GOP Senator predicts Clinton will win Dem nomination

Peter Hamby
CNN

The following is excerpted from an article on WIS TV & CNN August 28, 2007):

COLUMBIA, SC (CNN) – Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina told a group of local Republicans here on Monday night who he believes will win the Democratic presidential nomination.

“Whoever wins this [GOP] nomination is going to get my full support,” Graham told a meeting of the Richland County Republican Party. “You know why? You know who we’re going to be running against? Hillary Clinton.”

“I predict that in a matter of weeks, not months or years, there will be a political breakthrough in Baghdad,” Graham said. “The politicians will find a way to bring their country together. And you want to know why? Because the Iraqi people are sick and tired of the killing and the dying, and they’re putting pressure on the politicians.”

“This is not Vietnam,” Graham said. “This is World War Three.”

Click here to read the complete story.

After Tour of Duty in Iraq, Graham Backs ‘Surge

Monday, August 27, 2007

Robim Wright
The Washington Post

The following is excerpted from an article in The Washington Post (August 28, 2007):

After serving two weeks of reserve duty in Iraq, Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) yesterday called for continuation of the “surge” of U.S. troops in Iraq and warned that any decision to mandate a withdrawal this year would undercut critical gains made in recent months.

Graham, a colonel in the Air Force Reserve and a longtime supporter of military deployment in Iraq, is the only member of the Senate to serve in Iraq.

“With all due respect to Senator Warner, the model he is suggesting — to put pressure [on the Iraqi government] by mandating troop withdrawal — is exactly the opposite of what we should do,” Graham said in an interview after returning from Iraq this past weekend. “I believe the pressure that will lead to reconciliation will not be from what an American politician thinks but what the Iraqi people think. And I’m confident that the Iraqi people have turned a corner.”

“The surge has produced better security. And if you mandated withdrawal now, it would undercut the progress we’ve made and embolden people who are on the ropes. Be patient. Continue to supply strongly economic, political and military support, and I believe . . . we’ll have a breakthrough in Baghdad,” he said.

A member of the Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps, Graham worked primarily on detainee and rule-of-law issues in Iraq. When he was in a courtroom in Baghdad’s Red Zone — as some refer to the area outside the heavily fortified Green Zone — witnessing the trial of two Iraqi policemen charged with building an arms cache to aid a local Shiite militia, a car bomb exploded and two mortar shells landed nearby.

No other serving members of Congress have deployed in Iraq, according to congressional sources.

Click here for footage from this press conference.

Click here to read full story.

Construction begins on MOX

APRIL BAILEY
The Aiken Standard

The following are excerpts from an article in the Aiken Standard.

After several delays, Wednesday marked the first day of construction for the Mixed Oxide (MOX) Fuel Fabrication Facility at the Savannah River Site.

Construction was initiated by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). NNSA is an organization within the Department of Defense responsible for increasing national security through the military application of nuclear science. It was established by Congress in 2000.

A longtime supporter of the project, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said that the MOX facility is the culmination of years of hard work and a tribute to the determination of the local community to answer the nation’s call.

“This is great news for the site and the nation,” he said. “I am pleased we are continuing to make progress on this national security project.”

The design of the facility is being based on the both the Melox and La Hague facilities, two MOX fuel facilities in France. Melox and La Hague produce MOX fuel for 30 nuclear reactors in Europe, where MOX technology has been used for more than 20 years.

Click here to read the full story.

Graham Votes Against Democrat Ethics Reform Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Graham Campaign Office
(803) 748-0300

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today voted against S. 1, the Senate Democrat’s ethics reform bill. Graham noted the bill fails to address real ethics reform by bring openness to the earmark process.

“Unfortunately, our efforts to bring sunlight and transparency to earmark process have been greatly diluted,” said Graham. “This legislation does not require an open and public disclosure of earmarks. It is weak and a vast departure from our original legislation.”

Graham noted the House-Senate conference report contained an unusual procedure where the Majority Leader and committee chairman could certify that earmark disclosure met compliance. This process is fraught with potential abuse.

“Elected officials should be able to designate money for the states and districts,” said Graham. “But every elected official should have to defend their actions and the merits of the program. The public deserves to know where the funds are going. They also deserve to know whether there is any financial self-interest on behalf of the elected official or their family.”

“There is a belief in politics that money is power,” said Graham. “My belief is that the ultimate power an elected official can have is the trust of the people. Congress has lost that trust.

“I hoped the ethics reform bill would be an opportunity to restore trust,” said Graham. “Unfortunately, our efforts to bring about real reform were gutted.”

Kyl, Sessions, McCain, Graham, Introduce Immigration Enforcement Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Building upon the $3 billion for border security improvements recently adopted in the Department of Homeland Security funding bill, U.S. Sens. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and John Cornyn (R-Texas) today will introduce a bill to further provide resources to help gain operational control over the borders of the United States, enforce and strengthen interior immigration laws, and create additional penalties for immigration violations.

The bill contains some 72 separate provisions, which represent the ideas and insights of numerous Members of Congress, a variety of federal and state agencies affected by illegal immigration, stakeholders, and members of the public. Some of these provisions represent compromise positions adopted by Senators in the last immigration bill, and others contain tough new enforcement provisions.

“The debate we had a few weeks ago on immigration reform should not deter Congress from doing what is still needed to secure our borders and reduce illegal immigration,” said Kyl. “We should take what we learned from that debate – that the American people want enforcement – and put it into workable legislation. That’s exactly what we’ve done here. On the whole, the legislation distills many of the lessons that we learned discussing immigration reform in the Senate. Each of the provisions contained in this bill can stand alone on its own merit, or be combined with any other immigration bill.”

“Introduction of this bill is consistent with what the American people are asking us to do,” said Sessions. “The bill requires that the Department of Homeland Security complete construction of the full 700 miles of southern border fencing, improve cooperation with state and local law enforcement, and increase enforcement of immigration laws at the workplace. These are important steps toward creating a lawful system of immigration.”

“The failure of the Senate to pass comprehensive immigration was a huge disappointment,” said McCain. “Although we must move forward with other issues, we can show the American people that we are serious about securing our nations border. This bill highlights the steps that need to be taken to ensure the integrity of our national security and immigration system, and would provide an essential step toward achieving comprehensive reform in the future.”

“Our legislation streamlines deportation proceedings, provides robust border and visa controls, and makes available to local and federal law enforcement more tools to aggressively deal with illegal immigration,” said Graham. “Our immigration system is structurally flawed. There remain at least half a dozen major changes in policy our nation must address to get the problems of illegal immigration under control. This is another step forward in that endeavor.”

The bill would authorize significant increases in the number of personnel to patrol the border, staff the ports of entry, prevent smuggling, and investigate immigration violations. It would also increase the amount of fencing, vehicle barriers, physical infrastructure, and technology to observe and deter illegal crossings, and the amount of detention space to hold unlawful aliens.

The bill would also mandate that DHS detain unlawful aliens crossing the border until those aliens are removed. It would require that DHS capture biometric data on all foreign nationals legally entering and departing the United States, and identify, track, detain and remove those who overstay their visas.

The bill would authorize significant increases in personnel for DHS and the Department of Justice to enforce the immigration laws in the interior of the United States. It would add new legal authorities to prevent the entry and enable the removal of suspected terrorists, aggravated felons, gang members, human smugglers, and other criminals. The bill would add new legal authorities to deter and prosecute crimes against children, to combat smuggling, and to prevent fraud. It would also enhance the ability of state and local law enforcement officers to identify unlawful aliens, and increase funding to states adversely affected by illegal immigration.

The bill would enhance laws to prevent the hiring of unlawful aliens in the United States. It would require DHS to establish an employment verification system that would make it easier to identify unauthorized workers, in part through enhanced data-sharing between federal and state agencies. The bill would increase the security and integrity of Social Security cards, and provide funding to assist states in issuing more secure driver’s licenses and identity documents. The bill would increase civil and criminal penalties against employers who knowingly hire unlawful aliens, and persons who misuse identity documents.

HIGHLIGHTS

· Requires hiring of 14,000 new Border Patrol Agents to secure the borders.

· Mandates construction of 700 miles of fence, 300 miles of vehicle barriers, 105 ground-based radars, and four unmanned aerial vehicles. Requires 45,000 detention beds.

· Contains a “Catch and Return” provision requiring DHS to detain illegal border crossers.

· Requires implementing an entry/exit system at all U.S. ports of entry.

· Requires mandatory detention of criminal aliens until removal.

· Makes illegal presence in the U.S. a misdemeanor offense.

· Makes gang members inadmissible and deportable.

· Mandates an electronic employment verification system to end hiring of unlawful aliens.

‘Have you been to Iraq?’ — 76 sens. say they have

Patrick Fitzgerald
The Hill

The following are excerpts from an article in the The Hill.

At least 76 senators have visited Iraq in the four years of combat, including 38 who have made the trip in the last 12 months, according to a survey by The Hill. But at least 18 senators have not traveled there at all.

As debate over the war reaches a tipping point in Washington, visiting Iraq has become a rite of passage for many lawmakers looking to bolster their credibility on national security. Many lawmakers feel that making a trip is important for their credibility when they are asked to weigh in on the war.

As a recent case in point, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) alluded to his Iraq travel when he challenged Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) in a July 15 debate on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Graham, who has gone to Iraq seven times, took Webb to task after the freshman senator said that less than half of the military believes that the U.S. should be in Iraq.

“Have you been to Iraq?” Graham charged. “Have you ever been and talked to them?”

Click here to read the full story.

Graham co-sponsors bill to extend medical leave for military families

Doug Abrahms
The Greenville News

The following are excerpts from an article in the Greenville News.

WASHINGTON — Military families would be offered up to six months of unpaid leave, without the risk of job loss, to take care of wounded soldiers under bill co-sponsored Tuesday by U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

Some family members who have taken care of seriously injured service members have lost their jobs, according to the South Carolina Republican and other supporters of the legislation. The bill would extend the Family Leave Act to military families that would require employers to guarantee their jobs for up to six months.

The burden of the Iraq war has fallen hard on the service members and their families, Graham said.

“This bill gives the chance of the many to come to the aid of the few,” he said. “The unsung heroes of this war are military families.”

More than 370 South Carolina military personnel had been wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan as of July 21, according to Pentagon data.

Click here to read the full story.

Graham Amendment Adding $3 Billion for Border Security Passes the Senate

WASHINGTON

– U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today said he was very pleased the Senate accepted his amendment to provide $3 billion for increased border security and interior enforcement measures. The vote was 89-1.

“In the age of terrorism, regaining operational control of our nation’s borders is a national security issue of the highest order,” said Graham. “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. My amendment provides funding for these important and much-needed changes in federal policy.

“I’m pleased with the overwhelming support for my amendment,” said Graham. “It’s a confidence builder in showing the American people we are serious about border security. Regaining operational control of our nation’s borders is the gateway to further reforms of our broken immigration system.”

The Graham amendment ensures and requires:

• The U.S. government to establish and demonstrate operational control over 100 percent of the international land and maritime borders between the U.S. and Mexico.
• Provides funding to construct the 700 miles of fencing as required under the Secure Fence Act.
• Provides funding for hiring, training, and placing on duty 23,000 Customs and Border Patrol agents.
• Permanently ends ‘Catch and Release’ by providing the resources necessary to detain up to 45,000 aliens per day.
• Provides funding for 300 miles of vehicle barriers at the border.
• Provides funding for 105 ground-based radar and camera towers.
• Provides funding for the deployment of 4 unmanned aerial vehicles at the border.
• Provides funding to handle the deportation of absconders and visa overstays.

“The term ‘operational control’ is a military term, and I look at this effort to secure our border as a military operation,” said Graham. “We are serious about border security and this again shows the commitment to do whatever is necessary to regain control of our borders.”

Graham noted many of the border security protection provisions accepted today were contained in the Senate immigration bill and the Graham-Kyl-Martinez amendment which was debated last month. He also noted there remain at least half a dozen, major changes in policy our nation must address to get the problems of illegal immigration under control.

“The comprehensive approach failed but the problems posed by illegal immigration have not gone away,” said Graham. “We are now addressing the major changes one piece at a time. This is a strong first step in a long journey toward reforming our broken immigration system.

“We still need a more robust electronic employee verification system (EEVS), a merit-based immigration system, assimilation programs to ensure people understand English, a method to ensure everyone is paying taxes, a temporary guest worker program for people who want to come here, make money and return to their home country, and other changes,” said Graham. “This is the beginning of a longer, more drawn out effort to reform our nation’s immigration practices.”

Graham Offers Amendment on Border Security and Interior Enforcement to Homeland Security Legislation

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today offered an amendment to the Department of Homeland Security funding legislation appropriating $3 billion for increased border security efforts.

“There are at least half a dozen major changes in policy we have to make as a nation to get the problems of illegal immigration under control,” said Graham. “The comprehensive approach, where we made all the necessary changes in one fell swoop, failed. Just because it failed does not mean the problems posed by illegal immigration have gone away.

“We’re now moving to Plan B,” said Graham. “That will require us to address the major changes that must be made a piece at a time. Today, we’re addressing border security, visa overstays, sanctuary cities, and other important issues. There’s no doubt that operational control of our southern border is a national security imperative. We must regain control of our border and this much-need emergency funding will play an important role in making that happen.”

Graham noted Congressman Rahm Emanuel, a leading member of the Democratic House leadership, recently said comprehensive immigration reform will have to wait at least six years until the second term of a prospective Democratic presidency.

“Unlike Congressman Emanuel, I do not believe we can wait years to address our nation’s pressing and urgent immigration problems,” said Graham. “My amendment contains many of the provisions that were in the Senate immigration bill and Graham-Kyl-Martinez. These are the provisions of immigration reform where there is broad consensus. They should be enacted.”

The Graham Amendment is cosponsored by Senators Judd Gregg (R-New Hampshire), John Cornyn (R-TX), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Jeff Sessions (R-AL), John McCain (R-AZ), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Mel Martinez (R-FL), Arlen Specter (R-PA), and John Sununu (R-NH).

The major provisions include additional funding and policy changes affecting our nation’s border security and interior enforcement efforts:

Border Security:

• The U.S. government must achieve full operational control over 100 percent of the U.S.-Mexico land border.

• The hiring, training and deploying of 23,000 Border Patrol agents.

• 4 unmanned aerial vehicles and 105 ground-based radar and camera towers.

• 300 miles of permanent vehicle barriers and 700 miles of border fencing.

• 45,000 detention beds to put a permanent end to ‘Catch and Release.’

Interior Enforcement:

• Requires a total of 14,500 new Customs & Border Patrol (CBP) agents through Fiscal Year 2012 – a total of approximately 30,000 CBP agents overall – as well as increased hires of new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

• Addresses the issue of Sanctuary Cities by prohibiting cities from banning the obtaining of information on immigration status by their own law enforcement agencies.

• Builds upon the King Amendment in the House of Representatives, which grants civil liability protection to those who report possible threats to our nation’s transportation system.

• Provides additional funding for Operation Jump Start which maintains a National Guard presence along the Southern border.

• Strengthens current law on criminal aliens to deny immigration benefits to aggravated felons, gang members, terrorists, sex offenders, and child abusers. The bill also expands the Institutional Removal Program and gives the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) the ability to detain criminal aliens for an extended period of time before they can be removed.

• Gives states and local law enforcement new authorities to detain illegal aliens and transfer them into DHS custody. It also allows state and local law enforcement authorities to use homeland security grants for 287(g) training and provides funding to cover the costs of detaining and transporting criminal aliens.

• Addresses Visa Overstays by requiring DHS to detain aliens who willfully overstay their period of authorized admission for more than 60 days.

• Addresses illegal reentry by increasing criminal penalties and sets mandatory minimum prison sentences for aliens who have been removed and illegally re-enter our country.

• Provides for Expedited Removal by restricting the impact of outdated court injunctions that currently prevent DHS from transferring certain illegal immigrants into expedited removal and returning them to their country of origin as soon as circumstances allow.

• Addresses US-Visit and Entry Inspecting by clarifying DHS’s authority to collect biometric entry and exit data at U.S. ports of entry. It also requires DHS to provide Congress a timeline for implementing US-VISIT at all land border ports of entry.

• Requires DHS to enhance Basic Pilot Program to help facilitate broader us by employers as well as improve accuracy and efficiency.

“What we do today in my amendment is an important step, but certainly not the only step, to get a handle on illegal immigration,” said Graham. “As a nation, we still need a more robust electronic employee verification system (EEVS), a merit-based immigration system, assimilation programs to ensure people understand English, a method to ensure everyone is paying taxes, a temporary guest worker program for people who want to come here, make money and return to their home country, and other changes.”

“We are serious about border security and this again shows the commitment to do whatever is necessary to regain control of our borders,” said Graham. “The sooner we get a handle on the problems associated with illegal immigration, the better off our nation will be.

“This amendment is a step in the right direction and the beginning of what I expect will be a longer, more drawn out effort to reform our nation’s immigration practices,” concluded Graham.

Graham Opposes Levin-Reed Amendment to Begin Troop Withdrawals from Iraq

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement on his opposition to the Levin-Reed amendment which mandates American troop withdrawals from Iraq beginning in 120 days. All American troops would need to be out of Iraq by May 2008. The amendment was defeated in the Senate by a vote of 52-47.

After the amendment was defeated, the Democratic leadership of the Senate decided to pull the defense authorization bill from the floor. The legislation contains provisions to increase pay and benefits, and make available better equipment for our troops.

Graham on the Defeat of the Levin-Reed Amendment:

“This approach would be a disaster for our national security interests both in Iraq and throughout the Middle East. Al Qaeda is now on the run in Iraq. They would welcome and rejoice over an American plan to withdraw from the fight. Local Iraqi populations are beginning to reject Al Qaeda and align themselves with us. We are now taking territory from Al Qaeda in Iraq and holding it with the assistance of the local population.

“A congressional mandate to withdraw would be heart-breaking and in all honesty a death sentence, to the Iraqi’s who are aligning with us against Al Qaeda in Iraq. Had the Levin-Reed resolution passed, this ill-advised approach would have offered tremendous encouragement and spirit to our Al Qaeda enemies in Iraq. It would have been international news that the United States does not have the stomach for this fight. I’m proud of the role I played in rejecting this amendment.

“I believe it is important to give General Petraeus time to implement his new strategy for Iraq and to hear what he has to say when he comes before Congress in September. Other Republicans, including some who were looking for the exits, stiffened their resolve after hearing about the progress being made on the ground with to the new strategy. The surge is having an effect, both in Iraq and Washington.”

Graham on the Democratic Leadership’s Decision to Pull the Bill from the Senate Floor:

“The common ground we had in the Senate on pay raises, better equipment and improved health care for our troops gave way to the politics of the next election. The Democratic leadership’s decision to pull the bill is yet another example of their choosing politics over policy. I’m embarrassed for the Senate because we failed to focus on the needs and welfare of our troops.

“While the troops continue to make us proud, the Congress continues to disappoint.”

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NOTE: Audio of Senator Graham discussing the Levin-Reid amendment is available. Several methods to access the audio:

· http://src.senate.gov/public/_files/radio/grahamlevin7_18_07.mp3

· Go to http://src.senate.gov and access the RADIO link. Once there look for Senator Lindsey Graham’s name and audio clips.

· Call (800) 545-1267. When the automated welcome message begins playing, type in 320 which should take you to Senator Graham’s audio message center. Press 1 to begin playing the message.