Blog
Jul 31 2008
Wes Hickman (202) 224-5972 or Kevin Bishop (864) 250-1417
E-Verify is a web-based tool run by the Department of Homeland Security for employers across the country. The state of
Graham noted the comprehensive immigration reform bill Congress debated last year contained an even stronger version of E-Verify for employment verification and mandated all business use the system. However, Graham noted that even a watered-down version of electronic employment verification, like E-Verify, is better than none at all.
“Congress is running out of time to reauthorize and even enhance E-Verify,” wrote Graham. “The number of employers relying on the program to hire legal workers is likely to grow. Small businesses and companies that utilize it need to be able to know that Congress is not going to let this program die.”
Known as the Basic Pilot Program since its inception in 1996, E-Verify provides employers with a process to verify the work eligibility of new hires. Right now, nearly 80,000 employers use the program and according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, more than 1,000 employers voluntarily sign up to use E-Verify each week.
“Both sides of the aisle would like to see reforms to the electronic employment verification program,” said Graham. “Ultimately, we would prefer to pass a bill requiring mandatory participation in the program. Since there is very little time left in this session, we urge you to support a straight reauthorization of E-Verify. Extending the program will keep employers accountable while giving them the tools needed to abide by the law in their hiring practices.”
The letter was also signed by Senators Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), Jon Kyl (R-Arizona), Arlen Specter (R-Pennsylvania), Johnny Isakson (R-Georgia), David Vitter (R-Louisiana), Saxby Chambliss (R-Georgia), Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina), Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama), James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), John Ensign (R-Nevada), Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma), and Wayne Allard (R-Colorado).
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Jul 30 2008
Graham said:
“The Senate is reinforcing every day why it is held in such low standing.
“We should be solving problems, like our nation’s growing energy crisis, not going out of our way to avoid debating and voting on them. It’s truly sad the world’s greatest deliberative body has been reduced to deliberately blocking attempts to debate and cast votes on solutions to our broken energy policies.
“I support tax extenders for American families and business. I support the media shield law. I support some of the other proposals we may eventually debate. But we should not have to choose between solving these problems and abandoning our attempts to fix our nation’s energy crisis. Let’s do all of them. It can be done.”
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Jul 18 2008
Wes Hickman (202) 224-5972 or Kevin Bishop (864) 250-1417
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement on news President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki have agreed to set a conditions-based ‘time horizon’ for the withdrawal of American combat troops from Iraq.
Graham said:
“Before the surge, democratic institutions in
“With today’s agreement on a ‘time-horizon’ for a conditions-based withdrawal of
“The surge provided better security allowing Iraqi institutions to grow in capability and afforded the political leadership breathing space from the violence to reconcile
“Today, the Iraqi government has met 15 of the 18 benchmarks set by Congress. Violence is down sharply across the board.
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“If our nation had taken the ill-advised course charted by Senator Obama -- pulling out troops during the height of sectarian violence – it would have been a death blow to representative government in
“Senator Obama was wrong when he opposed the surge. Senator Obama was wrong when he said it would fail and make things worse. Senator Obama was wrong when he said
“Let’s be clear, the stunning military, economic, and political progress that has been achieved from the surge has come at a heavy price in blood and treasure. But with its success, the likelihood of a stable, functioning, representative government in the heart of the Arab world is now closer to reality.
“All Americans should be proud of the accomplishments of our men and women in uniform, along with the civilian support staff, and hopeful for our friends and allies in the new, democratic
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Jul 14 2008
Wes Hickman (202) 224-5972 or Kevin Bishop (864) 250-1417
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and U.S. Representative Henry Brown (R-Hanahan) today expressed their support for the decision by Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs James Peake to make amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's Disease,” a service connected disability.
Graham and Brown have been working with Secretary Peake to make this designation, and Peake informed the lawmakers of his decision on a conference call this morning.
“I applaud Secretary Peake’s decision to make ALS a service connected disability,” said Graham. “This devastating disease occurs in the military at more than twice the rate of the general population. The Secretary’s decision to find a service connection is justified and the right thing to do. This decision will provide much comfort to the military members suffering from this debilitating disease. I want to thank Henry Brown for his leadership on this issue, and General Mikolajcik for his service to our country and heroic stand on behalf of his fellow veterans.”
“Today’s decision by Secretary Peake is the culmination of a concerted effort to have veterans with ALS receive benefits they deserve from the VA,” said Brown. “A growing number of veterans, especially those who served during the first Gulf War, have been diagnosed with ALS, and there is a clear connection between ALS and military service. Veterans with ALS, such as
In addition to working to move the VA towards making today’s change, Congressman Brown introduced legislation (H.R. 5454) that would establish a presumption of service connection for all veterans with ALS. The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee held a hearing on Brown’s legislation just a month ago, and it was expected to move to the House floor before the end of the year.
According to Secretary Peake, the change should go into effect August 1.
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Jul 14 2008
Wes Hickman (202) 224-5972 or Kevin Bishop (864) 250-1417
He said:
“I applaud the President’s decision to lift the moratorium on offshore exploration. There is no doubt we need more domestic exploration. Every barrel of oil we can find in
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Jul 12 2008
Wes Hickman (202) 224-5972 or Kevin Bishop (864) 250-1417
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made the following statement on the passing of Tony Snow.
“Tony Snow was one of the most decent and loyal people I’ve ever known in political life. Tony was loyal to his maker, family, friends, ideals, and profession. He was one of the smartest and most articulate voices for the conservative cause in the nation. Tony was a true friend, and will be missed.”
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Jul 10 2008
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement following Senate confirmation of General David Petraeus as Commanding General of U.S. Central Command by a vote of 95-2, and General Raymond Odierno as Commander of Multi-National Force-Iraq by a vote of 96-1.
Graham said:
“I congratulate President Bush for nominating these fine officers for two of the most important jobs in the military. Generals Petraeus and Odierno are the right people at the right time to lead operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
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Jul 09 2008
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made the following statement on the passage of H.R. 6304, the FISA Amendments Act of 2008. The bill amends FISA and allows the United States to continue to monitor overseas phone calls of suspected terrorists while protecting the rights of American citizens. Senator Graham voted for the bill which passed the Senate 69-28.
“Senator Obama is at it again on FISA. He’s trying to have it both ways—saying he supports a bipartisan bill while trying to kill it. Senator Obama voted to strip out the heart and soul of this bipartisan deal, legal immunity for telecommunications companies who cooperated with the federal government to monitor the overseas phone calls of suspected terrorists. Senator Obama continues to demonstrate that in his world bipartisanship means that the other side gives and he takes.
“If the Dodd amendment to strip legal immunity had passed, an idea supported only by the far left, there would have been no deal. Without this bipartisan agreement our terrorist surveillance program would cease to be effective, exposing out country to many dangers.
“I am pleased that 66 Senators, both Republicans and Democrats, voted to reject the Dodd amendment that would have unraveled the bipartisan agreement. I am disappointed, but not surprised, that Senator Obama could not muster the courage to do likewise.
“Despite efforts to kill this agreement, the Senate has risen above political gamesmanship to make our country safer. This bill will provide American law enforcement and intelligence agencies with the tools they need to monitor terrorist suspects overseas and win the global war on terror.”
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Jul 09 2008
Wes Hickman (202) 224-5972 or Kevin Bishop (864) 250-1417
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) made this statement.
“I have and will continue to support finding a permanent solution to the physician reimbursement formula. However, I truly believe the bill passed by the Senate today does great harm to Medicare Advantage, a program enjoyed by thousands of
“I will continue to try to solve this problem in a bipartisan manner that is in the best interests of doctors, seniors, and taxpayers. I do not believe we should have to choose between helping doctors and destroying competition in Medicare.”
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Jun 26 2008
Wes Hickman (202) 224-5972 or Kevin Bishop (864) 250-1417
Graham had signed on to an amicus brief to the United States Supreme Court in the case of the
Graham said:
“The Supreme Court decision reinforced what many of us have always believed – the
“This is a historic ruling and I’m very pleased by the Supreme Court’s decision in support of the Second Amendment rights of all Americans.”
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