What Roger F. Wicker said, and what was done

“Madam President, on the evening of May 6, 2026, Jonathan Blanchard heard tornado sirens blare through his hometown Bogue Chitto, MS. A volunteer firefighter accustomed to responding to emergencies, Blanchard gathered his family and found shelter.”

“Mr. President, and now let me join with my colleagues from New Hampshire and Alabama in urging a strong ``yes'' vote on the motion to proceed to Lindsey Graham's sanctions bill.”

“Mr. President, in January, Mississippi endured a historically catastrophic ice storm. At the height of the bad weather, nearly 90 percent of north Mississippi had lost power. The situation demanded swift thinking and a massive response.”

“Mr. President, today I recognize the distinguished career and extraordinary service of LTG Thomas L. James, U.S. Army. A native of Petal, MS, Lieutenant General James served in uniform for more than four decades, leaving an indelible mark on the security of our Nation.”

“Mr. President, and now, just briefly, to rise and oppose this additional War Powers Resolution, which has been brought by my colleague from Wisconsin. We don't mind debating things on the floor of the Senate, and I welcome them and certainly understand my friend's right and the right of my fellow Senators to disagree with the President's actions in Iran.”

“Mr. President, I will speak against the War Powers Resolution, but first I have a unanimous consent request to make, and so I ask that I be recognized for that purpose.”

“Madam President, my friend from the State of Oregon is correct: We need someone in this position. He and many of his colleagues on the other side of the aisle are certainly entitled to their opinion that the President made a mistake in his considered decision.”

“Mr. President, on behalf of the people of Mississippi, I commend Robin Killeen for more than 26 years of dedicated service to her community. The residents of Mississippi's gulf coast are better off because Robin has creatively and persistently extended a hand to those in need.”

“Mr. President, I submit this statement for the Record to recognize an extraordinary leader, patriot, and servant of our Nation, COL Matthew J. Jemmott, U.S. Army, on the occasion of his retirement following an exceptional 30-year career in service to our country.”

“Pennsylvania National Guard. In 1999, he graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate from the University of Pittsburgh, earning a bachelor's degree in political science and criminal justice, and was commissioned as a military police officer.”

“Mr. President, in a moment, my friend and fellow Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith will join me in taking a few moments to highlight the damage done--the devastation done--by Winter Storm Fern, along with the resilience of our community and the citizens and leadership there.”

“Mr. President, we live in a dangerous time. There are a number of flash points all around the globe--in this hemisphere, in Europe, in the Indo-Pacific--but I want to remind my colleagues today that, still, the most dangerous thing going on around the world today is Vladimir Putin's war against freedom and the West in Ukraine.”

“We have had lofty goals on the Senate Armed Services Committee. We are charging ahead on America's military rebuild and on transformational acquisition reform and working toward the success of the AUKUS partnership, and we are helping Ukraine and Taiwan stand up to tyrants.”

“Our colleagues in the House of Representatives have passed this year's National Defense Authorization Act, and we are about to follow suit. This will be the 65th year in a row--the 65th consecutive year--that Congress has come together across the aisle and across two Chambers to send the President a bill designed to sustain and strengthen the national defense.”

“Mr. President, I am delighted that this body has passed the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act with such an overwhelming vote. At the outset, let me thank the dozens of staff members who have made this possible--and I know that my friend and colleague the ranking member will also express his appreciation to a very hard-working and capable and intelligent list.”

“Mr. President, briefly, a number of Members are at their desks and will vote from their desks. I am told that the majority leader means it when he says we are going to have 10-minute votes.”

“Madam President, I commend Senator Hagerty and Senator Peters, who is not on the floor right now, but I also commend him for his leadership on this amendment, which should pass overwhelmingly.”

“Madam President, I intend to vote against this. I think keeping this AUMF actually would help us assure continued success. I think I see how the wind is blowing, and I will consent to a voice vote.”

“Mr. President, we are in an unfortunate period of hyperpartisanship that doesn't look good from this angle, and I know it doesn't look good to the general public.”

“Reserving the right to object, let me say that I have deep respect for my colleague and friend, the senior Senator from Connecticut. He is a veteran; I am a veteran.”

“Mr. President, reserving the right to object, every time my Democratic friends want to advocate for another expensive program, they mention the tax cuts. Let me just stray from the issue at hand to say, as I have always said, when Republicans cut taxes on job creators, on small business people, on 95 percent of the people who file a tax return back in 2017, jobs were created.”

“Madam President, I expect the distinguished minority leader, my friend from New York, will speak possibly after the first vote and report that we are still at an impasse on funding the government, which, of course, expires at midnight tomorrow night.”

“We have agreed to a managers' package on our side. We actually have 985 Member-driven items already in the National Defense Authorization Act. We have agreed to a number of amendments and a second managers' package.”

“Mr. President, now let me say that I come to the floor today to join with President Trump and with a bipartisan majority of my colleagues in the Senate in calling for another tougher round of sanctions against Russia and its war machine.”

“Mr. President, the Senate is about to take up this year's National Defense Authorization Act. My colleagues and I on the Senate Armed Services Committee have worked hard to bring this bill to the floor for consideration by all of our fellow Senators, and we bring it to our colleagues with a resounding committee action.”

“I don't want to leave my colleagues in suspense. I intend to vote for the motion to discharge after much contemplation and to vote to then proceed to the bill, and I do so with reservation.”

“Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and commend the Grand Gulf Nuclear Station in Port Gibson, MS, on the occasion of its 40th anniversary of commercial operation.”

“Mr. President, on behalf of the people of Mississippi, I commend Gifford H. Ormes, Jr., for his military service and lifelong dedication to his community. Mr. Ormes served with distinction in the U.S.”

“Mr. President, on behalf of the people of Mississippi, I commend Dr. Sam Polles, a public servant who has worked tirelessly to benefit the State. A native of the delta, Dr.”

“Madam President, I come to the floor today to add my voice to the many who are commending President Trump as he works toward peace in Ukraine. The President recently gave the aggressor, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, every chance to put down his guns and end the killing.”

“Mr. President, actually, I am going to ask unanimous consent that we go ahead and confirm General Caine as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but I must say that I do so with mixed feelings.”

“Mr. President, I may have other unanimous consent requests, but if I could be heard on this matter for another moment, I would seek recognition for that purpose.”

“Mr. President, I am happy to yield to my friend from Alaska, who has now vacated the floor. I thought we had this more synchronized. But let me say this: There was a vote earlier this week in the Armed Services Committee.”

“If the gentleman would further yield? I just wondered if the gentleman would yield to the distinguished minority leader to ascertain how this matter is going to be resolved differently if we wait until tomorrow.”

“Madam President, I come to the floor today once again to make a simple point, and that is that the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has once again shown the world that he has no interest in peace.”

“Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. He put it well this weekend. The former Speaker said: Putin attacking Zelenskii's hometown and killing women and children is a deliberate insult to the United States and test of how much dishonesty[,] Brutality, and aggressiveness we will tolerate.”

“Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment. We certainly need a cease-fire in the Ukraine war. We are closer and closer to having an agreement between President Trump and President Zelenskyy about a cease-fire, and it is quite obvious that President Putin is not at all interested in peace.”

“Mr. President, I have a little advice, really, of a parliamentary nature for the U.S. Senate. I hope it will be taken in the constructive spirit that it is intended.”

“Let me talk about an easy choice that the Senate will soon have to make, and that is the nomination of Mr. Stephen Feinberg, President Trump's choice to serve as Deputy Secretary of Defense.”

“Madam President, I have the greatest respect for the previous speaker and also for the distinguished chair of the Appropriations Committee. If she gets her way this afternoon or later tonight, the government will shut down.”

“Mr. President, my friend in Maryland and I participated in a bipartisan delegation on Friday morning last where we met with the President of Ukraine before what we hoped was going to be a signing ceremony.”

“I am simply responding and not attempting to prolong this. The negotiation process is underway. It may be that the negotiators are in different cities and in different continents at this point.”

“Mr. President, the Book of Ecclesiastes, in the Old Testament, has provided mankind with some of the greatest words of wisdom ever imparted. In chapter 3 of Ecclesiastes, the words say: For everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.”

“Mr. President, on behalf of the people of Mississippi, I commend Bo Ladner, who has devoted his career to developing homes for Mississippians. Bo has spent his entire life on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.”

“Mr. President, I rise in opposition to this amendment and urge my colleagues to oppose it. There is no greater supporter of Ukraine in this Senate than I am, but this is not the right vehicle.”

“Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, my fellow Americans and guests, on September 19, 1796, President George Washington published an open letter to the American people. The immediate purpose of this message was to notify his fellow citizens that he would not seek a third term as President.”

“The acceptance of, and continuance hitherto in, the office to which your suffrages have twice called me have been a uniform sacrifice of inclination to the opinion of duty and to a deference for what appeared to be your desire.”

“While then every part of our country thus feels an immediate and particular interest in union, all the parts combined cannot fail to find in the united mass of means and efforts greater strength, greater resource, proportionably greater security from external danger, a less frequent interruption of their peace by foreign nations; and, what is of inestimable value!”

“Though in reviewing the incidents of my administration I am unconscious of intentional error, I am nevertheless too sensible of my defects not to think it probable that I may have committed many errors.”

“Madam President, the Committee on Armed Services has adopted rules governing its procedures for the 119th Congress. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 2, of the Standing Rules of the Senate, on behalf of myself and Ranking Member Reed, I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the committee rules be printed in the Congressional Record.”

“Madam President, I come to the floor to direct Members' attention to a very important article on the front page of yesterday's Wall Street Journal, February 10, 2025, by Thomas Grove.”

“Madam President, on behalf of the people of Mississippi, I commend Mary Schaub, an educator in Hattiesburg, MS. Through her five-decade career as a speech-language pathologist, she has devoted her life to giving children a voice.”

“Children's Center, it serves an average of 140 children every year, from infants to 5-year-olds. The children benefit from comprehensive services that include speech therapy, special instruction, social work, audiology, auditory-verbal therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.”

“Mr. President, I agree with my friend from Rhode Island, the distinguished ranking member on the committee, that this is something Senators need to think very carefully about.”

“Mr. President, in a few moments, the Senate will vote on the confirmation of our next CIA Director, and then immediately following there will be a vote on cloture on the nomination of Mr.”