U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith is a public servant committed to conservative principles as she works for all Mississippians. She is the first woman elected to represent Mississippi in Washington, D.C. She won a six-year term in November 2020, following her April 2018 appointment to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by long-time U.S. Senator Thad Cochran and subsequent November 2018 special election victory to complete his term.
In the 117th Congress, Hyde-Smith serves on the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and Committee on Rules and Administration.
Senator Hyde-Smith, a cattle farmer and the former Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, understands the importance of the state’s $7.5 billion agricultural and forestry industries. As a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, the Senator will work on legislation, programs, and policies to allow agriculture and related industries to grow in Mississippi and the nation.
The Senator’s record includes protecting private property rights against eminent domain abuses, helping to open foreign markets for Mississippi agricultural products, and supporting country-of-origin labeling.
Senator Hyde-Smith, as a conservative and small business owner, understands the importance of responsible fiscal policies. The Senator has introduced legislation to amend the U.S. Constitution to require the President to submit, and Congress to approve, a balanced budget each year.
Senator Hyde-Smith supports policies that responsibly reduce the federal tax burden on small businesses, families, and individuals. She strongly believes workers should be able to keep more of their hard-earned money.
Senator Hyde-Smith believes preparedness is imperative to protecting lives and property when severe storms and natural disasters hit Mississippi and other areas of the country. A state-level lawmaker when Hurricane Katrina devastated the state, she recognizes the role of the federal government in helping individuals, communities, and the state rebound after such disasters. Senator Hyde-Smith supports the Federal Emergency Management Agency and efforts to improve the agency’s effectiveness.
Senator Hyde-Smith supports federal policies to foster an economic environment that encourages job growth in Mississippi and the nation. She supports the tax cuts and reforms enacted by President Trump and the Republican-majority Congress. She believes in eliminating burdensome federal regulations that hinder small businesses, farmers, and industry.
The Senator supports policies and opportunities to continue and expand Mississippi’s ability to contribute to national security, high-tech research, agricultural innovation, and energy production.
Senator Hyde-Smith welcomes opportunities to work with local, state, and federal officials to make Mississippi a better place to work and raise families.
Senator Hyde-Smith believes the Unites States is strong when agriculture and rural America are strong. The Senator understands the unique challenges faced by rural Mississippi to provide residents with basic services, infrastructure, education, and health care. She supports policies that will allow rural communities to expand economically. The federal government should not be a roadblock to the growth and wellbeing of rural America.
Senator Hyde-Smith cherishes the diversity of the people of Mississippi and celebrates their accomplishments—both past and present.
As a Christian, Senator Hyde-Smith believes in the sanctity of life and the need for federal policies that strengthen America’s families. She is committed to supporting policies and legislation to protect the lives of unborn children. An opponent of taxpayer funding of abortions, the Senator has a strong record of opposing any measure that encourages abortion, as a matter of law or policy.
Senator Hyde-Smith is committed to ensuring the federal government meets its commitments to the men and women who have bravely served in the Armed Forces. She understands the changing needs of America’s newest generation of veterans and their families, and is dedicated to supporting efforts to make sure they receive the highest-quality medical care possible.
Senator Hyde-Smith is committed to fulfilling the constitutional responsibility to “provide for the common defense” of the United States, including by ensuring the availability of the resources necessary to rebuild America’s military and maximize readiness.
Senator Hyde-Smith is proud of Mississippi’s enduring support of the Armed Forces. She is committed to strengthening the state’s significant contributions to national defense, including Air Force bases and Navy installations, the Army National Guard’s primary mobilization installation, a premiere Special Operations training center, a leading Air Force aeromedical evacuation unit, numerous National Guard installations, and Department of Defense supercomputer capabilities.
Senator Hyde-Smith is also grateful for the work of defense industry employees in Mississippi to produce the best equipment and services for the men and women who protect our nation.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, as the lead agency for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and U.S. Coast Guard, plays an important role in Mississippi.
Senator Hyde-Smith is committed to working closely with FEMA and other federal agencies to ensure Mississippians are prepared for natural disasters and emergency situations. She supports hazard mitigation policies, which have proven to help save lives and save taxpayer dollars.
The Senator also supports Homeland Security efforts to protect the American people from domestic and foreign threats, which include ensuring a strong and well-equipped U.S. Coast Guard.
Senator Hyde-Smith knows dependence on foreign oil poses economic and national security risks for the United States. The Senator supports responsible exploration and production of Mississippi’s and the nation’s energy resources, including the development of new technologies to support the production of biofuels and other energy sources.
Senator Hyde-Smith understands the importance of conservation and good stewardship of our natural resources. She supports balanced and responsible resource management policies to ensure Mississippi’s forests, wetlands, and coastal region remain assets for future generations to enjoy.
Senator Hyde-Smith believes the federal government’s first responsibility is defense of the American people, which includes securing the nation’s borders. She is a strong proponent of strengthening border security and the enforcement of U.S. immigration laws. The Senator does not believe in rewarding those who enter the country illegally.
The Senator supports the implementation of a nationwide E-Verify system to ensure a legal workforce and enable American jobs to be filled by legal American workers.
Senator Hyde-Smith understands the importance of education to ensure a better future for Mississippi children and their ability to be part of an economically-strong state. The Senator believes in the importance of state and local control of public education, while recognizing the role of the federal government to support educational achievement across the country.
Senator Hyde-Smith is also supportive of the significant federal research and development initiatives involving Mississippi institutions of higher learning—work that, among other things, improves American competitiveness, national security and agricultural production.
Senator Hyde-Smith supports common-sense, patient-centered health care reforms to help Mississippi families afford health insurance coverage without expanding the government’s role in providing health care. She believes the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, should be repealed.
Senator Hyde-Smith appreciates the role of the state’s universities to support federal research on better prevention and treatment efforts on chronic diseases, like diabetes, that affect Mississippians disproportionally.
Senator Hyde-Smith is committed to supporting foreign affairs policies that ensure the security of the American people first and foremost. She understands the need for the United States to foster and maintain mutually-beneficial relations with allies to promote our national security, freedom, and fair trade.
Senator Hyde-Smith believes rebuilding infrastructure is key to the future of Mississippi and the nation. She understands that aging highways, bridges, and basic public works infrastructure represents an impediment to public safety and economic growth. She includes the need for greater broadband access among these needs. Senator Hyde-Smith is committed to using her committee assignments to support responsible efforts to improve infrastructure, particularly in rural areas.
Senator Hyde-Smith has great respect and admiration for the law enforcement and first responder personnel who dedicate their lives to protecting the public. As a member of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, she will continue to support programs and policies that enable these public servants to do their jobs more effectively.
Senator Hyde-Smith, who holds an enhanced-carry permit, is a strong advocate for protecting the Constitutional right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms. The Senator has authored and supported federal legislation defending Second Amendment rights and is committed to supporting efforts that would prevent the federal government from infringing upon those rights.