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 resignations of Secretary of State Colin Powell, Secretary of Energy Spence Abraham, Secretary of Education Rod Paige, and Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman. “I appreciate the work these distinguished public servants have done for our nation and President Bush. We owe each of them a debt of gratitude. “South Carolina and the Savannah River Site could not have asked for a better friend than Spence Abraham. He brought a level of creativity to the Department of Energy that will pay dividends for years to come. As Secretary, he was more than willing to work with us to establish new missions at the Site such as MOX and understands the importance this program holds for our nation and the world. “Secretary Powell has compiled a lifetime of exceptional service to his nation and is one of the most distinguished Americans in history. His knowledge of world affairs and valuable advice has been vitally important to our nation in fighting and winning the war on terror. “Secretary Paige was a leader in President Bush’s efforts to establish accountability standards in our public schools. He was also one of the driving forces behind the landmark No Child Left Behind legislation and his legacy will be felt long after his service is completed. “The first woman to hold the position, Secretary Veneman ran the Department of Agriculture in a bipartisan manner. Her management style encouraged teamwork, innovation, and respect in coming up with solutions to problems facing America’s farmers and ranchers.” #####