MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2018 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Burton, Barnett, Blackmon, Blackwell, Blount, Branning, Browning, Bryan, Butler, Carmichael, Carter, Caughman, Chassaniol, Clarke, Dawkins, DeBar, Dearing, Doty, Fillingane, Frazier, Gollott, Harkins, Hill, Hopson, Horhn, Hudson, Jackson (11th), Jackson (15th), Jackson (32nd), Jolly, Jordan, Kirby, Massey, McDaniel, McMahan, Michel, Moran, Norwood, Parker, Parks, Polk, Seymour, Simmons (12th), Simmons (13th), Tollison, Turner-Ford, Watson, Whaley, Wiggins, Wilemon, Witherspoon, Younger
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE LASTING LEGACY OF RETIRING UNITED STATES SENATOR THAD COCHRAN.
WHEREAS, April 1, 2018, will truly be the end of an era in Mississippi politics. That is the day longtime United States Senator and Northeast Mississippi native Thad Cochran will step down from his seat after 46 years representing the Magnolia State in Washington, D.C. Senator Cochran was Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee; and
WHEREAS, Mississippians owe Senator Cochran a debt of gratitude for his service over the last several decades. For always seeking to make Mississippi a better place for all its residents, we thank Senator Cochran and wish him a long and well-deserved retirement; and
WHEREAS, Senator Cochran was first elected to the Senate in 1978, becoming the first Republican in more than 100 years to win a statewide election in Mississippi. He is the 10th longest-serving Senator in U.S. history. Senator Cochran was reelected in 2014 to a seventh six-year term that began in January 2015 as Chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, a post he had held briefly in the mid-2000s and was scheduled to continue through 2018. Senator Cochran previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1973-1978 before winning an election to replace longtime Senator James Eastland, who retired. Cochran has a quiet, stately demeanor and is known for playing piano to relax in his office. For many years he drew accolades in Washington, D.C., for working across the aisle to get difficult measures passed, and back home for "bringing home the bacon" to Mississippi. He was responsible for funding numerous projects, including federal programs and aid for farmers, buildings and programs at universities, and funding for local governments and federal contracts at Pascagoula's shipyard and military installations; and
WHEREAS, during four decades in Washington, Thad has tended to pay attention to his interests in Mississippi and to leave national politics to others. In Mississippi and other Gulf states, part of Senator Cochran's legacy is his response during Hurricane Katrina. As Chairman of Appropriations when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, he used his years of consensus building and working across the aisle to convince a reluctant Congress to provide $29 Billion in immediate Katrina relief, including an unprecedented $5 Billion in discretionary HUD Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program funds for Mississippi. This allowed the state to provide homeowner grants for rebuilding. The federal relief he helped secure is credited with preventing financial and social ruin in Mississippi and Louisiana after the hurricane's destruction; and
WHEREAS, comments from elected officials and community leaders throughout the country showcased the true impact he had on our great state and country:
· From Governor Phil Bryant:
"One of Mississippi's greatest public servants has shared with me his plans to retire. Senator Cochran's service ushered in an era of unprecedented influence for our state and will benefit generations to come. He was a leader in Washington and a powerful advocate for every Mississippian. I will always be grateful to Senator Cochran for his friendship and support during my time of service. Deborah and I wish him and Kay the very best as they begin this new chapter."
· From Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves:
"Senator Cochran's service to our nation has made the lives of Mississippians better, and his support of our military ties made America safer. He fought relentlessly for Mississippi from helping our farmers get their crops to market to fighting for our citizens after Hurricane Katrina devastated much of the state. He earned and maintained the respect of his colleagues on both sides of the aisle even though he never shied away from a battle to protect his beloved state. Elee and I wish Senator Cochran and his family well as they enter this new chapter."
· From Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann:
"There are no words to describe how important Senator Cochran, a true gentleman and statesman, has been to Mississippi. While he leaves a lasting legacy in agriculture, defense and Hurricane Katrina recovery, and a huge gap in Senate and national leadership, the citizens of Mississippi will experience the largest vacuum in the loss of his public presence and influence on almost every aspect of our personal and political lives. Lynn and I wish him and his family the best in his retirement and welcome him home. Job well done."; and
WHEREAS, quiet, thoughtful, extremely intelligent, and possessed of that rare ability to disagree agreeably, Thad Cochran broke the mold of loud, bellicose Southern demagogues and effectively conducted his 46 years of service for the people of Mississippi on Capitol Hill as what Time Magazine cogently called in 2006 "the quiet persuader"; and
WHEREAS, Senator Cochran was a workhorse. He kept up a schedule that colleagues decades later would not attempt. With a schedule broken up into 15-to-30-minute increments, depending on the time of the year, the Senator prioritized meeting personally with everyone who requested a meeting. He believed if someone traveled to Washington, D.C., from Hernando or Pascagoula, Clarksdale or Meridian, it might be their only trip and they should be able to talk to their elected representatives. While he might be scheduled to meet with cabinet secretaries or foreign leaders, Senator Cochran has been more interested in hearing from families, farmers, educators and local officials on issues that affect them, issues as varied as juvenile diabetes to roads and bridges that are vital for their communities; and
WHEREAS, Thad Cochran leaves a lasting legacy not only in his hometown but throughout all Mississippi. His passion for helping build community throughout this region was unlike any other. He will truly be missed:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize the lasting legacy of United States Senator Thad Cochran on the occasion of his retirement, and extend to Senator Cochran and his family continued success and happiness in his retirement.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to U.S. Senator Thad Cochran, transmitted to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, the President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate and the Governor of the State of Mississippi, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.