Blog
Jul 24 2024
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today introduced legislation to hold countries accountable for financially supporting Iran. During the Trump Administration, Iranian crude exports dropped as low as 300,000 barrels per day. Yet according to United Against Nuclear Iran, under the Biden Administration, Iran exported nearly 1.4 million barrels of oil a day in October 2023 alone.
The Tariffs For Terrorism Act of 2024 would require the President to identify countries that purchase, trade, consume or import crude oil or petroleum products from Iran and subsequently impose tariffs on products imported into the U.S. from those countries.
“After many discussions with President Trump, I’m introducing legislation to impose tariffs on countries that purchase petroleum products from Iran,” said Senator Graham. “It is long past time to make those that enrich this terrorist regime pay a price, and there’s no better price than tariffs on products coming into the United States. On day one, President Trump will re-impose maximum pressure on Iran. Tariffs on countries that empower terrorism and the Ayatollah is a good place to start.”
Since the Iranian Revolution in 1979, the Islamic Republic of Iran has engaged in acts of international terrorism and continuously threatened the U.S., Israel and other allies and partners of the United States. Iran has been a designated state sponsor of terrorism under U.S. law since January 19, 1984. To date, oil sanctions have been ineffective in deterring the Ayatollah’s malign activity. The Iranian Regime uses billions of dollars of oil profits to finance proxies such as Hamas and Hezbollah. The Ayatollah is also sprinting toward a nuclear bomb. Recently, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Iran has narrowed their nuclear breakout time – the time it takes to produce enough weapons grade uranium to make a nuclear bomb – to approximately one to two weeks.
Full text of the legislation is HERE.
Jul 22 2024
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made the following statement.
“I understand and respect President Biden’s decision not to seek reelection. While we have political differences, I appreciate his lifelong service to our nation, which he dearly loves.
“I have known President Biden for over 25 years, traveling the world together pursuing America’s interests as we saw it.
“He has devoted his entire life to public service for the people of Delaware and the United States, and I wish him and his family well as this chapter in his life comes to an end.”
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Jul 17 2024
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Arizona), Mark Kelly (D-Arizona), and John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) today applauded the passage of their Senate Resolution designating July 17, 2024 as Glioblastoma Awareness Day.
“Glioblastoma is an aggressive brain cancer, and I have seen three members of the Senate family, Ted Kennedy, Senator Barasso’s wife, Bobbi, and my dearest friend John McCain, lose their battle to it,” said Senator Graham. “This resolution honors my dear friends, all of those we have lost to glioblastoma and the strong individuals battling glioblastoma every day. It will create national awareness of this horrible disease and encourage medical professionals to work together to find a cure.”
“Glioblastoma Awareness Day honors Senator John McCain – my personal hero – and the thousands of Americans who have battled or continue to battle brain cancers, and their caregivers. We’ll continue strengthening efforts to find a cure and develop new treatments for this disease and other brain cancers,” said Senator Sinema.
“Glioblastoma remains a devastating disease that has taken the lives of far too many Arizonans, including Senator John McCain," said Senator Kelly. "In honor of those we have lost and in support of the many families affected by this aggressive disease, I remain committed to advancing research and treatment options. With continued dedication and support, we can make significant steps in the fight against glioblastoma and bring renewed hope to patients and their loved ones."
“After losing my wife to this deadly disease, I know firsthand how this tragic diagnosis affects patients and their families. Raising awareness and supporting efforts to find a cure is a personal priority for me,” said Senator Barrasso. “Our bipartisan resolution honors our Congressional commitment to supporting research that will find a cure for this deadly disease. I am proud to join this resolution to honor Bobbi Barrasso, our colleague John McCain, and all those who have lost their battles in the fight against glioblastoma.”
“I am happy to be working alongside Senators Sinema, T. Scott, Kelly, Van Hollen, Warnock, Rubio, Markey, Warren, Coons, and Barrasso. Together, we are working to prevent those from suffering from this disease in the future and honoring those who have lost their battle to Glioblastoma,” concluded Graham.
In addition to Graham, Sinema, Kelly and Barrasso, the resolution is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland), Raphael Warnock (D-Georgia), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Edward Markey (D-Massachusetts), Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) and Christopher Coons (D-Delaware).
The resolution:
- Designates July 17, 2024, as “Glioblastoma Awareness Day.”
- Encourages increased public awareness of glioblastoma.
- Honors the individuals who have died from the devastating disease of glioblastoma or are currently living with the disease.
- Supports efforts to develop better treatments for glioblastoma that will improve the long-term prognosis for, and the quality of life of, individuals diagnosed with the disease.
- Recognizes the importance of molecular biomarker testing to the diagnosis and treatment of glioblastoma.
- Expresses support for the individuals who are battling brain tumors, as well as the families, friends, and caregivers of those individuals.
- Urges a collaborative approach to brain tumor research among governmental, private, and nonprofit organizations, which is a promising means of advancing the understanding and treatment of glioblastoma.
- Encourages continued investments in glioblastoma research and treatments, including through the Glioblastoma Therapeutics Network and other existing brain tumor research resources.
To read the resolution, click HERE.
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Jul 11 2024
In Case You Missed It
Editorial: Where’s the Report to Congress on Iran’s Nuclear Program?
The White House has missed legal deadlines for more than a year.
Editorial: Where’s the Report to Congress on Iran’s Nuclear Program?
By The Editorial Board
The Wall Street Journal
July 11, 2024
President Biden says Donald Trump is a lawbreaker, but his Administration is hardly any better. A case in point is its failure to file a report to Congress required by law on the status of Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
Sen. Lindsey Graham helped to write Public Law 117-263, Section 5593 of the Iran Nuclear Weapons Capability and Terrorism Monitoring Act of 2022. It requires the Administration to send Congress an assessment every six months about Iran’s progress on uranium enrichment and other nuclear weapons development.
Mr. Graham has been asking the White House for weeks about the report, and he’s finally lost patience. In a letter Wednesday to Avril Haines, the director of national intelligence, the Senator said the Administration is “in violation of the law” for “missing two Section 5593 assessment deadlines over the past year and failing to submit Section 7413 assessments” when Iran reaches a major enrichment threshold.
He said he’ll put a hold on DNI nominations, and he’ll work with colleagues to condition funding for DNI headquarters, until the reports are sent to Capitol Hill.
There’s good reason to be worried. The board of the International Atomic Energy Agency recently censured Iran for failing to cooperate with the United Nations nuclear watchdog and escalating its uranium enrichment. Mr. Graham’s letter cites the agency as saying Iran has increased its stockpile of enriched fuel up to 60% purity to 313.3 pounds as of May this year.
As Mr. Graham’s letter points out, this is only “a small technical step away from weapons grade 90% purity” and that much closer to being able to stage a bomb breakout. Israeli officials are expressing their growing alarm in private conversations with U.S. officials. They’re concerned enough that talk of some military operation, long dormant, is back on the table.
Iran’s progress may be a reason for the failure of Ms. Haines’s office to provide the information to Congress. If it tells the truth about the program, members of both parties would increase the political pressure to do something. Yet the White House has been striving mightily not to say or do anything regarding Iran that could lead to more tension before the November election.
News reports have said the U.S. opposed the IAEA’s censure before finally going along with the Europeans. The White House has also failed to help the public understand Iran’s role as the head of the terrorist hydra of proxy militias behind the war in Gaza, Houthi attacks on commercial shipping, and attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq, Syria and Jordan.
An Iranian government with a nuclear weapon would make all of these threats exponentially more dangerous. It is therefore “unacceptable,” as Mr. Graham puts it, that the Administration isn’t providing “an updated assessment that outlines the exact status” of Iran’s nuclear program.
Anonymous intelligence sources somehow found it important to leak to the press this week that Russia wants Donald Trump to win the presidential election. After the fiascoes of 2016 and 2020, there’s no reason to believe anything the intelligence services say about the presidential race. But the least the Biden spooks can do is follow the law and be honest with Congress about Iran’s nuclear threat.
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Jul 11 2024
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) announced he will work with his colleagues to condition funding for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) in the next appropriations bill and put a hold on all ODNI-affiliated nominations due to the office’s failure to submit to Congress multiple assessments of Iran’s nuclear capabilities, as required by law.
ODNI is in violation of the law, having missed two Section 5593 report deadlines and failing to notify Congress of significant enrichment activity by Iran.
Graham authored two sections of public law that require the ODNI:
- To report to Congress every 180 days about Iran’s uranium enrichment activities, nuclear weapons development activities, delivery vehicle development activities, and associated engineering and research activities, among other items. (Public Law 117-263, Section 5593(e)(1)(A) of the Iran Nuclear Weapons Capability and Terrorism Monitoring Act of 2022)
- Notify Congress within 48 hours if ODNI assesses Iran has engaged in significant enrichment activity. (Public Law 118-31, Section 7413 Monitoring Enrichment of Uranium-235)
Senator Graham wrote to Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, “I am formally notifying you that I plan to hold all ODNI affiliated nominations and will work with my colleagues to condition ODNI headquarters funding in the next appropriations bill upon submission of these assessments. As the author of these two provisions designed to protect the national security interests of the United States, I find it unconscionable that the requirements to submit the assessments under Section 5593 and Section 7413 are being ignored.”
Graham also noted that in the latest report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it is estimated that Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium grew to 313.3 pounds and is only a small technical step away from the weapons-grade purity uranium needed to create a nuclear weapon. This is extremely concerning, as according to the IAEA it would only require approximately 92.6 pounds of weapons-grade purity uranium to create a nuclear weapon.
The full text of the letter can be found HERE.
Jul 10 2024
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and U.S. Representative Russell Fry (R-South Carolina-07) led the South Carolina Republican congressional delegation in writing a letter to the Biden Administration regarding their concerns over the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) proposed changes to the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule.
Implementation of this proposed rule would not only harm the boating and fishing industries along South Carolina’s Coast but also have significant downstream economic effects on tourism, hospitality, consumer goods, dining, and tax revenue generation in the state. The proposed changes would also threaten the safety and lives of our state’s harbor pilots who provide an integral service to the maritime industry of South Carolina and the entire nation.
The South Carolina Republican congressional delegation wrote, “NOAA’s Regulatory Impact Review estimates that the cumulative impacts for all vessel size classes and regions combined will be $46.2 million nationwide. However, just in current inventory, the South Carolina Boating & Fishing Alliance estimates the loss of their member dealers in South Carolina alone to be $77 million. Implementation of this proposed rule would not only harm the boating and fishing industries but also have significant downstream economic effects on tourism, hospitality, consumer goods, dining, and tax revenue generation in South Carolina. Further, approximately 5.1 million recreational fishing trips have been taken along the Atlantic coast by vessels 35-65 feet in length since 2008. The chance of a 35 to 65-foot recreational vessel striking a North Atlantic Right Whale during an offshore fishing trip is less than one in 1,000,000. We believe that NOAA’s proposed rule relies on an overly conservative and inaccurate risk model for justification and does not demonstrate the plausible basis for imposing a 10-knot speed limit on boats in the 35 to 65-foot size class.”
They continued, “We are eager to work with NOAA on a viable solution, such as a technological option allowing observers to track right whales with reports broadcast in real-time. It is imperative to consider the full implications of this proposed rule before implementation. Thank you for your continued engagement.”
Read the full letter here.
Background on the proposed rule change:
- The proposed change would expand the mandatory speed restriction to 10 knots or less in designated areas of the ocean to include vessels 35-65 feet in length, which would affect the entire East Coast. Consequently, recreational boaters taking a one-way 100 mile offshore fishing trip, which currently takes approximately three hours of travel time, would see that time increase to a 10-hour one-way trip.
- While intended to protect the North Atlantic Right Whale, NOAA’s proposed rule lacks a plausible basis for imposing a 10-knot speed limit on boats in the 35-65-foot size class.
- Approximately 5.1 million recreational fishing trips were taken in this region by vessels 35-65 feet in length since 2008.
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Jul 02 2024
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today applauded the announcement that South Carolina will receive $45 million in funding through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA)’s Tech Hubs Program. Graham led the entire South Carolina delegation in writing a letter of support for the funding request. The official request was submitted by the South Carolina Department of Commerce.
“This funding is great news for South Carolina. Out of hundreds of applications, our state was chosen as one of twelve tech hubs to receive funding to focus on the increasing energy demands and needs of our nation. The more efficient the grid, the better our economy and environment.
“Hats off to the South Carolina Department of Commerce and all those involved in putting this application together. In particular, I’d like to acknowledge both Governor McMaster and Congressman Clyburn who went over and above to make the case for our state. They are indispensable when it comes to getting results for South Carolina. I believe that the best is yet to come when it comes to advocating for our state.”
Background:
The funding is intended for the SC Nexus for Advanced Resilient Energy, which works in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Commerce to improve the clean energy supply chain. Read more from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration HERE.
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Jun 28 2024
Graham Statement on Supreme Court Overturning Chevron Doctrine
“Today is a good day for the economy and a good day for freedom.”
Jun 25 2024
Jun 21 2024
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Marco Rubio (R-Florida), along with U.S. Representatives Carlos Gimenez (R-Florida-28), Maria Salazar (R-Florida-27), and Jared Moskowitz (D-Florida-23) this week introduced a bipartisan, bicameral resolution to condemn the illegitimate regime of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela.
This resolution is in response to Nicolas Maduro’s illegitimate regime committing numerous criminal, anti-democratic, unconstitutional, and corrupt acts and violating basic human rights, including:
- Embezzling billions of dollars from the Venezuelan people through the illicit removal of gold from the Central Bank of Venezuela;
- Declaring approximately 12 percent of the country to be a part of an “Orinoco Mining Arc” and using his position to oversee the exploitation of vital resources for personal gain; and
- Establishing the Special Action Force of the National Police (FAES) in 2017 and utilizing them to execute illegal raids and extrajudicial killings.
“I hope that the United States will go on the record condemning the efforts by Maduro to undercut a free and fair election yet again in Venezuela,” said Senator Graham. “He has taken actions inconsistent with a free and fair election and he is marginalizing the opposition. I urge the Biden Administration to up their game when it comes to deterring Maduro’s attempt to once again destroy the pending Venezuelan election. The Venezuelan people deserve better.”
“The criminal Maduro narco-regime will stop at nothing to maintain its illegitimate grip on power as it continues to target members of the opposition and undermine free and fair elections in Venezuela,” said Senator Rubio. “Our partners worldwide must remain firm in their call for the release of all political prisoners who are currently being tortured by this illegitimate dictatorship.”
“I’m proud to join my colleagues Senators Graham (R-SC) and Rubio (R-FL) and Representatives Salazar (R-FL) and Moskowitz (D-FL) in introducing this resolution to support the democratic opposition in Venezuela and their fight for freedom,” said Rep. Gimenez. “The illegitimate Maduro regime has threatened, intimidated, and silenced its people. With their national elections just a month away, we must condemn their blatant attack on democracy. The Venezuelan people are determined to live in a free Venezuela and the U.S. must help them in their fight for freedom.”
“As the Maduro regime does everything in its power to steal the presidential election from María Corina Machado and Edmundo González, we in the United States Congress stand strong against his tyranny,” said Rep. Salazar. “I am proud to support this resolution that denounces how Maduro is trying to lie, cheat and steal his way to staying in power. I pray the Venezuelans retake Miraflores in July.”
“The Venezuelan people are suffering under Maduro's illegitimate regime. If there is overwhelming evidence of fraud in Venezuela's upcoming election, the Biden Administration must condemn and hold Maduro accountable. This regime cannot weaponize institutions to hold sham elections and take away basic rights from the people of Venezuela,” said Rep. Moskowitz.
This resolution:
- Rejects the attempt by the illegitimate Maduro regime to hold sham elections and consolidate power through weaponizing institutions, especially the electoral committee and judicial system;
- Demands that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela hold free and fair elections on July 28, 2024, and allow all opposition candidates, including Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, to register on the ballot and participate in the elections in compliance with the Partial Agreement on the Promotion of Political Rights and Electoral Guarantees for All (commonly known as the “Barbados Agreement”);
- Denounces any attempt by the illegitimate Maduro regime to intimidate and repress the Venezuelan people and its democratic candidates through any kind of violence;
- Condemns the illegitimate Maduro regime for the flagrant and repeated acts of corruption, desecrating the rule of law, and engaging in anti-democratic and criminal acts; and
- Encourages the Administration to condemn the results of the Venezuelan election on July 28, 2024, if fraud occurs, and to subsequently impose additional sanctions on Maduro and the coconspirators in his illegitimate regime to ensure they are unable to profit through their illegal and corrupt activities.
To read the full resolution text, click HERE.
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