Ranking Member Press
Senate Budget Ranking Member Graham on President Biden’s Budget
WASHINGTON - Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement on President Biden's budget for Fiscal Year 2022. "President Biden's budget is dead on arrival - just like all other presidential budgets. "It is insanely expensive. It dramatically increases nondefense spending and taxes. Over time it will result in a weakened Department of Defense. "There will be serious discussions about government funding. But the Biden budget isn't serious and … Continue Reading
05.24.21
CBO to Budget Ranking Member Graham: Democrats’ Spending Spree Shatters Previous Deficit, Debt Outlook
WASHINGTON - Recently Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) wrote to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) asking for the budgetary impact of enacting the American Rescue Plan Act and the types of additional spending increases proposed by President Biden, as compared to CBO's February 2021 projections. CBO found that over the next decade, deficits would rise by $7.6 trillion to a total of $22.1 trillion, and debt held by the public will surge to $42.9 trillio… Continue Reading
04.09.21
McConnell, Inhofe, Rubio, Graham, and Shelby Statement on Biden’s Disappointing Defense Budget
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Vice Chairman Marco Rubio (R-FL), Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) issued the following joint statement regarding the Biden Administration's Fiscal Year 2022 budget: "President Biden recently said, 'If we don't get movi… Continue Reading
03.25.21
Graham: Dems’ “Insatiable Desire” to Raise Taxes Will Ruin the Country
WASHINGTON - Today, Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) gave an opening statement at a hearing on the state of the U.S. tax code, in response to Democrats' plans to raise taxes and implement other liberal tax policies. GRAHAM: "I want everybody in South Carolina to know that if Senator Sanders gets his way, it's going to be hard for corporations to remain competitive in our country. The reason people are leaving New York and California in droves to come to… Continue Reading
03.10.21
Graham: “I Could Not Disagree More” with Nominee for Deputy OMB Director’s Statement on Hyde Amendment
WASHINGTON - Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today voted in committee to advance Shalanda Young's nomination for Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget, but would withhold final support on the Senate floor until Ms. Young answers a follow up question regarding her position on the Hyde Amendment. "I voted in support of Ms. Young in committee with the understanding she must answer an additional question about her position on the Hyde Amendm… Continue Reading
03.06.21
Graham Statement on Vote Against $1.9 Trillion Liberal Wish List
WASHINGTON - Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement after he voted against Senate Democrats' $1.9 trillion liberal wish list. After a lengthy vote-a-rama series, the legislation passed 50-49 without a single Republican vote. "Ninety percent of what's in this bill has nothing to do with COVID. It is a liberal wish list. This is an opportunity to spend money on things unrelated to COVID, and Democrats are doing it because they can. "Th… Continue Reading
03.06.21
Graham Introduces Amendment to End Blue State Bailouts
WASHINGTON - Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) introduced an amendment to end The American Rescue Plan Act's bailout of failed policies and fiscally irresponsible states. The Graham amendment reverts back to the formula used in the CARES Act to distribute aid to states, which passed the Senate by a vote of 96-0 in March of last year. As written, The American Rescue Plan Act provides $350 billion - paid for by taxpayers - to bail out failed policies and po… Continue Reading
03.04.21
Graham: Democrats’ So-Called COVID Relief Bill is a Liberal Wish List
WASHINGTON - Today, Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) spoke on the Senate floor about the Democrats' so-called COVID-19 relief bill noting it is a liberal wish list that is filled with partisan priorities. On Democrats abandoning bipartisanship: GRAHAM: "[Democrats] now have power of the federal government, complete power. Control of the Senate, control of the House, control of the White House. They've abandoned bipartisanship. [Republicans] had the Presi… Continue Reading
02.25.21
Graham Statement on Parliamentarian’s Ruling on Minimum Wage
WASHINGTON - Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement on the Senate Parliamentarian ruling that Democrats' proposal to increase the federal minimum wage is an inappropriate policy change in reconciliation. "Very pleased the Senate Parliamentarian has ruled that a minimum wage increase is an inappropriate policy change in reconciliation. This decision reinforces reconciliation cannot be used as a vehicle to pass major legislative change … Continue Reading
02.25.21
Graham: We Have to Find a Way to Raise Minimum Wage Without Losing Jobs, Hurting Small Businesses
WASHINGTON - Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today questioned witnesses on finding a way to raise the federal minimum wage without losing jobs or hurting small businesses. Graham invited Greenville, South Carolina restaurant owner Carl Sobocinski to share his experience with working in and owning several restaurants. Graham also invited Dr. Douglas Holtz-Eakin, President of the American Action Forum and Dr. Jacob L. Vigdor, Professor of Public Policy &am… Continue Reading
02.10.21
Graham Questions Biden OMB Director Nominee on Immigration and Minimum Wage Increase
WASHINGTON - Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today questioned Ms. Neera Tanden, President Biden's nominee to serve as Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). IMMIGRATION: GRAHAM: "Here's what's happened, thus far in the first three weeks of the [Biden Administration]. We stopped building the wall. We've halted deportations. We canceled [the] Remain in Mexico policy. Withdrew from asylum agreements with [Northern] Triangle nations. We el… Continue Reading
02.04.21
Graham ‘Remain in Mexico’ Amendment to Senate Budget Resolution Defeated
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham's (R-South Carolina) amendment to the Senate budget resolution calling for strengthening and protecting the 'Remain in Mexico' program was defeated by a vote of 50-50. The 'Remain in Mexico' policy was adopted by former President Trump and has proven to be successful in taking pressure off our southern border. Before 'Remain in Mexico' was adopted, migrants from the Northern Triangle countries - Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador - traveled to the U… Continue Reading
02.04.21
Graham Addresses Budget Resolution Ahead of Vote-A-Rama
WASHINGTON - Today, Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) discussed the Senate Budget Resolution ahead of a series of amendment votes. GRAHAM: "Most small businesses in South Carolina and throughout the country have been struggling to stay open due to lack of travel, due to mandates at the state and local level reducing the ability to have 100 percent occupancy in restaurants. Tourism has really been hurt. The service sector has really been hurt. The food in… Continue Reading
02.03.21
ICYMI: Graham to Democrats on Budget Resolution: “If You’re Looking for Unity, This is a Lousy Way to Get It”
WASHINGTON - Yesterday, incoming Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) reacted to the Democrats' budget resolution on the Senate floor. On Congress and the Administration working together on COVID relief: GRAHAM: "Here's what I want the American people to know. We've done a lot together [already]. And of the $4 trillion we've appropriated, to date we've spent $2.7 trillion." GRAHAM: "Up until now we've been able, as a Congress, with the White House, to pa… Continue Reading
12.17.20
Senate Approves Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Federal Financial Management
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States Senate this week approved Senate Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Senator Mark Warner's (D-VA) legislation, the CFO Vision Act of 2020, S. 3287, to strengthen federal financial management. The bipartisan bill would update the Chief Financial Officers (CFO) Act of 1990. That law established a financial management leadership structure, provided for long-range planning, and required audited financial statements. Homeland Security and Governmenta… Continue Reading
12.10.20
Enzi Challenges Congress to Come Together to Fix Broken Budget Process
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, challenged Congress to come together to fix America's broken budget process and address the fiscal challenges facing our nation. During Enzi's time leading the Budget Committee, both have been priorities. Enzi was able to reform the Senate Budget Committee's rules, which led to more orderly, meaningful and transparent consideration of budget resolutions. Chairman Enzi followed that success with leg… Continue Reading
12.10.20
Enzi Challenges Congress to Come Together to Fix Broken Budget Process
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, challenged Congress to come together to fix America's broken budget process and address the fiscal challenges facing our nation. During Enzi's time leading the Budget Committee, both have been priorities. Enzi was able to reform the Senate Budget Committee's rules, which led to more orderly, meaningful and transparent consideration of budget resolutions. Chairman Enzi followed that success with leg… Continue Reading
10.22.20
New Report Shows Need to Reform Federal Housing Programs
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate Budget Committee today released a new majority staff report showing the federal government's current approach to housing assistance is falling short and calling on Congress to take steps to improve this system. Federal housing assistance is scattered across 20 different federal entities that administer 160 housing assistance programs and activities, creating confusion and significant headaches for those seeking assistance. "The federal government's current approac… Continue Reading
09.23.20
Enzi: While Congress Remains Focused on Pandemic, It Must Also Plan to Address Debt
WASHINGTON, D.C. - During a hearing today on the Congressional Budget Office's (CBO) recently released updated budget outlook, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi (R-WY) said while Congress remains focused on the pandemic facing the country, it must begin to address the national debt. "CBO's updated budget projections confirmed what we all knew, that the economic disruption caused by COVID-19 and the federal government's response have led to a surge in deficits and debt," said Chairman … Continue Reading
09.17.20
Enzi Budget Process Reform Bill Labeled as “No Brainer” to Pass by Fiscal Group
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Bipartisan legislation to reform the budget process sponsored by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi (R-WY) and cosponsored by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) was included in an annual list of "No Brainer" bills that deserve passage by Congress. The list is compiled by the National Taxpayers Union and is made up of bills that have bipartisan support and provide a commonsense solution to a real problem. The bill, S.2765, the Bipartisan Congressional Budget Reform Ac… Continue Reading
