Blog
Nov 14 2023
Nov 08 2023
Nov 06 2023
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Government Management and Border Operations today unveiled the proposal from the working group to fix the failed policies that are causing the crisis at the southern border.
The Senators noted the crisis at the southern border is a direct result of failed policies. They are presenting solutions to fix these failed policies, instead of throwing more money at the ever-worsening problem. These solutions, drawn from those found in H.R. 2, prioritize the policy reforms that are most critical to securing the border and stemming the flow of migrants now.
Securing our southern border should be a key component of our national security. The Republican Working Group proposal includes measures that increase pay for hardworking border patrol agents, strengthens border security, and removes pull factors by fixing our broken asylum process and stopping the Biden Administration’s abuse of the immigration parole system.
“We must make policy changes to reduce the flow of immigration. The world is on fire and threats to our homeland are at an all-time high. President Biden’s border policies are not working and it’s time to change course. Our proposal makes the necessary changes that our country needs at this critical time,” said Senator Graham.
“President Biden’s immigration policies have put American workers last and exposed our communities to crime and terrorism. This border package will cut off the flow of illegal migration, prioritize legitimate claims to entry, and restore order,” said Senator Cotton.
“We have needed significant updates in border security law for years,” said Senator Lankford. “But President Biden has allowed the cartels to exploit the loopholes in our asylum laws like no other President in history. We must close those loopholes and secure our border.”
Read the one-pager on the Senate Republican Working Group’s proposal HERE.
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Nov 02 2023
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Chris Coons (D-Delaware) and John Boozman (R-Arkansas) today introduced legislation to combat the ever-growing global food security crisis. The current band-aid approach to food security challenges is both insufficient and unsustainable. The Foundation for International Food Security Act would be a new model to tackle this growing global challenge by leveraging private sector dollars to improve food systems. The Foundation will bring to the forefront innovative solutions from the private sector and help breakdown institutional barriers.
“Today, according to the World Food Program, there are more than 345 million people facing acute hunger. That is an increase of almost 200 million since early 2020,” said Senator Graham. “Our legislation will focus on helping people in the developing world produce their own food so they aren’t forced to migrate. The American farming community is the gold standard and this will help us bring the best science and technology to the developing world. Our goal is to help teach people how to feed themselves using American ingenuity and technology.”
“Hundreds of millions of people are facing famine due to rising food prices, climate change, conflict, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” said Senator Coons. “As Chairman of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, I’m proud to steer the United States’ continuing leadership role in combatting global food insecurity. Giving a helping hand to those who need it the most has been a longstanding value of our nation, and this legislation will help promote sustainable, agriculture-led economic growth and build resilient food systems to put an end to hunger across the world.”
“Escalating conflicts, food inaccessibility and increased prices are fueling a global hunger crisis. This is a humanitarian emergency that needs an innovative approach to deliver help to children and families most in need. I’m pleased to support the Foundation for International Food Security Act to leverage private funding so we help modernize food supply systems around the world which will ultimately foster stability and prevent the weaponization of food,” said Senator Boozman.
Background on the Foundation for International Food Security Act.
- Establishes a nonprofit, independent foundation to fund a focused group of countries by leveraging the private sector to bring additional capital and resources to projects that address food security systems.
- Projects will be funded based on a list of predetermined criteria including the ability to hit performance metrics, increase agricultural production, mitigate against food shocks, and remain sustainable.
- The Foundation will complement existing programs, but is charged with not duplicating existing US government funded programs
Background on the current food security crisis.
- More than 345 million people face acute hunger in 2023 – more than double the number in 2020.
- Up to 50 million people are on the brink of famine and over 13 million children suffer from severe malnutrition, also known as wasting.
- The number of acutely hungry people continues to increase at a pace that?funding is unlikely to match, while the?cost of delivering food assistance is at an all-time high.?
Support for the Foundation for International Food Security Act.
“One Acre Fund is thrilled with the introduction of the Foundation for International Food Security bill, which will drive more resources into impactful programs that equip smallholder farmers with the tools they need to feed their families and communities. In an era of increasing global hunger, we are excited about this new Foundation's focus on measurable and sustainable results, and its unique governance structure that will build more support to help our sector get back on track to achieving SDG2, a zero-hunger world.” – Matthew Forti, Managing Director, One Acre Fund
“Given the many global challenges we collectively face, Farm Journal Foundation is supportive of the Foundation for International Security Act, which if enacted will complement the ongoing, impactful work of the U.S. government's Feed the Future initiative and help ensure that the public and private sectors work together to advance global food and nutrition security.” – Katie Lee, Vice President, Government Affairs at Farm Journal Foundation
“Climate change is accelerating the global challenge of nutrition security and putting vulnerable people at greater risk each and every day. Solutions must be tailored to local food production systems while ensuring we protect the world’s forests, rivers and grasslands. Through this bipartisan proposal, the U.S. government would advance durable public-private partnerships to make meaningful progress on the twin challenge of food security and climate change while also conserving critical ecosystems. Thank you to Sens. Graham and Coons for their work to balance the needs of people and nature.” – Michael Doane, Global Managing Director, Food & Freshwater Systems, The Nature Conservancy
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Nov 02 2023
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today made the following statements about Judiciary Democrats’ plans to issue subpoenas to Harlan Crow, Leonard Leo, and Robin Arkley II, all private citizens.
The Democrats’ initial requests for information from these individuals earlier this year were overbroad and expansive, far beyond the bounds of any reasonable investigative request. Mr. Crow offered to provide five years of information related to some of these requests, which Democrats did not accept. Mr. Leo and Mr. Arkley declined to provide any information on the grounds that it was beyond the scope of a legitimate legislative inquiry and amounted to harassment of a private citizen.
Democrats claim this is about oversight, yet it is clear these subpoenas are not about legislative fact finding. Instead, they are part of an effort by liberals opposed to the conservative Supreme Court rulings to get the court to change course. A committee vote on the issuing of subpoenas is expected to occur as early as Thursday, November 9.
- GRAHAM: “You are spending more time trying to ‘fix’ the Supreme Court than you are the border.” https://youtu.be/aQV2t4B3oxE?si=mcOVIadkB74fDfzk&t=17
- GRAHAM: “You are trying to manage the Supreme Court. I wouldn’t let you manage anything. You are trying to create a political issue that I think crosses constitutional boundaries.” https://youtu.be/aQV2t4B3oxE?si=wjM2w7XO8WO_c2pp&t=38
- GRAHAM: “The border is broken. What are you going to do about it? The mayor of New York said, today, if you come to New York you can stay here for thirty days, we are not going to pay for your stay here free forever. The mayor of Chicago is coming to the White House today to beg for money to deal with migrants that have been sent to Chicago by people in Texas and other places who are full. And we are going to be talking about subpoenaing three private citizens and getting in the Supreme Court’s business? You have lost your way.” https://youtu.be/aQV2t4B3oxE?si=VXaJL38XTs1N7h-A&t=70
- GRAHAM: “You know you are not going to get sixty votes to enforce the subpoena. Mr. Crow offered you five years and I don’t know why he offered you anything. I would have told you to go pound sand.” https://youtu.be/aQV2t4B3oxE?si=cKIsL96_UKUtwdeY&t=127
- GRAHAM: “This is a fight you want, you are going to get it.” https://youtu.be/aQV2t4B3oxE?si=fM6LYTSJvv21Hrzy&t=154
Click here to watch Graham’s full remarks
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