    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book II)]
    [December 31, 2007]
    [Pages 1595-1596]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Appointment of Representative Roger F. Wicker as United States Senator for Mississippi
    December 31, 2007

        Today Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour
    announced the appointment of Representative Roger Wicker to serve as
    United States Senator for the State of Mississippi, succeeding Senator
    Trent Lott.
        I welcome Representative Wicker's appointment and commend Governor
    Barbour for the selection. Representative
    Wicker's leadership has earned the respect of his constituents and his
    colleagues in

    [[Page 1596]]

    the House of Representatives. He is an advocate for our men and women in
    uniform and a champion of modernizing our health care system, and he
    shares Senator Lott's commitment to promote
    the interests of the people of Mississippi.
        I look forward to working with Roger in his new role representing
    Mississippi in the United States Senate.