History and knowing history lessons is important and Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker spoke to local high school students and Senatobia Rotarians Friday about the importance of learning the lessons of history.
Wicker was on the Washington D.C. summer break where Senator and Representatives come back home to meet with constituents and local leaders.
Wicker was on the Mississippi Gulf Coast earlier in the week touting the new Amtrack service from New Orleans to Mobile and touted at the Mardi Gras Express. He also visited the Stennis Space Center and met with NASA executives.
Wicker, the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is scheduled to lead a bipartisan congressional delegation to Taiwan in August. He confirmed his plans for the trip in late July 2025. The delegation is also expected to visit the Philippines, Guam, and Palau, and meet with Indo-Pacific Command leaders.
But Wicker wanted to talk about history to the students and elders at Friday’s meeting.
“Does anyone know what our next July 4th is?” Wicker asked. “It’s called the Semi-quincentennial and it celebrates the 250th year that we have declared our independence.”
Wicker talked about the dates and history leading up to the ratification of the U.S. Constitution 11 years later, on June 21, 1788.
Wicker also talked about the separation of powers and his role as a Senator and member of the legislative branch.
“We are the ones who put bills together and I want to let you know the President can’t spend any tax money without Congressional approval,” said Wicker. “If the President doesn’t do it we have the right to sue him and can carry him to the Supreme Court.”
Back to the history lesson, Wicker said the founding fathers knew that dividing power between the Executive Branch, Legislative Branch and Executive Branch was critical to a functioning republic.
Wicker, who is chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, also asked for a show of hands of veterans and students looking to go into the military. He pointed out less than one percent of the county is on active duty and only about 7-percent of Americans have served at some point.
“I understand several area high schools are interested in having a Jr. ROTC program,” said Wicker. “We have a lot of adversaries out there, and we need a strong Navy because China is building ships 200 times faster than we are.”
Wicke went on to say America has incredible military technology and many of the companies who provide those weapon systems and their components are based in Mississippi.
“We need students who can build and operate this technology,” said Wicker. “America must remain strong. I will quote Ronald Reagan who said ‘We must maintain peace through strength.’”
Mississippi school leaders have decided not to make history a requirement to graduate. Wicker voiced his support for teaching history prior to that decision.
Senator Wicker has represented Mississippi in the U.S. Senate since December 2007. During that time Wicker has championed pro-growth policies to create jobs, limit federal overreach, protect life and maintain a strong national defense.
Wicker is the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and also chairs the Helsinki Commission, formally called the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. Wicker is a senior member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, having served previously as the chairman and ranking member. His other committee assignments include the Environment and Public Works Committee and the Rules and Administration Committee.
Wicker operates four offices in Mississippi with the closest one in Hernando. The Hernando office can be reached by mail at 321 Losher Street, or PO Box 385, Hernando, MS 38632. The phone number is (662) 429-1002.
