WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Thad Cochran, R-Miss., today announced Senate passage of their resolution recognizing Mississippi’s bicentennial and honoring the state’s significant contributions to the culture, governance, and intellect of the United States.

“Congressional resolutions are important for commemorating special occasions and historic milestones such as Mississippi’s bicentennial, and I am thankful the U.S. Senate could join Senator Cochran and me in celebrating our beloved state on this momentous occasion,” Wicker said. “However, resolutions alone will never fully capture the richness of our state’s history. I am honored to join my fellow Mississippians in the opening of Mississippi’s Civil Rights Museum and the Museum of Mississippi History this weekend.”

“Mississippians are right to be proud of the contributions we have made, and continue to make, to the American story.  I’m pleased the Senate has approved this resolution, which calls national attention to 200 years of history and culture in our great state,” Cochran said.

December 10, 2017, marks the 200th anniversary of the day the United States approved the Mississippi Constitution and accepted the State of Mississippi as the 20th State of the Union.

Wicker and Cochran timed the passage of their resolution to coincide with the week of festivities honoring Mississippi’s bicentennial, including the opening of the Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson, Miss.

Read the full bicentennial resolution below.

Title: Recognizing the bicentennial of the State of Mississippi on December 10, 2017.

Whereas December 10, 2017, marks a historic bicentennial, denoting 200 years since the State of Mississippi was admitted to the Union;

Whereas this momentous occasion marks a time for Mississippians and all people of the United States to remember the past and celebrate the future, including the significant contributions of the State of Mississippi to the culture, governance, and intellect of the United States;

Whereas on March 1, 1817, President James Madison signed into law “An Act to enable the people of the western part of the Mississippi territory to form a constitution and state government, and for the admission of such state into the union, on an equal footing with the original states” (3 Stat. 348, chapter 23), setting the boundaries for the State of Mississippi;

Whereas on December 10, 1817, the United States approved the Mississippi Constitution and admitted the State of Mississippi as the 20th State of the Union;

Whereas the history of Mississippi is most deeply rooted in the people and land of Mississippi, which has produced a unique and rich culture distinct from any other State;

Whereas in the 200 years since the birth of Mississippi as a sovereign State, the citizens of Mississippi have made many significant achievements in agriculture, art, cuisine, industry, literature, music, science, and many other important areas;

Whereas Mississippians have shown their patriotism to the United States through their dedicated service to the protection of the United States through every major conflict;

Whereas the land of Mississippi has produced crops, timber, and protein for the United States and the world while surviving the devastation of hurricanes and other natural disasters over the course of the history of Mississippi; and

Whereas the Mississippi Bicentennial Celebration Commission is dedicated to celebrating all aspects of the past 200 years of history of Mississippi as a State and has planned numerous major events in coordination with communities, which will culminate on December 9, 2017, with the grand opening of—

(1) the Museum of Mississippi History; and

(2) the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum:

Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate—

(1) recognizes the momentous occasion of the bicentennial of the State of Mississippi on December 10, 2017;

(2) encourages all Mississippians to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities; and

(3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to—

(A) the Governor of Mississippi;

(B) the National Archives; and

(C) the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.