WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., was sworn in as a member of the 111th Congress today.  Wicker, along with other newly-elected senators, received the oath of office from Vice President Dick Cheney in a ceremony held in the U.S. Capitol.  In November, Wicker was elected with 55 percent of the vote.  Following his swearing-in, Wicker issued the following statement:

“As we begin a new session of Congress, I am honored to have the opportunity to continue serving the people of Mississippi.  Our country faces a number of serious challenges that need to be immediately addressed with bipartisan cooperation. 

“First and foremost, we need to get our economy moving again.  The yet-to-be-written economic stimulus bill represents a great opportunity to jump-start our country’s economy, but only if it is done correctly.  We owe it to the American taxpayers to make sure that any stimulus bill we do is targeted, temporary, and timely in order to provide for the intended economic boost without permanently increasing the size of the government.  I believe this stimulus package can be effective with a mixture of tax breaks for middle-class families and job creators, along with investments in infrastructure projects across the country.  As with any undertaking of this magnitude, the devil will be in the details.  I expect the president-elect and Democratic congressional leaders will continue consulting with Republicans to ensure a final stimulus package is able to receive strong bipartisan support.

“This new session of Congress also represents a fresh opportunity to address other problems that are important to the strength of our economy, including a new energy policy that utilizes more of our domestic resources and health care reform that makes health care more accessible and affordable for all Americans.

“I will also continue working on issues important to Mississippi’s economy, ensuring that our state has the ability to be a serious competitor in the global marketplace.  Additionally, with a new president soon to be sworn in, it will be important to work with the new administration to ensure they are fully aware of the ongoing recovery on the Gulf Coast and of the federal government’s responsibility to help finish the job of rebuilding.

“Finally, as a member of both the Senate Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs Committees, I will continue working to ensure our troops have what they need to keep our country secure while also ensuring they receive the care they deserve once they return home.

“These challenges – and many others before our state and nation – represent opportunities for bipartisan solutions.  In my past years of congressional service, some of my proudest achievements have come after reaching across the aisle to work with members of the other party.  Today’s challenges require those same kinds of bipartisan solutions.  I pledge to continue working to achieve them throughout the next four years.” 

Entering the 111th Congress, Wicker will serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and the Veterans’ Affairs Committee.