Senator Thad Cochran had the honor of delivering remarks and performing the ribbon-cutting at the Aurora Flight Sciences ceremony last Thursday.  The ceremony marked the celebration of a major expansion of the facility in Columbus, MS.  Several of the event’s speakers praised the community support and the hard work of the AFS staff members.  Many elected officials attended the event to show their support for Aurora Flight Sciences and its contributions to the state and nation.

During his remarks, Senator Cochran said, “This is just the kind of capability our military has been asking for in order to provide cost-effective airborne surveillance twenty-four hours a day to our soldiers on the battlefield, and I look forward to the day full production Orion aircraft roll out of this hangar for delivery to the Department of Defense. I am proud to say that Aurora Flight Sciences is a fine example of the type of industry we want in Mississippi.”

 

Senator Thad Cochran, Governor Haley Barbour, and Senator Roger Wicker attended the “Leadership Bridging the Gap” breakfast in Columbus, MS, on August 20.  The event was a forum for local political officials and business leaders of North Mississippi to gather and discuss significant issues facing Mississippi.  Cochran, Wicker, and Barbour delivered remarks at the event.  View Senator Cochran’s remarks from the event which focused on ”Bridging the Gap.”

 

North Mississippi Field Representative Billy McBeath attended Trade Days in Coldwater, MS, this past weekend.  Trade Days is an outdoor local flee market held once a month in Coldwater.  Hundreds of booths were set up at the flea market which offered a variety of items and crafts.  After attending the event, Billy McBeath noted, “Trade days was a good chance to get out in the field and encourage support for Senator Cochran.  Events such as Trade Days present a great opportunity to reach out and listen to the hard working men and women of Tate County.”

Rowin Worley shows her support for Senator Cochran at Trade Days in Tate County.

Listen to what Senator Cochran had to say at the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) Public Hearing in Flora, MS, on Tuesday. Flora is one of the six contenders for the facility which will study animal-borne diseases for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

AUDIO CLIP OF SENATOR COCHRAN’S COMMENTS

Clarion-Ledger: Letter to the Editor

Visit signals that Miss. now poised to welcome NBAF

Today, Mississippi finds itself inching closer to the opportunity of a generation. Department of Homeland Security officials will visit Flora this afternoon to solicit input from Mississippians regarding the proposed National Bio and Agro Defense Facility. Scientists at this state-of-the-art facility will study how to protect our nation’s livestock against an accidental or terror-related release of animal diseases.

Two years ago, 29 sites from around the country submitted proposals to the department in hopes of landing this critical facility in their communities. Six finalists remain in contention, and I am proud that Mississippi is one of them. Our citizens, governor, universities, local officials, and congressional delegation should be commended for their cooperation in this effort.

The construction and operation of the $500 million NBAF would create hundreds of skilled jobs and would likely spur a biotechnology boom in Mississippi. Developers have said its impact would approach or exceed that of the Stennis Space Center, Canton’s Nissan plant, or Blue Springs’s Toyota plant.

(more…)

Last week, our campaign staff headed out to Philadelphia, MS, for the annual Neshoba County Fair.  Wednesday and Thursday were filled with political candidates’ speeches, great food, and great fun.  We passed out several hundred Thad t-shirts, Thad fans, and even Thad bottled waters to help with the scorching heat.  Senator Cochran was scheduled to speak on Wednesday afternoon, but was unable to attend due to official Senate business.  However, Cochran prepared a statement that was read by a Fair Board member on his behalf.  Read his greetings below:

Statement of U.S. Senator Thad Cochran

“I deeply regreat that the U.S. Senate is meeting today and voting on federal legislation that is important to our State’s interests.

I have always enjoyed the opportunities I have had over the years of being in Neshoba County for the Fair.  The food is always good, and the hospitality is always abundant and warm, even hot sometimes.

The traditions of this fair and the reputation it has earned have attracted national leaders such as President Ronald Reagan.  I congratulate you on the great success the fair has enjoyed over the years, and I wish for you a very enjoyable time this year.

And, by the way, I am a candidate for re-election this year.  I ask for your vote and support.  I assure you I will do my best to make you proud that you have had a part in my re-election to the U.S. Senate.  Thank you.”

To view more photos of the fair, click here or visit our Events section.

Barbara Rooks-Jackson, Billy McBeath, and James Liddell hand out Thad Cochran campaign material at the Neshoba County Fair.