Oct 26 2007

Graham Supports Farm Bill Renewal

Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry passed the Food and Energy Security Act of 2007 (Farm Bill).  U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham voted in support of the legislation. 

Among the major features of the legislation:

  • Extends commodity programs for producers including direct payments to farmers;
  • Reauthorizes conservation, agriculture research, rural development, energy, and food assistance programs;
  • Establishes incentives for farmers to invest in the production and conversion of renewable biomass, such as cellulosic ethanol, to energy;
  • Establishes a Rural Collaborative Investment program that would bolster economic development in rural regions by providing grants to projects created by local government, business and nonprofit organizations;

Reauthorizes key programs such as the Food Stamp Program, the Emergency Food Assistance Program, the Fruit and Vegetable Program, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Wetlands Reserve Program, foreign food assistance programs, and rural programs such as community facility funding, broadband service, rural/waste water grants.

“Agriculture is the second largest industry in South Carolina and I know how important these programs are to our state,” said Graham.  “I am pleased the committee approved a farm bill that maintains current farm programs and includes increased funding for nutrition and specialty crops programs.  We also adopted incentives for the conversion of cellosic biomass to energy and recognize the importance of conservation and rural development in our country.”

Graham noted there are provisions in the bill that cause concern such as an optional farm program that makes payments to producers based on state crop revenue targets, and a provision that reduces payment limits over the life of the bill.

“This farm bill is not perfect and everyone on the Committee would admit that there are some things in this bill that they don’t like,” said Graham.  “However, I am proud that a compromise was found that nearly all my colleagues could agree is a good bill.” 

Graham worked to include additional grant programs that could benefit research and training being conducted in South Carolina.  These include expanding research conducted on forage-fed beef systems and a New Era Rural Technology Program that would provide grant money to community colleges for training an agriculture workforce in bio-energy, and the pulp and paper industry.  The legislation also includes a Graham-backed provision that would provide economic adjustment assistance in the amount of 4 cents per pound to textile manufacturers for the modernization of equipment and operations. 

The House version of the 2007 farm bill passed in July.  Action on the Senate floor will begin in the coming weeks.

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Oct 25 2007

Graham Backs Additional Sanctions on Iran

Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today said he backed the new sanctions on Iran announced today by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr.

He made this statement:

“I strongly support the Administration’s efforts to impose tough new economic sanctions on Iran.  The designation of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a proliferator of weapons of mass destruction and the Quds Force as a supporter of terrorism are certainly justified and necessary. 

“I hope the sanctions announced today will help deliver the desired results when it comes to curbing Iran’s nuclear desires.  The entire free world should join in our effort and view this as an opportunity for the international community to step up to the plate.  Russia could play a key role in this endeavor if they choose to act and I believe a coordinated international campaign could provide positive results. 

“At the end of the day though, the Iranian nuclear desires must be contained.  Iran is not interested in the production of peaceful nuclear power, but the production of weapons-grade nuclear materials.  We must keep all options on the table when dealing with this dangerous Iranian regime.” 

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Oct 24 2007

Graham Opposes DREAM Act

Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today voted against invoking cloture on the DREAM Act.  Sixty votes were necessary to move to consideration of the legislation and the vote in the Senate was 52-44.  He made this statement following the vote:

“First, we must show the American people we are serious about securing our nation’s borders. 

“I have twice introduced and passed legislation through the Senate providing $3 billion for improved border security.  There is no doubt we need more boots on the ground, more miles of fencing, better technology which acts as a force multiplier, additional detention beds, and unmanned aerial vehicles at the border.  I have and will continue to push for adoption of the Graham Amendment until it is signed into law by President Bush.

“Regaining operational control of our nation’s borders is a gateway to further reforms of our broken immigration system.

“I’m sympathetic to the concerns expressed today on the floor of the Senate, but I believe the legislation was poorly drafted and in need of further amending.  Additionally, Majority Leader Reid made clear that he was not going to allow any meaningful changes to the DREAM Act, a legislative process I found to be very unfair.  Without assurances border security would be addressed, I would not vote to proceed to this matter. 

“There is no reason to abandon our border security efforts at this critical moment in time.  We need to be focused on securing our borders to ensure people who come into the country do so legally.”

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Oct 24 2007

Graham Supports Southwick Nomination

Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today voted in support of confirming President Bush’s nominee, Judge Leslie Southwick, to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals and criticized the cloture votes of Senators Hillary Clinton (D-New York) and Barack Obama (D-Illinois), both of whom are running to be President.
 
The 5th Circuit covers the states of Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi .  Southwick was confirmed by a vote of 59-38.
 
“Judge Southwick was an unusually well-qualified candidate by any standard,” said Graham.  “He has the humanity, intellect, and judicial demeanor you want in someone serving on the federal bench.  I think he was one of the most qualified judicial candidates to come before the Senate.”
 
Graham noted Judge Southwick has compiled a long and distinguished record of service including service as a member of the Mississippi Court of Appeals from 1995 to December 2006 and service in Iraq as a member of the Mississippi National Guard’s 155th Brigade Combat Team.
 
On a speech on the Senate floor, Graham noted Judge Southwick received the highest qualified rating from the American Bar Association and comes highly recommended from those who have worked with him.  Graham also termed the arguments used by opponents to derail the nomination of Southwick as “political garbage.”

“People who have worked with and know Judge Southwick the best have nothing but glowing things to say about him,” said Graham.  “The attacks which were manufactured against him equate to the worst in politics today.  Judge Southwick was a highly qualified nominee and I was proud to vote in support of his confirmation to the federal bench.  He will serve with honor and distinction.”
 
Graham also noted Senators Clinton and Obama, the two leading Democrats running for President both voted against cloture – the procedure by which the Senate can vote to place a time limit on consideration of a bill or other matter and thereby overcome a filibuster -- on Judge Southwick.
 
“What will these Senators ask and expect if they get to be President and send judicial nominees to the Senate?” questioned Graham.  “They will want straight up-or-down votes on their nominees.  Will the Senate be able or should they even expect the Senate to rise above the example they set today?”
 
“Their willingness to participate in a filibuster denying cloture on Judge Southwick shows a lack of vision and leadership,” said Graham.  “Their desire to pander to the hard left has overcome their appreciation for what would happen to the judiciary, the country, and yes, even the Presidency, if every Senator followed their example.”
 
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Oct 11 2007

Graham Visits SPAWAR, Discusses MRAP Vehicles

Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today visited the Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) Systems Center, Charleston and discussed the role the facility is playing in the outfitting of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAP) for the military.

 

Graham noted that every MRAP heading to Iraq comes through SPAWAR before being transported overseas.  The vehicles are delivered to SPAWAR where engineers and technicians outfit the armored vehicle with the appropriate jamming devices and communications gear.  The MRAP vehicles have proven to be very effective at saving American lives from Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and ambush attacks.

 

“Our state has made many important contributions to the war effort, but one of the most valuable is occurring daily at SPAWAR,” said Graham, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.  “We should all be proud of them and thankful for their contributions to the war effort.”

 

Graham has long been a supporter of the MRAP vehicles and in the early days of the Iraq war went head-to-head with the Pentagon over $4.5 million in funding to pay for a prototype vehicle.  At the time, the Pentagon favored a program to ‘up-armor’ the Humvee to guard against IED and ambush attacks.  Graham prevailed and the funding was secured which allowed a South Carolina company, Force Protection of Ladson (then known as Technical Solutions), to continue working on the prototype.

 

“The funding secured in 2005 was a turning point in terms of bringing awareness to IED protection in Congress,” said Graham.  “Without direct Congressional involvement, we would be years behind in developing and deploying MRAPs.  It enabled the industry to prove the capability of their product.  Now we have multiple companies competing for contracts and commitments from the Department of Defense to purchase thousands of these life-saving vehicles.”

 

“ South Carolina companies were among the first to produce these important and life-saving vehicles,” said Graham.  “This is another example of how our state has been and continues to be on the tip of the spear for the United States military’s fight against terrorism.”

 

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Oct 05 2007

Graham Discusses "No Child Left Behind" with South Carolina Educators

Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON-  Recently, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) sat down with teachers, principals, and other education leaders in South Carolina to hear their ideas on how to improve No Child Left Behind (NCLB).  The roundtable discussion took place at the University of South Carolina’s College of Education.
 
Participants in the meeting included teachers, principals, and representatives of local school districts, the South Carolina Association of Public Charter Schools, the South Carolina Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the South Carolina Parent Teacher Association, the Palmetto State Teachers Association, the South Carolina Association for Career and Technical Education, the South Carolina School Boards Association, the South Carolina Association of School Administrators, the South Carolina Council for Exceptional Children, and 2008 South Carolina Teacher of the Year Ann Marie Taylor.
 
“NCLB was a historic effort to bring about accountability to our schools and measure achievement and progress of our students,” said Graham.  “As with any major changes in federal policy, it appears some parts have worked while others have not.  I think it is important to meet with men and women who spend their lives educating children to hear their views on NCLB.”
 
Graham noted the discussion focused on four topics:

  • Improvements that can be made to Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements in order to reflect the actual proficiency of schools.

  • Highly qualified teachers requirements

  • Accommodating special needs students

  • Recognition for states like South Carolina that have some of the highest proficiency standards in the country

 
“As the Congress continues our discussions about the reauthorization of NCLB, it is important to have frank discussions about the best path forward,” said Graham.  “Accountability is one of the keys to continued progress in education, but we must ensure NCLB works for our students and meets our nation’s education goals.  Education policy is best made at the state and local level, but if reformed NCLB can be helpful.”
 
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Oct 03 2007

Graham Amendment Providing $3 Billion for Border Security Passes Senate

Wes Hickman (202) 224-5972 or Kevin Bishop (864) 250-1417

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate today approved an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Appropriations bill introduced by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) to provide $3 billion for increased border security and interior enforcement measures.  The measure passed 95-1. 

 

 

“In the age of terrorism, regaining operational control of our nation’s borders is a national security issue of the highest order,” said Graham.  “The term ‘operational control’ is a military term, and I look at this effort to secure our border as a military operation.  We are serious about border security and this again shows the commitment to do whatever is necessary to regain control of our borders."

 

“There is no doubt we need better border security at our southern border including more boots on the ground, more miles of fencing, better technology which acts as a force multiplier, additional detention beds, and unmanned aerial vehicles,” said Graham.  “My amendment provides funding for these important and much-needed changes in federal policy.”

 

Graham sponsored the amendment along with Senator Jon Kyl (R-Arizona).

 

"The U.S. has come a long way in its efforts to secure the border," said Kyl.  "For example, the number of Border Patrol agents has increased from approximately 4,000 to 15,000 by the end of 2007.  And, last year, Congress gave DHS an extra $1.2 billion to construct fencing and other vehicular barriers in FY2007.  But there is still so much left to do.  This amendment provides an additional $3 billion in emergency funding for FY2008 to protect the border, enhance interior enforcement, including at the workplace, and detain more illegal immigrants who have either committed crimes or who are in the process of being removed from the U.S. for immigration violations."

 

The Graham Amendment to the Defense Appropriations bill and Homeland Security Appropriations bill:

 

  • Establishes operational control over the entire US border.

     

  •  

    Provides funding to construct 700 miles of fencing.

     

  •  

    Provides funding to procure Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), ground sensors, vehicle barriers.

     

  •  

    Increases the ability to detain immigrants for overstaying their visas and committing other crimes.

     

  •  

    Provides funding for states and localities that undergo training to assist the Federal government in enforcing immigration law.

     

The Graham Amendment mirrors a provision Graham introduced and passed in July as part of the Fiscal Year 2008 Homeland Security Appropriations bill by a vote of 89-1.

 

 

“I want the $3 billion to become law and this will increase the odds of that happening,” said Graham.  “Right now, there appears to be more bipartisan agreement on the Defense Appropriations bill and it stands a much better chance of being signed into law.  I have concerns Democrats in the House of Representatives will strip the $3 billion for border security from the Homeland Security bill when it goes to conference, or change the bill in ways that force a presidential veto.”

 

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Oct 03 2007

Fox News Channel Interview on Russia and Rush Limbaugh

Wes Hickman (202) 224-5972 or Kevin Bishop (864) 250-1417

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM IS INTERVIEWED ON FOX NEWS CHANNEL

 

OCTOBER 3, 2007

 

BILL HEMMER [FOX NEWS CHANNEL]: 

 

Back to this developing situation in the skies near Alaska . Only yesterday, we showed you new videotape of U.S. jets intercepting Russian bombers wandering dangerously close to U.S. airspace.  A rare look now from the cockpit of an F-15.  

 

Now, the Air Force has been dealing with these stray bombers since August.  And U.S. defense officials say these incidents are on the rise, adding they have not seen this many Russian flights this close since the Cold War.  

Lindsey Graham, Republican senator, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, with me now from D.C.

Senator, good morning, and welcome back.

SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: 

 

Good morning, Bill.

HEMMER: 

 

Help me with this.  What does Russia get out of these flights, Senator?  

GRAHAM: 

 

Well, it's -- they have this view that they're re-emerging as a stronger power but actually they're diminishing themselves.  

You know, this idea of re-engaging America and the West in a Cold War mentality is a big loser for Russia .  They're trying to intimidate their neighbors who are joining in NATO.  These flights are just a kind of a flex-the-muscle approach to foreign policy.  That's not going to work.  

Every institution in Russia has been degraded under Putin:  the legal system, the parliament, the press.  So this is becoming a autocratic country, much to the, I think, detriment of the Russian people.  

HEMMER: 

 

You used a word in there.  You said "diminished."  Why are they diminished?

GRAHAM: 

 

Well, because Putin has rolled back democratic reforms.  These flights have not occurred since 1992.  He is trying to now run for prime minister.  He's diminished the Duma, the parliament, when he was president.  The legal system is pretty much of a joke.  The press has no freedom in Russia .  They censor reports about their government.  And these flights are just another saber-rattling episode.  

He's fishing in a stream without a shirt.  It's kind of like the whole country's going through a mid-life crisis.

HEMMER: 

 

Well, that's a statement right out of South Carolina , I must add there.  

(LAUGHTER)

You don't seem to be concerned about this, do you?

GRAHAM: 

 

I'm not.  I'm not, because I know the strength of our country is the institutions we have are bigger than personalities.  

We should be concerned about Russia , but not afraid.  

Remember the bear in the wood commercial that Ronald Reagan ran in 1980 against the Soviet Union ?  

HEMMER: 

 

I sure do.

GRAHAM: 

 

Well, this is a cub in the woods.  

Russia is really a weak, struggling country trying to have bravado through one man that is short sighted.  They could be a very key player in the international community, a constructive force.  They could help us with Iran .  But they're choosing to go a different path.  And that will result in a weaker Russia over time.  

So we have to convince them...

HEMMER: 

 

With global energy prices, too, one argue that their economy's on the boost too, and they're creating billionaires by the day over there in Moscow .

 

GRAHAM: 

 

Right.

 

HEMMER: 

 

Another topic now:  The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, is hitting hard back at Rush Limbaugh.  And I know you've heard the back- and-forth between Limbaugh and what has being said in the Senate and Media Matters, this group that really put the headline on the story two days ago.  

 

What are we to make of the back-and-forth and why the Senate is taking the position it is, at least on the Democratic side?  

 

GRAHAM: 

 

We can clearly understand that the MoveOn.org ad really stunned the Democrats, and they're trying to create a bogeyman on the right to make up for what was clearly an effort by the left to diminish and to bring into question the patriotism of General Petraeus.

 

HEMMER: 

 

So you're saying the Betray-Us ad, this is payback because of that.

 

GRAHAM: 

 

Well, it's an attempt at payback.  But from what I can see, based on the record available to us, Rush Limbaugh was talking about two people who claimed to be in Iraq when they were not, who claimed to be participating in atrocities that never occurred,  And they're trying to spin that out into something else.  And it's feeble attempt to change the subject.  

 

HEMMER: 

 

Lindsey Graham, thank you for your time. 

 

GRAHAM: 

 

Thank you.

Oct 03 2007

AUDIO: Senator Graham Discusses the Border Security Amendment

Wes Hickman (202) 224-5972 or Kevin Bishop (864) 250-1417

Audio of Senator Graham discussing the $3 billion in border security funding is available at this location.  The Graham Amendment passed the Senate today by a vote of 95-1.

 

 

Oct 02 2007

Graham Statement on Threat to Cut Off Iraq War Funding

Wes Hickman (202) 224-5972 or Kevin Bishop (864) 250-1417

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) made this statement on the threat by the House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-WI) to not pass a new war funding bill until early next year and condition it on a goal of January 2009 for an end to U.S. combat operations in Iraq .

 

Graham made this statement:

 

“Such a position is the height of irresponsibility, particularly in a time of war.  The Al Qaeda fighters being run out of Anbar and Diyala Provinces because of the surge would cheer on a congressional cutoff of funding.  The very dangerous regime in Tehran, which seeks to develop nuclear weapons and dominate the entire region, would stand and applaud America’s lack of resolve to establish a stable government in Iraq .  I hope Chairman Obey revisits this ill-conceived position.”

 

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