Mississippi
A vision for Mississippi’s educational opportunity. See details here
As Mississippians, we are bound together by a shared commitment to fostering a brighter future for our state. Today, we find ourselves with numerous opportunities for growth, innovation and reimagining the American dream in our state.
At Americans for Prosperity-Mississippi, our mission is clear: to increase those opportunities for prosperity for all Mississippians, regardless of race, creed, economic background or zip code. That’s a mission that transcends political and idealistic divides. At the end of the day, we all want a more prosperous, thriving Mississippi.
In the pursuit of our mission, we recognize that education serves as the bedrock upon which the prosperity of our state is built. A thriving education system not only empowers individuals but also fuels economic growth, nurtures communities and fosters good governance. When it comes to educating the next generation of Mississippians, one thing is clear: there is no one-size-fits-all approach.
As state leaders enhance their focus on increasing educational attainment and improving outcomes, we understand that the success of our educational system is intertwined with the health of our business community.
A well-educated workforce is a key driver of economic development and innovation. By supporting policies that enhance educational opportunity, we are not only investing in the future of our children but also cultivating a skilled workforce that will attract businesses, create jobs and drive economic prosperity in Mississippi.
Policies that increase educational opportunity, like universal Education Savings Accounts, can be transformative tools that empower parents and students to tailor their educational experiences to individual needs. By putting families in the drivers’ seat of their students’ education, we can enable parents to choose the educational setting that best suits their child’s unique learning requirements.
Increased competition among educational institutions incentivizes innovation and excellence, leading to an overall improvement in the quality of education throughout the state. America was built on an economic system that encourages and thrives on competition, as it leads to improved products and services and drives down costs. These principles are as true in education as they are in industry.
As we advocate for more opportunity across the educational spectrum, we are mindful of the role of government in shaping policies that can either facilitate or hinder progress. AFP-MS wants to work collaboratively with policymakers to implement reforms that prioritize the needs of each Mississippian.
While we strive to advance policies that work for all Mississippians, we invite everyone to come together to build a Mississippi where creating more opportunity is the catalyst for prosperity, where businesses thrive, communities flourish, and government serves the interests of its citizens. Together, we can unleash the full potential of our great state and ensure a brighter, more prosperous future for all Mississippians.
— Starla Brown is the State Director for Americans for Prosperity-Mississippi.
Mississippi
Mississippi lawmakers face pressure to counter looming federal cuts to health care after punting this session
Wicker: Mississippi powered Artemis II
Published 4:00 pm Monday, April 20, 2026
For nine days this month, space travel captivated the world. Families gathered around their screens as four astronauts strapped into the Integrity spacecraft docked at the Kennedy Space Center. As the launch countdown ended, four Mississippi-tested RS-45 engines ignited, and the ground shook. Seven seconds later, the Integrity had liftoff. For six intense minutes, the RS-45 engines rocketed the crew into high Earth orbit, sending them on their historic lunar flyby mission.
Mississippi should take a bow. The four RS-45 engines were tested at our very own Stennis Space Center, where Mississippians have been ensuring the quality of rocket engines since the Apollo program. For eight years, engineers, safety managers, and logistics specialists from the state have tested the engines that powered the Integrity and will power future Artemis launches. Their work paid off, and the launch was a marvel of engineering. NASA leadership made special mention of the rocket engine burn, calling it “flawless.”
One Mississippian in particular helped make the mission a success. Hernando native Matthew Ramsey handled a great deal of responsibility as the mission manager for Artemis II. The Mississippi State University graduate helped set the focus for the mission and equip the astronauts and staff for the job. Matthew also served as the deputy of the Mission Management Team, the group of NASA staff that comes together just days before a launch. The team assumes the risks of the mission ahead, and they make tough calls during flight if challenges arise.
As the Artemis II journey progressed, the world could not stop watching. Our social media feeds were full of photos and videos beamed down from the heavens. They captured humorous situations, such as the astronauts adjusting to life without gravity or testing their plumbing skills.
We also witnessed moments of majesty. On the fifth day, the Integrity began using the Moon’s gravity to slingshot our astronauts back home. That trajectory led the crew around the Moon, farther from Earth than any humans have ever gone. As the explorers looked upon outer space, they captured stunning images. Among the most remarkable is Earthset, in which Commander Reid Wiseman photographed Earth as it appeared to fall below the horizon of the moon.
When their spacecraft returned to Earth’s atmosphere, the crew was traveling nearly 35 times faster than the speed of sound. Ten minutes later, a series of parachutes began opening. Eventually, the spacecraft’s speed fell to 20 miles per hour, and the crew splashed down into the Pacific Ocean.
Mississippi was once again there to assist. The astronauts were greeted by the USS John P. Murtha, a U.S. military vessel built in the Huntington Ingalls shipyard in Pascagoula. The ship’s amphibious design was suited to welcome the space travelers home—equipped with a helicopter pad, medical facilities, and the communications system needed to locate and recover the astronauts safely. Crucially, the USS Murtha was built with a well deck, a sea-based garage that stored the Integrity on the journey to shore.
Artemis II was a resounding success, paving the way for planned future flights. When the Artemis program returns humans to the moon, Mississippi will be there every step of the way.
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