MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2024 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Kirby, Barrett, DeLano, Berry, Blackwell, Branning, Carter, Chassaniol, DeBar, England, Fillingane, Harkins, Hill, Hopson, Johnson, McCaughn, McMahan, Michel, Parker, Polk, Rhodes, Robinson, Seymour, Sparks, Whaley, Williams, Younger, Chism, McLendon
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE RECOGNITION OF THE MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE TO UNITED STATES SENATOR CINDY HYDE-SMITH AS THE FIRST WOMAN ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
WHEREAS, U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith is the first woman elected to represent Mississippi in Washington, D.C. She won a six-year term in November 2020, following her April 2018 appointment to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by long-time U.S. Senator Thad Cochran and subsequent November 2018 special election victory to complete his term; and
WHEREAS, in the 118th Congress, Hyde-Smith serves on the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and Committee on Rules and Administration; and
WHEREAS, as Senator, Hyde-Smith has been active and successful in the legislative process to improve the overall quality of life for all Mississippians, using her committee assignments to support policies and legislation to benefit the state and nation; and
WHEREAS, in her role on the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, Hyde-Smith has used her subcommittee positions and influence to benefit Mississippi and its economy in a variety of ways whether it involves shipbuilding on the Gulf Coast, Mississippi's strong defense and aerospace sectors, agriculture, rural broadband and rural health, infrastructure, or other priority issues. As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Hyde-Smith was influential in the crafting and passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which included provisions she authored pertaining to rural economic development, better crop insurance for flood-prone regions, Chronic Wasting Disease research, and forest health. Hyde-Smith has established herself as a leader in support for rural healthcare, helping to secure funding to support rural hospitals and resources to expand telehealth for Medicare beneficiaries; and
WHEREAS, prior to becoming a U.S. Senator for Mississippi, Hyde-Smith served as the Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, elected in 2011 and reelected in 2015. Highlights of her tenure were her efforts to reopen foreign markets for American beef exports, advocating for country-of-origin food labeling, and ensuring that imported catfish meets USDA food safety standards. Under her leadership, the department was recognized as a "model agency" for effectiveness and budget control; and
WHEREAS, before leading the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Hyde-Smith served 12 years in the Mississippi State Senate, including eight years as Chairman of the Agriculture Committee. As a Legislator, Hyde-Smith championed policies to promote and protect all facets of the agriculture industry. She fought to protect private property rights, supported tort reform, and earned respect for her advocacy of conservative budget and pro-business initiatives; and
WHEREAS, as a prominent U.S. Senator, Hyde-Smith has received the Award for Conservative Achievement from the American Conservative Union Foundation, the Spirit of Enterprise Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Champion of Small Business – National Federation of Independent Business. Among other commendations, the National Rural Health Association presented Senator Hyde-Smith with its Rural Health Champion Award, and she received National Legislator of the Year honors from the Mississippi Rural Health Association, the Agriculture Legislator of the Year Award from the Mississippi Association of Conservation Districts, the Ambassador Award from the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, the Achievement Award from Delta Council, and the Outstanding Service to Small Farmers Award from Alcorn State University; and
WHEREAS, Hyde-Smith is a graduate of Copiah-Lincoln Community College and The University of Southern Mississippi. Hyde-Smith and her husband, Mike, have a daughter, Anna-Michael. They reside in Brookhaven and are active members of Macedonia Baptist Church. A fifth-generation farming family, the Senator's family raises beef cattle and are partners in a local stockyard auction market in Brookhaven; and
WHEREAS, just over a century ago, the first woman was elected to the United States Congress, and now there are 151 women serving in both chambers of Congress as of this month. More women holding elected office is significant not only in that it brings Congress closer to accurately representing the American population, it also expends the collective imagination about what power can and should look like, and we recognize the historic significance of the election of an effective Mississippi Senator who has brought honor to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby extend the recognition of the Mississippi Legislature to United States Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith as the first woman elected to represent the State of Mississippi in Washington, D.C., and offer our congratulations on this auspicious event.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to United States Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, forwarded to the United States Senate, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.