emergency declaration the Federal Emergency Management Agency would be authorized to provide emergency protective measures and direct federal assistance for 13 Mississippi counties, including Clarke, Jones, Wayne, Lamar, Forrest, Perry, Greene, Pearl River, Stone, George, Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson.

See the full text of the letter below:

Dear President Trump,

In anticipation of landfall of Hurricane Zeta, we request your full consideration of Governor Tate Reeves's request for a Pre-Landfall Disaster Declaration under Section 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.

Under the requested federal emergency declaration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would be authorized to provide emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance under the Public Assistance program at 75 percent federal funding for thirteen Mississippi counties including Clarke, Jones, Wayne, Lamar, Forrest, Perry, Greene, Pearl River, Stone, George, Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson.

As noted in the Governor's request, Mississippi is forecasted to face devastating impacts in the southeast portion of the State including heavy rainfall, damaging winds, and possible tornadoes.

This declaration would provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen the threat of a catastrophe in the designated areas.

Thank you for your consideration of this request. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you need further assistance in this effort.

Sincerely,

Roger F. Wicker

United States Senator

Cindy Hyde-Smith

United States Senator

Steven M. Palazzo

Member of Congress

Michael Guest

Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:34:36Z
https://guest.house.gov/media/press-releases/epa-announces-new-dicamba-registrations,EPA Announces New Dicamba Registrations,2020-10-28,2020,2020-10,Republican,House,MS,Michael Guest,G000591,guest.house.gov,guest,https://guest.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Andrew Wheeler, announced that EPA is approving new five-year registrations for over-the-top use of two dicamba products, Engenia®, XtendiMax®, and extending the registration of an additional dicamba product, Tavium®.

""Today's announcement brings clarity and confidence to Mississippi soybean and cotton producers as they make their purchasing decisions for the 2021 crop year,"" said Congressman Guest. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to lead the letter in support of these registrations, and I appreciate my House colleagues who joined us in our mission to support our agriculture community. I'd like to thank Administrator Wheeler and the EPA for their efforts to preserve this important herbicide for our hard-working farmers.""

""With today's decision, farmers now have the certainty they need to make plans for their 2021 growing season,"" said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. ""After reviewing substantial amounts of new information, conducting scientific assessments based on the best available science, and carefully considering input from stakeholders we have reached a resolution that is good for our farmers and our environment.""

Earlier this month, Congressman Guest and Congressman Sanford Bishop (D-GA) led a bipartisan letter in support of these new registrations following a June decision by the Ninth Circuit Court to vacate previous registrations of dicamba products. Congressman Guest announced the letter in a press release on October 1st.

""I am pleased to join my colleagues in this bipartisan effort. We are working in support of American farmers and trying to bring confidence and clarity to our producers before the upcoming crop year,"" Congressman Guest said in the October 1st press release. ""Last year's court decision put in jeopardy millions of acres of crops across our country, and especially Mississippi. As our farmers continue to battle a pandemic, natural disasters, and fluctuating markets, it is critical they have the tools necessary to a successful growing season.""

The following information offers additional background on dicamba products and was provided in a press release from the EPA:

""The United States is the world's leading soybean producer and second-leading soybean exporter and also serves as the world's third-largest cotton producer and the leading cotton exporter. Today, there are limited cost-effective options to control herbicide-resistant weeds affecting these commodities. In 2018, approximately 41 percent of U.S. soybean acreage was planted with dicamba-tolerant (DT) seed and almost 70 percent of U.S. cotton acreage was planted with DT seed in 2019. Relative to alternative herbicide programs, postemergence dicamba may reduce weed control costs for some growers, possibly by as much as $10 per acre, or over five percent of net operating revenue, not accounting for all measures growers will have to take to control off-field movement of dicamba.

Following reports of damage resulting from the off-site movement of dicamba, EPA amended the dicamba registration labels in 2017 and in 2018. In June 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit vacated the registrations for three dicamba products: XtendiMax with VaporGrip Technology, Engenia Herbicide, and DuPont FeXapan Herbicide. As a result of the Court's decision, EPA issued cancellation orders outlining limited circumstances under which existing stocks of the three affected products could be distributed and used until July 31, 2020.""

The EPA's full press release can be found here.

The letter to Administrator Wheeler led by Congressman Guest and Congressman Bishop can be found here.

Congressman Guest's previous press release on the subject can be found here.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:34:36Z
https://palazzo.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401863,Mississippi Delegation Supports Governor’s Request for Disaster Declaration in Advance of Hurricane Zeta,2020-10-28,2020,2020-10,Republican,House,MS,Steven Palazzo,P000601,palazzo.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and U.S. Representatives Steven Palazzo, R-Miss., and Michael Guest, R-Miss., today sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump urging him to approve Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves's request for a Pre-Landfall Disaster Declaration in advance of Hurricane Zeta. The storm is expected to have a severe impact on the southeastern portion of Mississippi, including heavy rainfall, damaging winds, and possible tornadoes.
In their letter, the lawmakers notethat under a federal emergency declaration the Federal Emergency Management Agency would be authorized to provide emergency protective measures and direct federal assistance for 13 Mississippi counties, including Clarke, Jones, Wayne, Lamar, Forrest, Perry, Greene, Pearl River, Stone, George, Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson.
See thefull text of the letterbelow:
Dear President Trump,
In anticipation of landfall of Hurricane Zeta, we request your full consideration of Governor Tate Reeves's request for a Pre-Landfall Disaster Declaration under Section 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.
Under the requested federal emergency declaration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would be authorized to provide emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance under the Public Assistance program at 75 percent federal funding for thirteen Mississippi counties including Clarke, Jones, Wayne, Lamar, Forrest, Perry, Greene, Pearl River, Stone, George, Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson.
As noted in the Governor's request, Mississippi is forecasted to face devastating impacts in the southeast portion of the State including heavy rainfall, damaging winds, and possible tornadoes.
This declaration would provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen the threat of a catastrophe in the designated areas.
Thank you for your consideration of this request. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you need further assistance in this effort.
Sincerely,
Roger F. Wicker
United States Senator
Cindy Hyde-Smith
United States Senator
Steven M. Palazzo
Member of Congress 
Michael Guest
Member of Congress 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/miss-delegation-supports-governors-request-disaster-declaration-advance-hurricane-zeta,MISS. DELEGATION SUPPORTS GOVERNOR’S REQUEST FOR DISASTER DECLARATION IN ADVANCE OF HURRICANE ZETA,2020-10-28,2020,2020-10,Republican,House,MS,Cindy Hyde-Smith,H001079,www.hydesmith.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MISS. DELEGATION SUPPORTS GOVERNOR'S REQUEST FOR DISASTER DECLARATION IN ADVANCE OF HURRICANE ZETA
Pre-Landfall Declaration Would Provide Assistance to Save Lives and Protect Property
WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and U.S. Representatives Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.) and Michael Guest (R-Miss.) today sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump urging him to approve Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves's request for a Pre-Landfall Disaster Declaration in advance of Hurricane Zeta.
The storm is expected to have a severe impact on the southeastern portion of Mississippi, including heavy rainfall, damaging winds, and possible tornadoes.
In their letter, the lawmakers note that under a federal emergency declaration the Federal Emergency Management Agency would be authorized to provide emergency protective measures and direct federal assistance for 13 Mississippi counties, including Clarke, Jones, Wayne, Lamar, Forrest, Perry, Greene, Pearl River, Stone, George, Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson.
The letter is available below and here:
Dear President Trump,
In anticipation of landfall of Hurricane Zeta, we request your full consideration of Governor Tate Reeves's request for a Pre-Landfall Disaster Declaration under Section 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.
Under the requested federal emergency declaration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would be authorized to provide emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance under the Public Assistance program at 75 percent federal funding for thirteen Mississippi counties including Clarke, Jones, Wayne, Lamar, Forrest, Perry, Greene, Pearl River, Stone, George, Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson.
As noted in the Governor's request, Mississippi is forecasted to face devastating impacts in the southeast portion of the State including heavy rainfall, damaging winds, and possible tornadoes.
This declaration would provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen the threat of a catastrophe in the designated areas.
Thank you for your consideration of this request. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you need further assistance in this effort.
Sincerely,
Roger F. Wicker
United States Senator
Cindy Hyde-Smith
United States Senator
Steven M. Palazzo
Member of Congress 
Michael Guest
Member of Congress 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/wicker-hyde-smith-welcome-259-million-water-wastewater-upgrades-rural-miss,"WICKER, HYDE-SMITH WELCOME $25.9 MILLION FOR WATER & WASTEWATER UPGRADES IN RURAL MISS.",2020-10-28,2020,2020-10,Republican,House,MS,Cindy Hyde-Smith,H001079,www.hydesmith.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WICKER, HYDE-SMITH WELCOME $25.9 MILLION FOR WATER &WASTEWATER UPGRADES IN RURAL MISS.
USDA Approves Loan/Grant Awards to 10 Rural Mississippi Communities
WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today welcomed the award of more than $25.9 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development funding to improve water and wastewater systems in 10 rural Mississippi communities.
The funding for several communities and rural water associations is provided through the USDA Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. The total $25,980,300 award consists of $23,677,300 in low-interest loans and $2,303,000 in grants.
Safe water and strong public utilities are essential to the health and wellbeing of our communities, Wicker said. This additional USDA funding will support much-needed upgrades to public water and wastewater infrastructure across our state.
The delivery of reliable water and wastewater service requires consistent maintenance and upgrades, which can be challenging for rural communities. Congress appropriates funding to support these USDA loans and grants to ensure rural residents, like so many in Mississippi, can receive those basic utilities, said Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee.
The Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program is focused on eligible rural populations of 10,000 or less. It provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses.
The following loan and grant awards are going to Mississippi:  
 South Central Water Association, Inc., Terry  $13,904,000 loan to support drilling a 3,000-gallon-per-minute (GPM) well. The project also includes an elevated tank, distribution improvements, and construction of a shop.  
 Hermanville Community Water Association Inc., Hermanville  $128,000 loan and $383,000 grant to support upgrading water lines, installing automatic meter-reading systems, replacing all water meters, and installing a backup generator. Funds will also support installing automatic transfer switches at well sites, replacing chlorination equipment, and installing a new supervisory control and data acquisition and system.  
 Young's Water and Sewer District, Inc., Coffeeville  $490,000 loan and $268,000 grant to support installing a 150 GPM well to replace an old well, which was near maximum capacity and beyond its useful life.  
 Delta City Utility District #2, Delta City  $73,000 loan and $208,000 grant to support installing approximately 44,000 linear feet of water main pipes and upgrading the distribution system to serve new residents and resolve low water pressure issues throughout the system.  
 Hurricane Creek Water Association, Inc., Abbeville  $396,000 loan and $984,000 grant to support construction of two water supply wells and a water treatment plant.  
 City of Nettleton  $1,330,000 loan to support replacing the original water distribution lines built in 1935 with a system that incorporate erosion control, hydrants, service reconnections, and other improvements.  
 City of Columbia  $3,886,300 loan to support installing a new gravity sewer main, new sewer manholes, a triplex sanitary sewer pumping stations. The project also includes rehabilitation of three sanitary sewer lift stations and construction of new water main and waterworks operation building.  
 Sebastopol Water Association, Sebastopol  $2,740,000 loan to support drilling a 500 GPM well, a 380,000-gallon elevated tank, a 435,000-gallon ground storage tank, and distribution improvements.  
 Green Acres Water Association, Inc., Clarksdale  $352,000 loan to support installing new eight-inch sanitary sewer lines and new service connections on the existing sanitary sewer collection system in the Lane Acres Subdivision.  
 East Chickasaw Water Association, Inc., Okolona  $378,000 loan and $460,000 grant to support drilling a new well at a new site near Highway 32 to alleviate existing pressure and supply issues in the western portion of the system.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=0C220D03-3333-4985-9DA0-3C56B767DD3E,Mississippi Delegation Supports Governors Request for Disaster Declaration in Advance of Hurricane Zeta,2020-10-28,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and U.S. Representatives Steven Palazzo, R-Miss., and Michael Guest, R-Miss., today sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump urging him to approve Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves's request for a Pre-Landfall Disaster Declaration in advance of Hurricane Zeta. The storm is expected to have a severe impact on the southeastern portion of Mississippi, including heavy rainfall, damaging winds, and possible tornadoes.
In their letter, the lawmakers note that under a federal emergency declaration the Federal Emergency Management Agency would be authorized to provide emergency protective measures and direct federal assistance for 13 Mississippi counties, including Clarke, Jones, Wayne, Lamar, Forrest, Perry, Greene, Pearl River, Stone, George, Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson.
See the full text of the letter below:
Dear President Trump,
In anticipation of landfall of Hurricane Zeta, we request your full consideration of Governor Tate Reeves's request for a Pre-Landfall Disaster Declaration under Section 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.
Under the requested federal emergency declaration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would be authorized to provide emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance under the Public Assistance program at 75 percent federal funding for thirteen Mississippi counties including Clarke, Jones, Wayne, Lamar, Forrest, Perry, Greene, Pearl River, Stone, George, Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson.
As noted in the Governor's request, Mississippi is forecasted to face devastating impacts in the southeast portion of the State including heavy rainfall, damaging winds, and possible tornadoes.
This declaration would provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen the threat of a catastrophe in the designated areas.
Thank you for your consideration of this request. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you need further assistance in this effort.
Sincerely,

Roger F. Wicker
United States Senator

Cindy Hyde-Smith
United States Senator

Steven M. Palazzo
Member of Congress

Michael Guest
Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=752123FB-4890-4AF1-936C-6969BC18A4E4,"Wicker, Hyde-Smith Welcome $25.9M for Water & Wastewater Upgrades in Rural Miss.",2020-10-28,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., todaywelcomed the award of more than $25.9 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development funding to improve water and wastewater systems in 10 rural Mississippi communities.
The funding for several communities and rural water associations is provided through the USDA Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. The total $25,980,300 award consists of $23,677,300 in low-interest loans and $2,303,000 in grants.
Safe water and strong public utilities are essential to the health and wellbeing of our communities,Wickersaid. This additional USDA funding will support much-needed upgrades to public water and wastewater infrastructure across our state.
The delivery of reliable water and wastewater service requires consistent maintenance and upgrades, which can be challenging for rural communities. Congress appropriates funding to support these USDA loans and grants to ensure rural residents, like so many in Mississippi, can receive those basic utilities, said Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee.
The Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program is focused on eligible rural populations of 10,000 or less. It provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses.
The following loan and grant awards are going to Mississippi:
 
South Central Water Association, Inc., Terry  $13,904,000 loan to support drilling a 3,000-gallon-per-minute (GPM) well. The project also includes an elevated tank, distribution improvements, and construction of a shop.
Hermanville Community Water Association Inc., Hermanville  $128,000 loan and $383,000 grant to support upgrading water lines, installing automatic meter-reading systems, replacing all water meters, and installing a backup generator. Funds will also support installing automatic transfer switches at well sites, replacing chlorination equipment, and installing a new supervisory control and data acquisition and system.
Young's Water and Sewer District, Inc., Coffeeville  $490,000 loan and $268,000 grant to support installing a 150 GPM well to replace an old well, which was near maximum capacity and beyond its useful life.
Delta City Utility District #2, Delta City  $73,000 loan and $208,000 grant to support installing approximately 44,000 linear feet of water main pipes and upgrading the distribution system to serve new residents and resolve low water pressure issues throughout the system.
Hurricane Creek Water Association, Inc., Abbeville  $396,000 loan and $984,000 grant to support construction of two water supply wells and a water treatment plant.
City of Nettleton  $1,330,000 loan to support replacing the original water distribution lines built in 1935 with a system that incorporate erosion control, hydrants, service reconnections, and other improvements.
City of Columbia  $3,886,300 loan to support installing a new gravity sewer main, new sewer manholes, a triplex sanitary sewer pumping stations. The project also includes rehabilitation of three sanitary sewer lift stations and construction of new water main and waterworks operation building.
Sebastopol Water Association, Sebastopol  $2,740,000 loan to support drilling a 500 GPM well, a 380,000-gallon elevated tank, a 435,000-gallon ground storage tank, and distribution improvements.
Green Acres Water Association, Inc., Clarksdale  $352,000 loan to support installing new eight-inch sanitary sewer lines and new service connections on the existing sanitary sewer collection system in the Lane Acres Subdivision.
East Chickasaw Water Association, Inc., Okolona  $378,000 loan and $460,000 grant to support drilling a new well at a new site near Highway 32 to alleviate existing pressure and supply issues in the western portion of the system.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/wicker-hyde-smith-announce-93-million-support-mississippi-communities,"WICKER, HYDE-SMITH ANNOUNCE $9.3 MILLION IN SUPPORT FOR MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITIES",2020-10-27,2020,2020-10,Republican,House,MS,Cindy Hyde-Smith,H001079,www.hydesmith.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WICKER, HYDE-SMITH ANNOUNCE $9.3 MILLION IN SUPPORT FOR MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITIES
Miss. Senators Praise USDA Rural Development Awards to Support Equipment Purchases, Facility Upgrades
WASHINGTON  U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today praised the award of $9,317,500 for 42 community improvement projects in rural Mississippi.
The Community Facilities Program grants will be awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development.
These targeted investments from the USDA Rural Development program will help fund much needed equipment in communities across our state, Wicker said. The projects will enhance quality of life and improve safety for thousands of Mississippians.
These USDA Rural Development grants will help fulfill the need for vehicles, equipment, and projects required by small, rural communities to better serve their residents. These federal resources are backed with local funding, which makes these projects a welcomed collaborative effort, said Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee.
The USDA Rural Development grants for Mississippi will support the following projects:  
 City of Holly Springs, Marshall County  $6,378,300 to replace 28.38 miles of cast iron pipe with 60 psig maximum allowable operating pressure pipe.  
 Union County  $700,000 to help upgrade the current 911 system.  
 City of Port Gibson, Claiborne County  $629,500 to help fund construction of a new law enforcement facility.  
 Grenada County Board of Supervisors, Grenada County  $455,400 to help purchase law enforcement vehicles, patrol vehicles, a tractor, rotary cutter, a dump truck, a compact track loader, a tractor mower, a cab, a cassis truck, a backhoe loader, and a track type tractor.  
 Mississippi Main Street Association, Inc., Hinds County  $150,000 to help provide technical assistance and training.  
 Prentiss County Board of Supervisors, Prentiss County  $100,000 to help purchase two new fire trucks.  
 City of Louisville, Winston County  $50,000 to help purchase a patrol vehicle, mini excavator, and chipper; and a second $29,800 grant to help with improvements to facilities.  
 Town of Tishomingo, Tishomingo County  $50,000 to help purchase a sewer jetter and a second $30,200 grant to help purchase a tractor.  
 Carroll County Board of Supervisors, Carroll County  $50,000 to help purchase a large truck and a second $27,800 grant to help purchase a mini excavator.  
 City of Calhoun City, Calhoun County  $36,300 to help purchase an excavator for the public works department and a second $27,700 grant to help purchase two trucks for public work.  
 Webster County Board of Supervisors, Webster County  $50,000 to help purchase a vehicle for the Sheriff's Department.  
 Coahoma County Board of Supervisors, Coahoma County  $50,000 to help purchase patrol cars.  
 City of Kosciusko, Attala County  $49,900 to help purchase patrol cars.  
 Town of Friars Point, Coahoma County  $46,900 to help with improvements to facilities.  
 Town of De Kalb, Kemper County  $44,600 to help purchase a bush hog, excavator, and mower.  
 Town of Brooksville, Noxubee County  $43,500 to help purchase a pickup truck and chipper.  
 Wayne General Hospital, Wayne County  $42,000 to help purchase a portable x-ray system.  
 Town of Sumner, Tallahatchie County  $39,700 to help purchase a law enforcement vehicle.  
 Town of Derma, Calhoun County  $37,400 to help purchase a new Jaws of Life.  
 Town of Kilmichael, Montgomery County  $34,000 to help purchase a new dump truck.  
 City of Water Valley, Yalobusha County  $30,500 to help purchase a warning siren.  
 East Mississippi Community College, Kemper County  $28,600 to help purchase a patrol car.  
 Town of Myrtle, Union County  $26,600 to help purchase a patrol car and a second $21,300 grant to help purchase a public works vehicle.  
 Jefferson Davis Board of Supervisors, Jefferson Davis County  $21,800 to help purchase a new fingerprint machine, pepper spray guns, and portable radios for the Sheriff's Department.  
 Town of Artesia, Lowndes County  $19,500 to help purchase a warning sign.  
 Town of Tutwiler, Tallahatchie County  $16,200 to help purchase a debris removal truck.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=4BF2DF53-450D-4722-8090-CB06F62E022E,"Wicker, Hyde-Smith Announce $9.3M in Support for Mississippi Communities",2020-10-27,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., today praised the award of $9,317,500 for 41 community improvement projects in Mississippi. The Community Facilities Program grants will be awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development.
These targeted investments from theUSDARural Development program will help fund much needed equipment in communities across our state, Wicker said. The projects will enhance quality of life and improve safety for thousands of Mississippians.
These USDA Rural Development grants will help fulfill the need for vehicles, equipment, and projects required by small, rural communities to better serve their residents.These federal resources are backed with local funding, which makes these projects a welcomed collaborative effort, said Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee.
The USDA Rural Development grants for Mississippi will support the following projects:
 
City of Holly Springs, Marshall County - $6,378,300 to replace 28.38 miles of cast iron pipe with 60 psig maximum allowable operating pressure pipe.
Union County - $700,000 to help upgrade the current 911 system.
City of Port Gibson, Claiborne County - $629,500 to help fund construction of a new law enforcement facility.
Grenada County Board of Supervisors, Grenada County  $455,400 to help purchase law enforcement vehicles, patrol vehicles, a tractor, rotary cutter, a dump truck, a compact track loader, a tractor mower, a cab, a cassis truck, a backhoe loader, and a track type tractor.
Mississippi Main Street Association, Inc., Hinds County - $150,000 to help provide technical assistance and training. 
Prentiss County Board of Supervisors, Prentiss County - $100,000 to help purchase two new fire trucks.
City of Louisville, Winston County - $50,000 to help purchase a patrol vehicle, mini excavator, and chipper; and a second $29,800 grant to help with improvements to facilities.
Town of Tishomingo, Tishomingo County - $50,000 to help purchase a sewer jetter and a second $30,200 grant to help purchase a tractor.
Carroll County Board of Supervisors, Carroll County - $50,000 to help purchase a large truck and a second $27,800 grant to help purchase a mini excavator.
City of Calhoun City, Calhoun County - $36,300 to help purchase an excavator for the public works department and a second $27,700 grant to help purchase two trucks for public work.
Webster County Board of Supervisors, Webster County - $50,000 to help purchase a vehicle for the Sheriff's Department.
Coahoma County Board of Supervisors, Coahoma County - $50,000 to help purchase patrol cars.
City of Kosciusko, Attala County - $49,900 to help purchase patrol cars.
Town of Friars Point, Coahoma County - $46,900 to help with improvements to facilities.
Town of De Kalb, Kemper County - $44,600 to help purchase a bush hog, excavator, and mower.
Town of Brooksville, Noxubee County - $43,500 to help purchase a pickup truck and chipper.
Wayne General Hospital, Wayne County - $42,000 to help purchase a portable x-ray system.
Town of Sumner, Tallahatchie County - $39,700 to help purchase a law enforcement vehicle.
Town of Derma, Calhoun County - $37,400 to help purchase a new Jaws of Life.
Town of Kilmichael, Montgomery County - $34,000 to help purchase a new dump truck.
City of Water Valley, Yalobusha County - $30,500 to help purchase a warning siren.
East Mississippi Community College, Kemper County - $28,600 to help purchase a patrol car.
Town of Myrtle, Union County - $26,600 to help purchase a patrol car and a second $21,300 grant to help purchase a public works vehicle.
Jefferson Davis Board of Supervisors, Jefferson Davis County - $21,800 to help purchase a new fingerprint machine, pepper spray guns, and portable radios for the Sheriff's Department.
Town of Artesia, Lowndes County - $19,500 to help purchase a warning sign.
Town of Tutwiler, Tallahatchie County - $16,200 to help purchase a debris removal truck.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=E49A8FE2-FBF1-4399-872D-6915AE816CB3,"Wicker, Kaine, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Expand Minority Business Support to Rural Areas",2020-10-27,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Tim Kaine, D-Va., along with U.S. Senators Tim Scott, R-S.C., Chris Coons, D-Del, and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., introduced the Reaching America's Rural Minority Businesses Act of 2020 (S.4873) which would authorize the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) within the Department of Commerce to establish up to 10 business centers at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to serve rural and underserved communities. MBDA's existing Minority Business Centers are concentrated in select urban areas in 18 states, leaving vast swaths of the country without easy access to MBDA's services.
The Minority Business Development Agency has been a lifeline for many minority business owners and entrepreneurs seeking to start and grow their businesses, Senator Wicker said. This bill would help extend these resources to more of rural America, leveraging the expertise and innovation of our nation's historically black colleges and universities. I am glad to work alongside Senators Tim Kaine, Tim Scott, Chris Coons, and Thom Tillis to help make this expansion possible.
MBDA centers have long been integral in supporting minority-owned businesses, but many rural businesses face challenges tapping into these federal resources, Senator Kaine said. This difficulty is particularly devastating amid the ongoing economic crisis brought on by COVID-19. By combining the talent and expertise of HBCUs and MBDA centers, this bill will offer vital means for rural minority-owned businesses, helping them thrive and expand.
As a former business owner, I find it crucial that we deploy resources to our young people  especially in minority communities  to ensure that they have access to opportunity, said Senator Scott. I am proud to help draft and cosponsor the Reaching America's Rural Minority Businesses Act, and I look forward to seeing more minority-owned businesses across the nation.
It's urgent that Congress deliver comprehensive relief to small businesses struggling to survive the pandemic, but we must also ensure that ongoing recovery efforts reach underserved communities, Senator Coons said. This new bill would allow the Minority Business Development Agency to utilize the reach and relationships of HBCUs like Delaware State University to deliver the tools for growth to minority-owned small businesses. This is one of many ways we can prioritize equity and access as we chart the economic recovery.
This bipartisan legislation is a big win for rural and underserved communities in North Carolina, said Senator Tillis. North Carolina's HBCUs have the potential to become education, support, and training hubs for the rural minority businesses in the communities they support, and this legislation makes long-term future success possible for so many businesses and is a great way to focus on each individual need. I am proud to have worked on a bipartisan basis to introduce this legislation and applaud the administration for their continued investment in North Carolina's HBCUs and our rural communities.
The legislation would authorize $10 million a year for the creation of up to 10 rural business centers at HBCUs. Eligible institutions would not have to be located in a rural area, but would need to demonstrate how they would serve a rural or underserved minority population.
HBCUs would also be able to form a consortium with other HBCUs or institutions of higher learning, which would strengthen the capacity of an established center and broaden its outreach.
The rural business centers would provide education, training, and technical assistance to rural minority businesses. Specifically, the centers would assist with:
 
Adoption of broadband internet service, digital literacy, and e-commerce;
Promoting manufacturing in the United States;
Meeting gaps in the supply chain of critical supplies and essential goods and services;
Improving transportation and logistics;
Promoting trade and export opportunities; and
Facilitating entrepreneurship in rural areas.
 
In Mississippi, the legislation has been endorsed by all of the state's HBCUs, including Alcorn State University, Coahoma Community College, Hinds Community College-Utica, Jackson State University, Mississippi Valley State University, Rust College, and Tougaloo College.
Click here to read a one-page summary of the legislation.
Click here to read the full bill text.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=FB027FBC-A48C-4155-91D4-A23FBBE72753,Wicker Receives Guardian of Small Business Award,2020-10-27,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., received the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Guardian of Small Business award. The award is given to members of Congress who achieve a record of 70 percent or more on the NFIB scorecard, which includes votes on key legislative issues for America's small businesses.
Small businesses drive job creation and economic growth in our country, Wicker said. As our nation recovers from the devastating effects of the coronavirus pandemic, I will continue to support pro-growth policies that allow small businesses to thrive.
Wicker has been a strong supporter of the Paycheck Protection Program that has allowed more small businesses to access critical relief funds for their employees. The program was authorized by Congress in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economy Security (CARES) Act.
Wicker has also led legislation to establish a $120 billion revitalization fund to help independent restaurants deal with the long-term structural challenges facing the industry because of COVID-19. In whole, the recovery fund provided by the RESTAURANTS Act would generate at least $183 billion in primary benefits and $65 billion in secondary benefits.
The NFIB Guardian of Small Business Award is awarded to lawmakers who small businesses can truly count on, said Kevin Kuhlman, NFIB Vice President of Federal Government Relations. These Members of the U.S. Senate are dedicated supporters of the key issues that our members are concerned about and have proven themselves to be real champions for small business. Our policy positions are driven by our members, and we report NFIB Key Votes back to our membership. We are proud to recognize the Senators from the 116th Congress who earned this distinction by taking pro-small business votes supporting financial assistance programs and opposing increased labor costs. Small business owners across the country need their support now more than ever during these unprecedented times, and we are grateful to these lawmakers for their leadership.
For more information on the NFIB Guardian of Small Business Awards, click here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://palazzo.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401862,Palazzo Issues Statement on Confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to Supreme Court,2020-10-26,2020,2020-10,Republican,House,MS,Steven Palazzo,P000601,palazzo.house.gov,,,legacy,"Palazzo Issues Statement on Confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to Supreme Court 
   
    
       
      
  
    
      f 
      t 
      #
      e
      
      
    
    
      
        Washington,
        October 26, 2020
      
       
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
      
      
      Washington, DC - Congressman Steven Palazzo (MS-4)released the following statement after the United States Senate voted to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett as the newest Supreme Court Justice. Barrett's confirmation was approved on a vote of 52-48.
""Judge Barrett's confirmation todayis historic as she is only the fifth woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court. She is extremely qualified to fill this seatand will directly interpret the Constitution, upholding faith, family, and freedom. Congratulations to Judge Barrett on her confirmation.""###
    
  
  
  
    
      f 
      t 
      #
      e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/hyde-smith-statement-confirmation-judge-amy-coney-barrett,HYDE-SMITH STATEMENT ON CONFIRMATION OF JUDGE AMY CONEY BARRETT,2020-10-26,2020,2020-10,Republican,House,MS,Cindy Hyde-Smith,H001079,www.hydesmith.senate.gov,,,legacy,"HYDE-SMITH STATEMENT ON CONFIRMATION OF JUDGE AMY CONEY BARRETT
Miss. Senator Votes to Confirm Barrett as Newest Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
  PHOTO: Senator Hyde-Smith and Judge Amy Coney Barrett.
WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today issued a statement following her vote to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to be the newest Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
The Senate has rarely ever had a nominee with the exceptional qualifications and characteristics of Judge Amy Coney Barrett. I've never been more confident of a vote for a nominee than I am in voting for Judge Barrett. She will be a conservative jurist committed to interpreting the law and not legislating from the bench. In the years ahead, I believe the American people will be proud to have Judge Barrett on the Supreme Court.
Hyde-Smith delivered a speech last week explaining her support for Barrett's confirmation. Find video and the text of those remarks here.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/hyde-smith-visits-miss-national-guardsmen-assigned-capital-defense-mission,HYDE-SMITH VISITS WITH MISS. NATIONAL GUARDSMEN ASSIGNED TO CAPITAL DEFENSE MISSION,2020-10-26,2020,2020-10,Republican,House,MS,Cindy Hyde-Smith,H001079,www.hydesmith.senate.gov,,,legacy,"HYDE-SMITH VISITS WITH MISS. NATIONAL GUARDSMEN ASSIGNED TO CAPITAL DEFENSE MISSION
Miss. Senator Attends Reenlistment Ceremony
  PHOTO: Senator Hyde-Smith and Mississippi Army National Guard.
WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today visited with members of the Mississippi Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 204th Air Defense Artillery, following a classified briefing on their assignment to the National Capital Region Integrated Air Defense System. In addition, the visit included Maj. Gen. Janson D. Boyles, Adjutant General of Mississippi, presiding over a reenlistment ceremony for members of the Mississippi contingent. For the record, the Senator and National Guard practiced COVID-19 health protocols with the exception of 10 seconds for the image above.
Additional photographs available here and here.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=61E3C075-3E7A-4564-A644-9E13C4F7AD06,Wicker Votes to Confirm Justice Amy Coney Barrett,2020-10-26,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today released the following statement after voting to confirm Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court:
I have never seen a more talented, more articulate nominee for the United States Supreme Court than I have in this new justice, Amy Coney Barrett.
I think she will make us all proud. We have no idea the specific decisions that she will make, but I do know she was taught under the guidance of Justice Scalia, one of the great heroes of the Supreme Court. I think she will interpret the law as it is written by the legislative branch, and I think she will interpret the Constitution as it was written by our Founding Fathers.
This is a very significant day. I could not be more delighted in the outcome, and I give my best wishes to Justice Barrett.
Justice Barrett is the third justice to be confirmed to the Supreme Court during President Donald J. Trump's presidency.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/weekly-report?ContentRecord_id=FCB76183-509D-43A2-A1E1-5B228F078E50,Wicker Welcomes Plan to Expand Navy,2020-10-26,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Earlier this month, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper announced a plan to equip the U.S. Navy with the ships we need to stay competitive with China and other adversaries. As a longtime advocate for a bigger Navy, I was delighted with the goals he outlined. His proposal calls for 500 manned and unmanned ships by the year 2045. This goal builds on the progress we have made since Congress passed my legislation in 2017 requiring 355 ships as soon as practicable. The Navy's newest ships will carry improved missile and sensor technology, cost less to build and maintain, and require fewer sailors to operate.
Most encouragingly, Secretary Esper began a department-wide effort to find savings to put toward these ships. He is asking Congress for as much as an 18 percent boost to the Navy's shipbuilding budget. This would bring spending on ships to a level not seen since President Ronald Reagan. I wholeheartedly welcome this funding goal, but the details of how the money is spent will be critical. I look forward to working with the Navy to ensure we purchase the right combination of ships, including those built in Mississippi.
Military Should Invest in Proven Technologies
Our future fleet needs to rely on proven technology. New unmanned ships show great promise, but they have a long way to go before they are battle-ready. A shift to these new technologies too quickly could result in production delays and higher costs. They should be integrated carefully and gradually and should not displace the tried and true core of our naval fleet.
Mississippi shipbuilders have led the nation in building these ships, which include guided missile destroyers and amphibious warships. I am working to ensure these vessels remain a core priority in future Navy purchases.
With a larger fleet, the Navy will also need expanded maintenance capacities. The Navy already faces significant maintenance delays, which pose a danger to sailors and result in fewer ships being deployed. Because of delays, the Navy requires a minimum of 11 aircraft carriers to keep just three carriers active at all times. I hope the Navy considers options to reduce the maintenance backlog, such as bundling ship maintenance contracts and working with industry to establish clear expectations for work.
Strengthening Our Industrial Base
To reach the Secretary's 500-ship goal, we will also need a strong and stable industrial base. I have worked for years to deliver more resources to our shipyards, but there is more progress to be made. The Department of Defense and Congress need to give shipbuilders earlier notice on contracts and guarantee production rates for major classes of ships, such as destroyers and aircraft carriers. Military leaders should make more use of block buys to purchase several ships at a time. These changes would allow shipyards to save money, reduce the time it takes to build ships, and keep more workers on the payroll.
Although we are now entering an economic recovery, COVID-19 continues to have a disruptive effect on businesses  including defense manufacturers. These businesses face production delays and financial uncertainty, threatening our economy as well as our national security. I have proposed new relief to help these manufacturers retain their workforce, which I hope the Senate will pass as part of a larger relief package. We cannot overlook this vital sector of our economy as we work toward a nationwide recovery.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/hyde-smith-accepts-nfib-guardian-small-business-honor,HYDE-SMITH ACCEPTS NFIB GUARDIAN OF SMALL BUSINESS HONOR,2020-10-22,2020,2020-10,Republican,House,MS,Cindy Hyde-Smith,H001079,www.hydesmith.senate.gov,,,legacy,"HYDE-SMITH ACCEPTS NFIB GUARDIAN OF SMALL BUSINESS HONOR
Designation Based on Votes, Policies Beneficial to Small Businesses
WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today accepted the designation of Guardian of Small Business from the National Federation of Small Business (NFIB).
Small businesses represent not only a core of Mississippi's economy, but also opportunities for entrepreneurs and the people they hire. They have my admiration and solid support, Hyde-Smith said. I appreciate this designation and will continue to do my best to support the small business sector, particularly as we work to overcome this terrible coronavirus pandemic.
The NFIB Guardian of Small Business Award is based on key votes during the 116th Congress that support small businesses, including votes related to COVID-19 relief. Learn more here: https://www.nfib.com/guardian-of-small-business-awards/
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/hyde-smith-announces-106-million-defense-contract-tishomingo-co-manufacturer,HYDE-SMITH ANNOUNCES $10.6 MILLION DEFENSE CONTRACT FOR TISHOMINGO CO. MANUFACTURER,2020-10-22,2020,2020-10,Republican,House,MS,Cindy Hyde-Smith,H001079,www.hydesmith.senate.gov,,,legacy,"HYDE-SMITH ANNOUNCES $10.6 MILLION DEFENSE CONTRACT FOR TISHOMINGO CO. MANUFACTURER
Defense Logistics Agency Taps Golden Manufacturing Co. to Produce Military Trousers
WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today announced that the Defense Department is exercising a contract option with the Golden Manufacturing Company, Inc. in Golden, and providing $10.6 million for the firm to continue producing military garments.
The Defense Logistics Agency issued the first of three one-year options associated with a $15.9 million contract awarded in May 2019. The $10.6 million one-year option is for the Tishomingo County-based company to produce various types of trousers and slacks for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army.
This contract option can be seen as certification of the good work being done by Golden Manufacturers and its workers to provide our military with quality garments, Hyde-Smith said. I'm pleased that this defense funding will support our national defense and jobs in North Mississippi.
This latest award is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, with an Oct. 23, 2021, ordering period end date. The $10.6 million is funded through FY2021-2022 defense working capital funds.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/miss-senators-celebrate-committee-approval-mississippi-nominees-us-district-court,MISS. SENATORS CELEBRATE COMMITTEE APPROVAL OF MISSISSIPPI NOMINEES FOR U.S. DISTRICT COURT,2020-10-22,2020,2020-10,Republican,House,MS,Cindy Hyde-Smith,H001079,www.hydesmith.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MISS. SENATORS CELEBRATE COMMITTEE APPROVAL OF MISSISSIPPI NOMINEES FOR U.S. DISTRICT COURT
Nominations of Kristi Johnson and Taylor McNeel Head to Full Senate for Consideration
WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today hailed committee approval of the nomination Kristi H. Johnson of Brandon and Taylor B. McNeel of Pascagoula to serve as U.S. District Judges for the Southern District of Mississippi.
The Senate Judiciary Committee approval on Thursday clears their nominations for consideration by the full Senate. The Committee today also advanced the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States.
Kristi Johnson and Taylor McNeel are outstanding picks for the federal bench in Mississippi. They will both bring an impressive record of experience and a strong conservative judicial philosophy to their work. I look forward to seeing their nominations considered by the full Senate without delay, Wicker said.
Judiciary Committee approval of the Kristi Johnson and Taylor McNeel nominations sets the stage for the Senate to fill vacancies on the federal bench in Mississippi. They are both exceptional attorneys and are well qualified to serve as federal judges. Hyde-Smith said. I look forward to the full Senate confirming these outstanding Mississippians as soon as possible.
Wicker and Hyde-Smith introduced Johnson and McNeel at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to consider their nominations. President Trump selected Johnson in March and McNeel in June.
Johnson, a native of Hurley, serves as the first Solicitor General of Mississippi. If confirmed, she would also be the Southern District of Mississippi's first female jurist.
Johnson earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi and a law degree from Mississippi College, where she served as executive editor of the Mississippi College Law Review. She served as a law clerk for the Honorable Sharion Aycock with the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Mississippi and for the Honorable Leslie H. Southwick with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Johnson has also served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Mississippi, an adjunct professor at Mississippi College, and as Treasurer and Secretary of the Mississippi Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.
Committed to excellence from an early age, McNeel was an Eagle Scout, student body president, and an all-state quarterback in high school. At the University of Mississippi, he was elected senior class president and was a member of the football team for two seasons. He graduated from law school at Ole Miss in 2008.
McNeel is a partner in the law firm of Brunini, Grantham, Grower, and Hewes, where he heads the Mississippi Gulf Coast office and has led a number of cases before the Mississippi Supreme Court, Mississippi Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Pascagoula and the Harrison County Bar Association. Additionally, McNeel has held a number of leadership positions in the Mississippi Bar Association.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=5D9EB464-77FA-44A1-97D8-212B90AE72E7,"Wicker, Hyde-Smith Celebrate Committee Approval of Mississippi Nominees for District Court",2020-10-22,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., today hailed committee approval of the nomination of Kristi H. Johnson of Brandon and Taylor B. McNeel of Pascagoula to serve as U.S. District Judges for the Southern District of Mississippi. The Senate Judiciary Committee approval clears their nominations for consideration by the full Senate. The Committee also advanced the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States.
Kristi Johnson and Taylor McNeel are outstanding picks for the federal bench in Mississippi. They will both bring an impressive record of experience and a strong conservative judicial philosophy to their work. I look forward to seeing their nominations considered by the full Senate without delay, Wicker said.
Judiciary Committee approval of the Kristi Johnson and Taylor McNeel nominations sets the stage for the Senate to fill vacancies on the federal bench in Mississippi. They are both exceptional attorneys and are well qualified to serve as federal judges, Hyde-Smith said. I look forward to the full Senate confirming these outstanding Mississippians as soon as possible.
Wicker and Hyde-Smith introduced Johnson and McNeel at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to consider their nominations.President Trump selected Johnson in March and McNeel in June.
Johnson, a native of Hurley, serves as the first Solicitor General of Mississippi. If confirmed, she would also be the Southern District of Mississippi's first female jurist.
Johnson earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi and a law degree from Mississippi College, where she graduated summa cum laude and served as executive editor of the Mississippi College Law Review. She served as a law clerk for the Honorable Sharion Aycock with the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Mississippi and for the Honorable Leslie H. Southwick with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Johnson has also served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Mississippi, an adjunct professor at Mississippi College, and as Treasurer and Secretary of the Mississippi Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.
McNeel was an Eagle Scout, student body president, and an all-state quarterback in high school and was elected Governor of American Legion Boys State. At Ole Miss, he was a member of the football team for two seasons and served as senior class president. In 2008, he graduated cum laude from the University of Mississippi Law School where he was a member of the Mississippi Law Journal.
McNeel is a partner in the law firm of Brunini, Grantham, Grower, and Hewes, where he heads the Mississippi Gulf Coast office and has led a number of cases before the Mississippi Supreme Court, Mississippi Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
He is an elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Pascagoula and has served as president of the Harrison County Bar Association. Additionally, McNeel has held several leadership positions in the Mississippi Bar Association.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/hyde-smith-americans-should-be-celebrating-judge-amy-coney-barrett-supreme-court,HYDE-SMITH:  ‘AMERICANS SHOULD BE CELEBRATING’ JUDGE AMY CONEY BARRETT FOR THE SUPREME COURT,2020-10-21,2020,2020-10,Republican,House,MS,Cindy Hyde-Smith,H001079,www.hydesmith.senate.gov,,,legacy,"HYDE-SMITH: AMERICANS SHOULD BE CELEBRATING' JUDGE AMY CONEY BARRETT FOR THE SUPREME COURT
Miss. Senator Delivers Speech for Confirmation of Judge Barrett to Serve on U.S. Supreme Court
  VIDEO: Senator Hyde-Smith Endorses Judge Barrett's Confirmation.  VIDEO: Senator Hyde-Smith's Full Speech on Judge Barrett.
WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today said the American people should be celebrating the prospect of Judge Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, describing her as a stunningly successful jurist and mother.
Hyde-Smith delivered a speech to the Senate to explain her support for confirming Barrett, who was nominated by President Trump in September to be an Associate Justice on the Court.
Judge Barrett's life experiences as a judge, lawyer, teacher, wife, and mother will bring a valuable, and much needed, perspective to the Supreme Court. I am proud to support Judge Barrett. Now the Senate must do its Constitutional duty and confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett as soon as possible, said Hyde-Smith, who visited with Barrett in September.
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday will vote on forwarding the Barrett nomination to the full Senate for consideration. [Watch 8 a.m. CDT, Oct. 22.] The Senate is expected to be in session over the weekend, with a final confirmation vote on Monday or Tuesday.
Americans should be celebrating the nomination of Judge Barrett. She is brilliant, hardworking, ambitious, and a proud mother and wife. In a time where we need role models for our youth, Judge Barrett fills that role, Hyde-Smith said. 
The Judge is a family-oriented woman who reveres the Constitution. She is a representative for working women across the country and a testament that women can have a career and family and be stunningly successful at both. I also appreciate that she has displayed great strength in withstanding affronts to her faith and her family during the confirmation process, she continued.
The text of Hyde-Smith's remarks are available below and here.
U.S. SENATOR CINDY HYDE-SMITH (R-Miss.)
October 21, 2020
Mr. President, it is an honor to speak in strong support of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to serve as an associate justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. After careful review of her record and her outstanding testimony during her confirmation hearing, it is clear Judge Barrett is well suited for a lifetime appointment on the Court.
Last week, Judge Barrett firmly held her own during hours and hours of questioning from my colleagues on the Judiciary Committee. She did not once falter during her hearingin fact, she excelled.
Judge Barrett proved to the American people that she is prepared, talented, compassionate, and not to mention, brilliant. Judge Barrett demonstrated that she is an independent individual who can think for herself. She made clear she is an originalist who will follow the rule of law. 
Without a single note or binder in front of her, Judge Barrett repeatedly affirmed that she would interpret the Constitution and laws passed by Congress as they are writtenno more, no less. 
During her hearing, Judge Barrett testified: I apply the law. I follow the law. You make the policy. The Judge kept pointing out that we, the Senate, are the legislators. 
She stressed that she has no mission or agenda to change the law as she would want it. Judge Barrett made it abundantly clear that in her role as a jurist, she has no issues with setting aside her personal beliefs when applying the letter of the law.
This mindset and legal philosophy is exactly the type of jurist we need on our nation's highest court.
Not only did we hear from Judge Barrett, but we heard from her former professors, colleagues, and studentsthese are the people who know her best. These individuals were a witness to not only her intellect, but her character as well. The testimonies on her behalf only proved her absolute readiness for this position. 
Americans should be celebrating the nomination of Judge Barrett. She is brilliant, hardworking, ambitious, and a proud mother and wife. In a time where we need role models for our youth, Judge Barrett fills that role. 
The Judge is a family-oriented woman who reveres the Constitution. She is a representative for working women across the country and a testament that women can have a career and family and be stunningly successful at both. I also appreciate that she has displayed great strength in withstanding affronts to her faith and her family during the confirmation process.
If confirmedand I am confident that she will beAmy Coney Barrett will have the honor to be the fifth woman in history to serve on the Supreme Court. The first judge as a mother of school-aged children. She will be the only sitting judge on the Court to have not attended an Ivy League law school. We must continue to ensure women, like Judge Barrett, are represented in the highest levels of our judicial system. 
Judge Barrett's life experiences as a judge, lawyer, teacher, wife, and mother will bring a valuable, and much needed, perspective to the Supreme Court. I am proud to support Judge Barrett. Now the Senate must do its Constitutional duty and confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett as soon as possible.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/hyde-smith-senate-democrats-four-four-blocking-urgent-covid-19-relief,HYDE-SMITH:  SENATE DEMOCRATS FOUR-FOR-FOUR IN BLOCKING URGENT COVID-19 RELIEF,2020-10-21,2020,2020-10,Republican,House,MS,Cindy Hyde-Smith,H001079,www.hydesmith.senate.gov,,,legacy,"HYDE-SMITH: SENATE DEMOCRATS FOUR-FOR-FOUR IN BLOCKING URGENT COVID-19 RELIEF
$500 Billion Targeted Relief for Health, Education, Small Businesses & Agriculture Again Spoiled
WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today criticized ongoing Democratic opposition to passing a targeted COVID-19 relief package to provide urgent aid to the most pressing needs of small businesses, schools, the unemployed, and the healthcare system.
Senate Democrats for the fourth time since July blocked Senate debate on a targeted $500 billion bill to fund a second round of the Paycheck Protection Program, expand school safety protocols, and other priority needs for the nation to overcome the health and economic harm caused by the national health emergency.
The Senate Democrats have racked up a perfect four-for-four record in terms of stopping the delivery of new COVID-19 relief. Unfortunately, their perfect record denies the citizens of my state and this great country the help they need, Hyde-Smith said. The funding and provisions in this package are noncontroversial, widely supported, and urgently needed. We are well past time to do what's needed to responsibly provide targeted assistance where it's needed now.
The COVID-19 bill blocked today largely resembles similar legislation sunk by the Democrats in early September. Both measures provided important agricultural assistance that would benefit Mississippi, including $20 billion of additional farm assistance and $500 million in direct federal assistance for fisheries.
On Tuesday, Senate Democrats also blocked a standalone measure to provide $257.64 billion to support the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and PPP Second Draw Loans.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=BB21C2EF-26E9-4816-BAD4-F4531A18FFA6,Wicker Supports Judge Amy Coney Barrett,2020-10-21,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today took to the Senate floor to speak in support of Judge Amy Coney Barrett's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.
In his remarks, Wicker touted Barrett's character and respect for the rule of law:
I have never witnessed a more impressive display of poise and knowledge and temperament in a candidate for the Supreme Court than I have witnessed during the confirmation process of [Judge Amy Coney Barrett]
I have five granddaughters, the oldest one is 10. I think Justice Amy Coney Barrett will prove to be an inspiration to these five granddaughters and to my grown daughters also
I couldn't be more delighted, I couldn't be more enthusiastic, I could not be more awe-inspired with a candidate for the Supreme Court. I will, with great honor and privilege, vote in favor of her confirmation.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/hyde-smith-votes-covid-19-small-business-relief-senate-dems-continue-obstruction,"HYDE-SMITH VOTES FOR COVID-19 SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF, BUT SENATE DEMS. CONTINUE OBSTRUCTION",2020-10-20,2020,2020-10,Republican,House,MS,Cindy Hyde-Smith,H001079,www.hydesmith.senate.gov,,,legacy,"HYDE-SMITH VOTES FOR COVID-19 SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF, BUT SENATE DEMS. CONTINUE OBSTRUCTION
WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today voted for the first of two measures intended to overcome partisan obstruction and begin delivering additional COVID-19 relief to the nation.
Unfortunately, Senate Democrats effectively blocked consideration of the Continuing Paycheck Protection Program Act. The measure would have provided $257.64 billion to support the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and PPP Second Draw Loans.
We all recognize that the Paycheck Protection Program successfully kept hard-hit small businesses and their employees afloat as the coronavirus battered our economy. It's a shame that Senate Democrats continue to cling to an all-or-nothing strategy instead of getting real help out the door right now, Hyde-Smith said. The PPP benefitted many Mississippians, who now look to Congress to do more to help our economy.
In addition to supporting PPP and PPP Second Draw Loans, the Continuing Paycheck Protection Program Act would have simplified the PPP loan forgiveness process and expanded forgivable expenses. It would have also established a specific PPP loan calculation for farmers and ranchers, and provided the Farm Credit System Institutions with greater certainty and equity in PPP lending participation.
We will not give up on delivering responsible, targeted assistance to where it is most urgently needed, Hyde-Smith said.
On Wednesday, the Senate will attempt to proceed to a broader $500 billion targeted relief package that addresses more PPP, unemployment benefits, safe school operations, COVID tests needs, vaccine development, and healthcare needs. This package also includes significant support for agricultural interests.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/wicker-hyde-smith-back-constitutional-amendment-legislation-block-supreme-court-packing,"WICKER, HYDE-SMITH BACK CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT & LEGISLATION TO BLOCK SUPREME COURT PACKING",2020-10-19,2020,2020-10,Republican,House,MS,Cindy Hyde-Smith,H001079,www.hydesmith.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WICKER, HYDE-SMITH BACK CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT & LEGISLATION TO BLOCK SUPREME COURT PACKING
Proposals Would Enshrine Nine-Justice Court, Require Supermajority Support for Future Expansion
WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today joined U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), and Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.), to introduce two proposals to protect the number of justices on the U.S. Supreme Court and prevent future partisan manipulation of the Court's size.
The Senators launched the legislative effort in response to recent threats from national Democrats to pack the U.S. Supreme Court by expanding its size and adding reliably liberal justices under a possible future Democrat-led government.
Proposals to pack' the Supreme Court and add seats to change its ideological balance should concern every American, Wicker said. There have been nine seats on the Supreme Court for more than 150 years, providing stability and trust in the rule of law. These two proposals would protect the independence of our federal judiciary and ensure our nation's highest court is not subject to political games.
Having nine justices on the United States Supreme Court has worked for more than 150 years. Today, the long-standing checks and balances that are the foundation of our democracy would be thrown into crisis if threats to pack the court are successful. Packing the court is all about politics and power, not principle, Hyde-Smith said. The legislation we introduce today would keep our democracy intact and isolate the judiciary from the political whims of our colleagues across the aisle.
The first proposal, also known as the Keep Nine amendment, would amend the U.S. Constitution to prevent the expansion or contraction of the Supreme Court and codify the current nine-member court. The second proposal would require a supermajority (two-thirds) vote before any legislative effort to modify the size of the Court could be considered in the Senate. If enacted, the two proposals would provide a substantial barrier to future attempts to change the composition of the Supreme Court. Currently, the number of justices on the Court could be modified with a simple majority vote in Congress and the approval of the President.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=A1EAD34A-68B7-4DCF-9EDF-B25ACFFEE9A2,"Wicker, Hyde-Smith Back Constitutional Amendment & Legislation to Block Supreme Court Packing",2020-10-19,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., today joined U.S. Senators Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Thom Tillis, R-N.C., Martha McSally, R-Ariz.,and Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., to introduce two proposals to protect the number of justices on the U.S. Supreme Court and prevent future partisan manipulation of the Court's size. The senators launched the legislative effort in response to recent threats from national Democrats to pack the U.S. Supreme Court by expanding its size and adding reliably-liberal justices under a possible future Democrat-led government.
Proposals to pack' the Supreme Court and add seats to change its ideological balance should concern every American, Wicker said. There have been nine seats on the Supreme Court for more than 150 years, providing stability and trust in the rule of law. These two proposals would protect the independence of our federal judiciary and ensure our nation's highest court is not subject to political games.
Having nine justices on the United States Supreme Court has worked for more than 150 years. Today, the long-standing checks and balances that are the foundation of our democracy would be thrown into crisis if threats to pack the court are successful. Packing the court is all about politics and power, not principle, Hyde-Smith said.The legislation we introduce today would keep our democracy intact and isolate the judiciary from the political whims of our colleagues across the aisle.
Thefirst proposal, also known as the Keep Nine amendment, would amend the U.S. Constitution to prevent the expansion or contraction of the Supreme Court and codify the current nine-member court. Thesecondproposalwould require a supermajority (two-thirds) vote before any legislative effort to modify the size of the Court could be considered in the Senate. If enacted, the two proposals would provide a substantial barrier to future attempts to change the composition of the Supreme Court. Currently, the number of justices on the Court could be modified with a simple majority vote in Congress and the approval of the President.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/weekly-report?ContentRecord_id=970DBBDE-5E87-4713-98A0-C08F4160EBB4,Wicker Opposes Calls to Pack Supreme Court,2020-10-19,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Last year, the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg gave what would become her last major interview, reflecting on the Supreme Court and her long life of service. At one point she was asked about court packing, the practice of adding new seats to the Supreme Court to guarantee favorable rulings. She flatly rejected the idea. If anything would make the court look partisan, it would be that, she said. Instead, the number of justices should remain the same: Nine seems to be a good number. It's been that way for a long time.
Justice Ginsburg is now gone, but her wise words continue to ring true. Indeed, for decades both parties have denounced court packing because it would undermine the separation of powers and confidence in our legal system. But in recent years, some Democrats in Congress have suggested court packing as a way to counter the growing number of Republican-appointed justices on the Supreme Court.
For example, Congressman Jerrold Nadler, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, said a future Democrat-led Senate should immediately move to pack the court. Likewise, Senator Ed Markey called on Democrats to abolish the filibuster and expand the Supreme Court. Even Chuck Schumer, the Senate Minority Leader, said nothing is off the table if Democrats win the presidency and control of the Senate in November.
Adding seats to the court to change its ideological balance should concern every American. There have been nine seats on the Supreme Court for more than 150 years, providing stability and trust in the rule of law. To protect this tradition, I am supporting several measures in the Senate that would help prevent a change to the number of seats on the Supreme Court.
Court Packing Effort Backfired on FDR
Court packing was last attempted by President Franklin Roosevelt in the 1930s. The Supreme Court had struck down several laws that were part of Roosevelt's New Deal. Unable to win on the merits of his proposals, he attempted to change the court. In 1937, he launched an effort to add up to six new justices.
Americans rallied against the plan, understanding that an independent judiciary was vital to our system of government. Even Roosevelt's own Vice President, John Nance Garner, came out against it. The Democrat-led Senate defeated the proposal by a 70-20 vote.
Roosevelt would end up appointing eight Supreme Court justices  not because of court packing, but because he filled vacancies in a constitutional manner during his 12 years as President. Winning at the ballot box was the appropriate way to have an impact on the judiciary. The same lesson holds true today.
Supreme Court Is Not a Super-Legislature
Like FDR, those who urge court packing today are looking to federal judges to produce certain outcomes. But this goal misses the point of having a representative government. It is the job of Congress and the President, not judges, to make policy for our nation. Judge Amy Coney Barrett said it best in her recent hearing on Capitol Hill: The policy decisions and value judgments of government must be made by the political branches elected by and accountable to the people. The public should not expect courts to do so, and courts should not try.
Elections have consequences, and the winners have the authority to nominate and confirm judges and justices to the federal bench. Regardless of the outcome in this year's contests, the President and the Senate should use this authority only as vacancies occur. Packing the court is a dangerous idea that should once again be rejected by all parties.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/hyde-smith-new-yazoo-area-pump-plan-marks-significant-milestone-effort-reduce-backwater-flooding,HYDE-SMITH:  NEW YAZOO AREA PUMP PLAN MARKS SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN EFFORT TO REDUCE BACKWATER FLOODING,2020-10-16,2020,2020-10,Republican,House,MS,Cindy Hyde-Smith,H001079,www.hydesmith.senate.gov,,,legacy,"HYDE-SMITH: NEW YAZOO AREA PUMP PLAN MARKS SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN EFFORT TO REDUCE BACKWATER FLOODING
Draft Pump Proposal Released by Army Corps Will Reduce Flooding, Benefit Environment and Wildlife 
  VIDEO: Senator Hyde-Smith Comments on U.S. Army Corps Plan on Yazoo Backwater Pumps.
WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith today welcomed the long-anticipated release of a new U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plan that recommends moving forward on a flood control project to address the catastrophic Yazoo Backwater Area flooding that has plagued the South Mississippi Delta in nine of the last 10 years.
The Army Corps on Friday announced in the Federal Register the Draft Supplement No. 2 to the 1982 Yazoo Area Pump Project Final Environmental Impact Statement, a new Proposed Plan that would breathe new life into the Yazoo Backwater Area Pumps project. The Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) is now available for public review and comment through Nov. 30, 2020.
The Vicksburg District's recommendation to move forward with a new and improved Yazoo Area Pump Project proposal is a significant milestone, said Hyde-Smith, who has championed the effort to reverse a 2008 veto of the pumps project. Residents of the South Mississippi Delta have suffered enough. Over the past decade, we have lost lives, homes and businesses, suffered hundreds of millions in economic damages, and observed catastrophic impacts to the environment and wildlife.
I commend Commander Colonel Robert Hilliard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District for their swift and diligent work on this new and promising plan, the Senator said. I also strongly recommend that Mississippians study the Draft SEIS and comment in favor of taking the next steps required to finish the pumps.
The Draft SEIS will serve as an update to the Corps' 2007 environmental documentation, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended. The report takes into account new and improved environmental data in the study area, which has suffered significant flood events in nine out of the last 10 years with substantial environmental, economic, and public safety damage.
The Corps' draft plan recommends a new location for the Yazoo Backwater pumping station, which would be operated by natural gas rather than diesel. It would also entail thousands of acres of conservation easements for reforestation, and the installation of 34 supplemental low flow groundwater wells to enhance aquatic resources.
In the Draft SEIS, the Corps determines that the Proposed Plan is the most balanced, implementable approach, and meets the economic and environmental needs of the basin. Based on new environmental and wetland data from the Yazoo Backwater Area, the updated evaluation also found that precipitation is the dominant driver of wetland hydrology in much of the Yazoo Basin. As a result, impacts to wetland functions are not anticipated to convert any wetlands into non-wetlands. 
The Corps determined, Inflow from the Yazoo Study Area drainage area into the ponding areas when the water control structures are closed causes interior flooding in the Yazoo Study Area that needs to be reduced. The flooding affects public roads and bridges; residential and nonresidential structures; other infrastructure; environmental resources; and agricultural, forested, and timber management lands. As a result, flooding has caused undue hardships and economic losses to residents of the area due to flooding of homes, disruption of sanitation facilities, lines of communications, and transportation. This flooding constitutes a major problem to residents and is a detriment to economic development of the Yazoo Study Area, therefore a definite need exists for the reduction of this flooding. A flood damage reduction project would benefit all sections of the economy and contribute to the well-being of all area residents.
More than $984.5 million in agricultural crop damages have been observed from various flood events since 2008, which does not even take into account the hundreds of thousands of acres that went unplanted because floodwaters rose in early spring and remained high through the planting season. In 2019 and 2020, for instance, more than 200,000 acres were prevented from planting, which means hundreds of millions of dollars in economic output the area could have generated, Hyde-Smith said. 
Recent studies conducted by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and the Mississippi State University Extension Service on the economic impacts of the 2019 backwater flooding found that 687 homes were damaged or destroyed, the average out-of-pocket expenses for area residents was $42,160, and that it could take years to fully realize the impact the flood had on area wildlife. The Draft SEIS estimates that flood damages across all categories would have been reduced by 75 percent if the proposed project would have been in place.  
Public Comment Period
Due to COVID-19, the Army Corps will conduct virtual public meetings to provide information on the project and to receive verbal public comments. Time and meeting details for these public events will be provided in subsequent media release and advertisements.
The Army Corps will accept written comments through Nov. 30, 2020. Comments on the Draft Addendum should be sent by e-mail to YazooBackwater@usace.army.mil or by mail to:
District Engineer  
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers  
Vicksburg District  
4155 Clay Street  
Vicksburg, Mississippi 39138-3435
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=B4475450-CA49-4CE2-B406-F29C95C07471,Wicker Praises Army Corps Action on Yazoo Backwater Pumps Project,2020-10-16,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MS,Roger Wicker,W000437,www.wicker.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today praised the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for releasing a draft of an updated supplemental environmental impact statement that outlines the need for a pumping station to alleviate repeated flooding in the Yazoo Backwater Area. The new draft follows an announcement from the Corps in April that they would be considering an update to a 2007 environmental impact statement that formed the basis of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) veto of the Yazoo Pumps Project in 2008.
This is a positive step forward for the residents of the South Mississippi Delta who have long been pleading for relief. The Army Corps of Engineers's new report represents the latest data on the impact of backwater floods that have devastated wildlife, destroyed crops, and damaged homes throughout the Yazoo Backwater Area. While this project is still far from the finish line, I am encouraged that the Corps has listened to the people of Mississippi and seen the impact of the floods on our state and our environment, Wicker said.
The Corps's draft report is based on new environmental data from the Yazoo Backwater Area, and specifically the Yazoo Study Area.
Recent evidence has shown that prolonged periods of flooding in the South Delta have adversely affected the aquatic and terrestrial environment and demonstrate[d] the need to complete the Yazoo Area Pump Project.
The decision to move forward with a new environmental impact statement comes after Wicker and Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith invited leaders from both the Corps of Engineers and the EPA to visit the area. After seeing the damage firsthand, the leaders expressed an interest in finding a solution for the flooding.
The Draft Addendum can be viewed online at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District website at: https://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/missions/programs-and-project-management/project-management/yazoo-backwater-report/
Because of COVID-19, USACE will host virtual public meetings to provide information on the project and to receive verbal public comments; times and meeting details will be provided in subsequent media release and advertisements.
USACE will accept written comments through Nov. 30, 2020.Comments on the Draft Addendum should be sent by e-mail toYazooBackwater@usace.army.milor by mail to the following address:

District Engineer
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Vicksburg District
4155 Clay Street
Vicksburg, Mississippi39138-3435",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z