Tate Zeigler (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement on his vote against the Senate transportation bill.

“The American people, in both their private and business lives, have to live within a budget.  Congress should do the same.  Overall, the transportation bill which passed the Senate today did not meet that standard. It also missed opportunities to expand offshore drilling and pave the way for construction and eventual operation of the Keystone pipeline.

“Seven months ago, the Budget Control Act (BCA) set spending levels, which were modest at best, to control spending.   Today, the Senate transportation bill violated those spending levels. And efforts to bring the bill back into balance, like the amendments offered by Senators Corker and DeMint, failed.

“I’m confident the House of Representatives will not accept the Senate legislation passed today.  I am hopeful the House will bring the bill back into balance.  If they are able to accomplish that goal, I will support the final legislation."

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