COCHRAN ADDRESSES 75th ANNUAL DELTA COUNCIL MEETING

Mississippi Senator Commends Council History, Record of Promoting Jobs in Region

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) today addressed the 75th annual meeting of the Delta Council, an organization created during the bleak years of the Depression to improve the lives of residents throughout the Mississippi Delta by improving agriculture production, flood control and transportation infrastructure.

In remarks delivered to the meeting at Delta State University, Cochran acknowledged the advice and counsel the Delta Council offers to influence national policies that affect the region, and commended the organization for its work to promote job creation.

“Delta Council has been very successful in reaching consensus on matters affecting the well-being of the Delta.  This unity has been a distinguishing characteristic of Delta Council since 1935, and has enabled you to work successfully for the betterment of our entire state,” Cochran said.

“For over 75 years, the residents of the Delta have looked to Delta Council for insight, guidance and leadership.  Our State needs Delta Council to help assure a future of opportunity for all its citizens,” he said.

The following is the text of Cochran’s prepared remarks for the Delta Council annual meeting:

U.S. Senator Thad Cochran
Delta Council 75th Annual Meeting
Delta State University
May 28, 2010

Thank you for inviting me to address this 75th annual meeting of Delta Council, your diamond anniversary.

This annual meeting has had many prominent speakers over the past 75 years.  Government officials, giants of industry, military leaders, artists and sports heroes have come here to share their views on topics of public interest. 

William Faulkner, during the year he received the Nobel Prize, gave one of his rare public speeches here. His address was reported to be particularly eloquent.  

On another occasion, at the 1936 Delta Council annual meeting, Governor Hugh White unveiled a program he called the “Balance Agriculture with Industry Act,” which would enable the state to use full faith and credit bonds to attract manufacturing jobs to our state.

Over the years the Delta Council has used its influence to help develop consensus for government policies and programs that strengthen our state’s economy and produce job opportunities for our citizens. 

Delta Council has been very successful in reaching consensus on matters affecting the well-being of the Delta.  This unity has been a distinguishing characteristic of Delta Council since 1935, and has enabled you to work successfully for the betterment of our entire state.

I have appreciated your advice and counsel when the Congress considers legislation affecting agriculture and rural development issues.  It has been a special pleasure to work with you on the historic and ongoing issues of importance to agriculture.  Federal Farm Bills have had a very important impact on this region.  But it has become very difficult to maintain a consensus of support for traditional farm programs.

I have always benefited from the advice and counsel I have received from Delta Council.  This includes not only in connection with farm programs but also conservation of soil and water resources, rural development, and trade incentives.  A wide range of government responsibilities are funded through the Appropriations Committees of the House and Senate, and I am pleased to serve as a member of the Senate Committee.

The decisions made by foreign governments have a larger impact than ever on our domestic agriculture sector.  I remain convinced that the United States government should support our producers while continuing to advance a free and fair trade agenda.  I will continue to look to Delta Council members for counsel and advice on these issues that directly affect your interests.

While the 1930s brought about the creation of Delta Council, the Depression era also brought about the term:  “jobless recovery.”

We are hopefully now beginning to emerge from the recession that resulted in the loss of 8 million American jobs.  New job creation has been very weak, which means we are currently experiencing what amounts to a jobless recovery.  In the Delta and throughout Mississippi there is clear evidence of this.  But, the banks are beginning to loan money again and development projects that were put on hold are beginning to see renewed life.  But, we are not yet seeing the changes in the unemployment levels that are needed in a strong recovery.

Despite the recession, the Delta has had recent success in attracting new businesses to the region.

Wilhelm Schulz of Germany is locating a steel pipe manufacturing plant in Tunica. Twin Creek Technologies of Silicon Valley, California, is bringing a solar panel manufacturing plant to Senatobia.

Delta Oil Mill in Jonestown has acquired some of the assets of PYCO industries of Texas, and the child support services firm Young Williams has acquired property in Yazoo City for a call center.

These firms said that they came to the Delta because of the infrastructure and workforce availability, though other reasons were cited.

The Delta Health Alliance is now a part of this infrastructure and it is addressing health needs of the Mississippi Delta region through improved access to medical treatment, research, and health education.  Cass Pennington, the first CEO of Delta Health Alliance, believed there was a better way to address the health disparities of the Delta.  His leadership paved the way for the establishment of projects throughout the region that have had a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of many Delta residents. 

As we look to the future, it is worth remembering that innovation does not have to be the creation of something new. It can be the rethinking of something old.  The Mississippi farm-raised catfish industry began here as an experiment by a group of producers who were looking for a better use of heavy buckshot soils.  Even though this sector has difficult challenges, it is an important industry that has created jobs and opportunity for thousands of Mississippians.  We are committed to working with you to help ensure fair competition with foreign producers.

Another success story from this region began when three men in Greenville, Mississippi, found an old industry and were able to breathe new life into it.  Jesse Brent, Percy Lemay, and Gilder McCool helped turn Greenville into the towboat capital of the world when they had the foresight to see the need for increasing barge traffic on the Mississippi River.

There is a long list of entrepreneurs who have used their good business sense to create businesses that are thriving today and creating good jobs in the Delta.

For over 75 years, the residents of the Delta have looked to Delta Council for insight, guidance and leadership.  Our state needs Delta Council to help assure a future of opportunity for all its citizens.

Thank you.