U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith announced she has joined several bipartisan Senate caucuses, all of which are focused on promoting national security issues. Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, has joined the National Guard Caucus, Air Force Caucus, Army Caucus, Navy Caucus, and Special Operations Forces Caucus.
“The challenges facing our Armed Forces are increasingly complex. These caucus memberships will allow me to represent the interests of our military operations, installations, and industries in Mississippi, and how they can be part of the solutions to those challenges,” said Hyde-Smith. “Serving on these caucuses will also give me an opportunity to interact with my colleagues on policies to ensure U.S. military superiority.”
Defense-related caucuses are organizations within the Senate to inform their members and decision-makers on issues important to U.S. national security.
Mississippi is home to the Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Columbus Air Force Base, Thompson Field Air National Guard Base in Jackson, Key Field Air National Guard Base in Meridian, Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center in Hattiesburg, the Naval Air Station Meridian; and the Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, among others. In addition, the state also hosts a number of significant firms that produce aircraft, ships, and other products for the Department of Defense.
The Senate Appropriations Committee is currently scheduled to markup the FY2019 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill the week of June 4, and the FY2019 Defense Appropriations Bill the week of June 25.
