Blog
May 12 2004
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 after viewing additional photos and videos of prisoner abuse in Iraq. “In Saddam’s world this was standard. In our world, it’s devastating. “There was evidence of a total breakdown in discipline and military order. “Some of it was clearly rogue behavior by the military police. Some of it seems more elaborate. “It reinforced my view that some of the conduct was orchestrated in a manner to suggest direction or tolerance beyond the military police involved. The question becomes, ‘Where did that direction come from?’” #####May 07 2004
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 Savannah River Technology Center (SRTC) being named a national lab. Due to a scheduling conflict, U.S. Senator Graham (R-South Carolina) was unable to attend today’s announcement ceremony at Savannah River Site (SRS). A member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Graham remained in Washington to attend the Iraqi prisoner abuse hearing with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and General Richard Myers. He said: “The national lab designation is like going from single A ball to the major leagues. The potential research and development opportunities that could come to SRS and South Carolina from this new designation are staggering and on the cutting-edge of technology. “For the last ten years, I have been working along with members of our congressional delegation and the SRS community to ensure a bright, post-Cold War future for SRS. We’ve had many accomplishments and some disappointments along the way. However, SRTC being designated a national laboratory is the best news and one of the most significant events for the future of SRS since I came to Congress. “Secretary Abraham has done more for SRS than any other DOE secretary I’ve ever worked with. He recognizes the important role SRS does and can play for DOE and the nation. “Governor Sanford’s efforts to work with DOE and to view SRS as a state asset were indispensable in helping achieve this designation. Unlike his predecessor, Gov. Sanford has worked in a cooperative fashion to make sure SRS is fully utilized for our state and nation. “Our congressional delegation has always worked as a team when it comes to SRS. I appreciate the efforts Congressman Gresham Barrett has made in the House to make sure SRSs’ assets are known to those in Congress. “Today’s designation made by Secretary Abraham is one of the highlights of my last ten years in trying to ensure a bright future for SRS. What a great day for the Site, local community and state of South Carolina.” #####May 06 2004
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) today unveiled legislation expanding the ‘Stand by Your Ad’ provisions of the new campaign finance law. Current law only requires candidates for federal office to state their personal approval of television and radio advertisements. Graham and Wyden would extend that provision to cover other media used for campaign advertising. “The ‘Stand by Your Ad’ provisions already being applied to television and radio advertisements hold candidates accountable for the content of their commercials,” said Graham. “Our legislation seeks to build upon the accountability provisions already in effect. The effort to put some measure of accountability into the system has and will continue to take some of the venom out of politics.” The new legislation proposes:- For Print Ads: A disclaimer occupying not less than 10 percent of the total area containing a photograph of the candidate and a printed statement stating the candidate approved the message. This provision would apply to newspapers, outdoor advertising facilities, bulk mailings, bulk e-mail and similar communications.
- For Video Clips and Audio Clips Distributed Via the Internet: A disclaimer satisfying the current requirement for a TV ad for video clips and a disclaimer satisfying the current requirement for a radio ad for audio clips.
May 05 2004
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and John Ensign (R-Nevada) today introduced legislation laying the groundwork for a full-scale, thorough investigation into alleged corruption at the United Nation’s oil-for-food program. Without a proper accounting, U.S. contributions to the U.N. general budget would be cut by 10 percent in FY 2005 and 20 percent in FY 2006. “Congress has an independent duty and obligation to investigate how the oil-for-food program affected U.N. politics and helped prop up Saddam’s regime,” said Graham. “At first glance, it appears Saddam’s regime had the power to declare financial winners and losers within the U.N. community. It is important that we find out exactly how the U.N. managed this program before we consider giving them more authority over Iraq’s reconstruction.” Created in 1995 by the U.N. Security Council, the oil-for-food program was originally intended to provide the Iraqi people with humanitarian relief while maintaining Gulf-war related sanctions. Oil revenues were supposed to be kept away from Saddam’s regime and held in a U.N.-controlled escrow account. The U.S. General Accounting Office estimates the former Iraqi regime garnered $10.7 billion in illegal oil revenues from the program from which it provided kickbacks to Iraqi and U.N. officials. The U.N. received about $1.4 billion from the program. On January 25, 2004 an Iraqi newspaper published a list of 270 individuals and entities that allegedly received oil vouchers from Saddam Hussein under the program including the Director Benon Sevan. The legislation Graham supports:- Requires the U.N. to allow full access to documents and internal records so the United States General Accounting Office can conduct an audit of the oil-for-food program;
- Requires the U.N. to make documents available to law enforcement authorities of any U.N. member nation who requests them;
- Requires the U.N. to waive immunity from the U.S. judicial system;
- Requires any official who financially benefited from the oil-for-food program to repay the full amount to the new Iraqi government.
