January 22, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 154, Pt. 1 457 SENATE—Tuesday, January 22, 2008

(Legislative day of Thursday, January 3, 2008)

The Senate met at 10 a.m., on the ex- F. Wicker a Senator from said State to rep- try in the Air Force and retired from piration of the recess, and was called to resent said State in the Senate of the United the Air Force Reserves in 2004 with the order by the Vice President (Mr. CHE- States until the vacancy therein caused by rank of lieutenant colonel. the resignation of Chester Trent Lott, is NEY). filled by election as provided by law. He returned to the Hill in 1980 as a WITNESS: His Excellency our Governor staffer to then-Representative Trent PRAYER Haley Barbour, and our seal hereto affixed at Lott, a man he would come to know The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- Jackson, Mississippi this 31st day of Decem- very well. In fact, Senator WICKER has fered the following prayer: ber, in the year of our Lord 2007. known and worked with both Senators Let us pray. By the Governor: COCHRAN and Lott for many years. Eternal King, God of fresh starts and HALEY BARBOUR, In fact, he and Senator COCHRAN were Governor. new beginnings, thank You for the gra- both born in the Mississippi town cious love and provision which You f of—— have lavished on us. As we begin the ADMINISTRATION OF OATH OF Mr. COCHRAN. Pontotoc. work of this second session of the 110th OFFICE Mr. MCCONNELL. Pontotoc. I want- Congress, we commit anew our lives to The VICE PRESIDENT. If the Sen- ed to make sure I got that right. I am You. Let this commitment empower us ator-designate will present himself at sure Senator WICKER’s friendship with to keep our priorities in order so we the desk, the Chair will administer the both of these men will only benefit him may honor You with our work. oath of office as required by the Con- as he takes up his new office. Guide our Senators. Help them to be stitution and prescribed by law. In 1987, at age 36, Senator WICKER accountable to the people who gave The Senator-designate, escorted by was the first Republican ever elected to them their mandate and to the world Mr. COCHRAN, advanced to the desk of the Mississippi State senate from which looks to this body for respon- the Vice President, the oath prescribed northern Mississippi since Reconstruc- sible leadership. But most of all, by law was administered to him by the tion. In 1994, he was elected to the U.S. strengthen them to be accountable to Vice President, and he subscribed to House to succeed Jamie Whitten, end- You, the author and finisher of their the oath in the Official Oath Book. ing over 53 years of Democratic posses- destinies. The VICE PRESIDENT. Congratula- sion of that seat. Senator WICKER We pray in Your sovereign Name. tions. quickly became one of the stars of the Amen. (Applause, Senators rising.) House freshman class of 1994. He was f elected the president of that class. He f won a seat on the powerful Appropria- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY tions Committee, and he served on the The VICE PRESIDENT led the LEADER leadership team as a deputy whip. Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Around this time, Senator WICKER I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the TESTER). The Republican leader is rec- also gained a keen understanding of United States of America, and to the Repub- ognized. how to handle the press attention that lic for which it stands, one nation under God, goes with being a Member of Congress. f indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Allow me to share with my colleagues f WELCOMING SENATOR ROGER a brief story to illustrate. WICKER CERTIFICATE OF APPOINTMENT It was 3 days after the historic elec- Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, tion of 1994 which gave the Republicans The VICE PRESIDENT. The Chair with a new year we welcome the new- control of the House of Representatives lays before the Senate the certificate est Senator, ROGER WICKER of Mis- for the first time in 40 years. Natu- of appointment to fill the vacancy cre- rally, the 73 Members of the 1994 fresh- ated by the resignation of former Sen- sissippi, to the 110th Congress. With the resignation of our friend, Trent man class—one of the largest ever— ator Trent Lott of Mississippi. The cer- were getting a lot of media attention. tificate, the Chair is advised, is in the Lott, the former Republican whip, Gov- So early that morning, ROGER WICK- form suggested by the Senate and con- ernor Haley Barbour has appointed ICKER to fill the remainder of ER, the newly elected Congressman, tains all the essential requirements Senator W his term. He could not have made a was shaving. Suddenly his daughter suggested by the Senate. If there be no finer choice. burst in and breathlessly yelled, ‘‘Dad, objection, the reading of the above- Senator WICKER may be new to this it’s Time magazine on the phone.’’ mentioned certificate will be waived, Chamber, but he is no stranger to serv- This was an important moment. So and it will be printed in full in the ing the people of Mississippi and the Congressman WICKER calmly wiped the RECORD. shaving cream off his face and gathered There being no objection, the mate- Nation. The son of a Mississippi State his thoughts. Then he strode purpose- rial was ordered to be printed in the senator and circuit judge, public serv- ice has long been his life’s calling. fully into the den and picked up the RECORD, as follows: It all began with his service as a phone. STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, House page in 1967 to Representative ‘‘Hello, this is ROGER WICKER,’’ he OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR. Jamie Whitten, the man he would one said, in his most congressional voice. CERTIFICATE OF APPOINTMENT day succeed in the House of Represent- The voice at the other end of the line To the President of the Senate of the United atives. Senator WICKER is one of the responded, ‘‘Mr. WICKER, this is Time States: few people in history to have served as magazine calling. For only a $19.95 an- This is to certify that, pursuant to the power vested in me by the Constitution of a House page for the Congressman he nual subscription . . .’’ the United States and the laws of the State eventually replaced. Senator WICKER will surely have of Mississippi, I, Haley Barbour, the Gov- His first stint of public service left some Members of the press who want ernor of said State, do hereby appoint Roger him wanting more. He served his coun- to talk to him today, and I doubt they

● This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.

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