WASHINGTON — Legislation to extend the Export-Import Bank for three years and increase its lending authority headed to the White House after clearing a final congressional hurdle Tuesday.

The Senate voted 78-20 to approve the bill, which South Carolina GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham supported and fellow Palmetto State Republican Sen. Jim DeMint opposed.

South Carolina’s House members also split on the legislation when that chamber approved it 330-93 last week.

U.S. Reps. Trey Gowdy, R-Spartanburg, Joe Wilson, R-West Columbia, Tim Scott, R-North Charleston, and Jim Clyburn of Columbia, the state delegation’s only Democrat, voted for it.

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Before Tuesday’s vote, Graham said on the Senate floor that support for the Export-Import Bank was so widespread the Senate didn’t bother holding a roll call vote the last time it came up for reauthorization six years ago.

“The worst thing we could do is tell the business community six years ago by voice vote this bank will be in place, and six years later do away with it when no one else is doing away with their banks,” Graham said. “That makes no sense to me. That is not good government. That, to me, is unilateral surrender.”

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today spoke on the Senate floor in favor of reauthorizing the Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank. The Export-Import Reauthorization Act of 2012 reauthorizes the Bank through 2014, contains substantial reforms and transparency measures, and increases the Bank’s lending cap to $140 billion.

Last week the House of Representatives passed the measure 330-93 and the Senate is expected to vote later today.

Click here to watch Sen. Graham’s floor speech in support of the Ex-Im bank reauthorization.

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) spoke on the floor of the United States Senate in support of the House-passed bill reauthorizing the Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank. The bill reauthorizes the bank through 2014, contains substantial reforms and increased transparency, and increases the lending cap to $140 billion.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement after the House of Representatives passed a reauthorization of the Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank of the United States. The legislation will now move to the Senate.

“I’m very pleased the House of Representatives authorized Ex-Im Bank for another three years. Ex-Im allows American manufacturers to compete on a level playing field when it comes to selling their products overseas. Ex-Im benefits both large and small businesses and is available when regular financing is difficult to secure. (Link: South Carolina Ex-Im customers available here).

“Eighty percent of the Boeing 787s produced in North Charleston will be sold to companies who are eligible for and routinely use Ex-Im financing. Boeing’s competitor, Airbus, relies on three export-import banks located in France to help sell their airplanes to international customers.

“One-third of the General Electric gas turbines produced in Greenville sold overseas use Ex-Im financing. In the case of Boeing and General Electric, the availability of Ex-Im financing is the difference between staying viable in South Carolina or dramatically reducing their business. Simply put, for South Carolina businesses like these to be successful in the international marketplace, Ex-Im has to be reauthorized.

“I appreciate my House colleagues who voted to reauthorize the bank. The legislation they supported overhauls the bank’s operations and helps ensure Ex-Im adheres to sound business practices. Over the last five years the bank has made more than $3.4 billion for the federal treasury above and beyond the costs of its operations.

“I also respect those who chose a different path and voted against reauthorization. I believe American companies could compete and thrive in a world without Ex-Im Banks and this would be the ideal outcome. However, that world does not exist today.

“Competitor nations have Ex-Im Banks far larger and more aggressive than ours. China’s export bank is larger than many European nations combined. Canada, one-tenth the population of the United States has an Ex-Im Bank that is three times as large as the United States.

“Like Ronald Reagan, I believe in ‘Trust but Verify.’ But I see no evidence that competitor nations like China are getting out of the Ex-Im business and I cannot, in good conscience, support unilateral disarmament. In fact, I know if we unilaterally disarm they would only seek to increase their advantage

“In the Senate, I will enthusiastically support the House-passed legislation as I do not believe the United States can or should unilaterally disarm.”

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South Carolina Leaders Strongly Support Reauthorization of Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank

“Eight out of every ten Boeing 787 Dreamliners now built in South Carolina are expected to be purchased by international customers who are eligible for and regularly seek export credit support from Ex-Im. Without this support, many of our customers would choose to purchase airplanes from Airbus, made in Europe, built by European labor, sold with the aggressive backing of multiple European export credit agencies. ..Jobs in South Carolina are at risk without an extended and robust reauthorization for Ex-Im.”
W. James McNerney, Jr.
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
The Boeing Company

“Exports are particularly important to the South Carolina economy. If our manufacturing base is to grow, we must continue to expand our ability to export goods from South Carolina facilities. Given the key role the Bank plays in facilitating sales, failure to reauthorize it would be devastating to existing industry and to those we hope to create in the future.”
Lewis F. Gossett
President and CEO
South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance

“The Bank performs an important function for U.S. companies seeking markets for U.S. made products. The Bank provides credit insurance and export-financing products that fill gaps in trade financing and does not compete with private sector lenders.”
W. David Hastings
President
Mount Vernon Mills

“First, this issue is of critical importance to Boeing South Carolina and their ability to successfully compete with global aircraft manufacturers. Second, the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce recently re-established the World Trade Center Charleston. More than 80 percent of Ex-Im’s transactions support small businesses. The World Trade Center Charleston’s goal is to help our region’s small business community to help them expand by selling their products and services on the global marketplace. The Ex-Im is a vitally needed tool to help in expanding local businesses in our region.”
Bryan Derreberry
President and CEO
Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce

“Over the last five years, Ex-Im has assisted more than 47 South Carolina companies from around the state export their products and services throughout the world. Ex-Im plays an important role in supporting South Carolina jobs and exports. …Support for the Ex-Im Bank means support for S.C. exports and S.C. jobs.”
F. Ben Haskew
President and CEO
Greenville Chamber of Commerce

“Last year alone, the Ex-Im supported more than $40 billion in U.S. exports that helped create or sustain 290,000 U.S. jobs at more than 3,600 companies. The Ex-Im is also self-sustaining. In the years since Ex-Im was last authorized in 2006, the bank has returned $3.4 billion to the U.S. Treasury above and beyond the cost of its operation.”
Otis Rawl
President and Chief Executive Officer
South Carolina Chamber of Commerce

“Failure to reauthorize Ex-Im will create an unfair disadvantage for American companies, ultimately causing American jobs to move overseas. We cannot afford to not reauthorize Ex-Im.”
Brad Dean
President and CEO
Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce

“The Bank has proven to be self-sustaining and provides a necessary level playing field in which U.S. Companies can compete in world trade. We need to do everything we can to insure that our workers have jobs that can be supported by their ability to compete fairly in world commerce. Exports play an important part in the economy of South Carolina and particularly in the Upstate region.”
David Cordea
President and CEO
Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement on Newt Gingrich’s announcement he will suspend his campaign for President.

“Newt’s campaign performance in South Carolina was one of the best I’ve ever seen by any candidate for President. As a candidate, he made a compelling case that our nation cannot afford another four years of Barack Obama as President. Newt has the unique ability to frame the issues of our time and expose the weaknesses of the Obama Administration. These qualities will be invaluable to Governor Romney in the fall campaign.”

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement on the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) between the United States and Afghanistan.

“With the signing of the Strategic Partnership Agreement we have reached a turning point in the Afghan war. With proper implementation, this agreement will be the end of the Taliban’s dream of retaking Afghanistan. The SPA shows a commitment to the development and security of Afghanistan over the next decade, an event which is in our own national security interests.

“Under this agreement we put Afghans in the lead and withdraw the vast majority of our forces in 2014 with their honor and security intact. This is a day I have been looking forward to for over two years. I am confident that with proper implementation, this will help secure our nation and allies from future attacks using Afghanistan as a staging area.

“The details of the security agreement have yet to be negotiated, but I envision a follow-on force made up of American military power, transport capability and Special Forces units. This post-2014 force would be substantially smaller than what we have today and would shift the tide in any future engagements involving Afghan security forces.

“The Agreement sends a signal we are not abandoning Afghanistan and that we will provide assistance to the Afghans as they take the lead engaging the enemy. It is an insurance policy against the reemergence of Taliban and al-Qaeda. The United States has fought too long and hard to fail long-term in Afghanistan.

“It is imperative General Allen have sufficient forces to continue the fight against the Taliban and al-Qaeda until 2014, when the Afghans take the lead. Any further reductions in force, beyond recovering the surge forces, puts the mission at risk and is militarily unwise. In the future, General Allen will recommend to the President and Congress the size and shape of the follow-on counterterrorism force.

“I want to congratulate President Obama and his team including Ambassador Grossman and national security advisors for entering into the SPA which with proper implementation will secure our long-term strategic interests in Afghanistan. Particular credit goes to General Allen and Ambassador Crocker for their time and effort in negotiating this historic agreement. They have done tremendous work which should be appreciated by all Americans.

“Finally, I want to thank Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his administration for their work in helping ensure Afghanistan never again is used as a training ground for terrorists to launch attacks against the United States. The signing of the SPA is a historic day for President Karzai and the people of Afghanistan. He should be congratulated for his wise decision to enter into this relationship.”

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today said the United States should stand with Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng. Chen, a blind human rights lawyer had been under house arrest in China for exposing the practice of forced abortions and sterilization of rural women under China’s One Child Policy.

Graham is the ranking member on the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Graham plans to introduce a resolution expressing support for Mr. Chen if the situation has not been resolved before the Senate returns next week.

Graham said:

“I cannot think of a more defining moment to push China to embrace a more progressive platform on human rights than by standing with Chen Guangcheng. Mr. Chen deserves our admiration and respect for his work, at great personal sacrifice, in speaking out against China’s continued practice of forced abortions and sterilizations. The Obama Administration should work to protect his safety, the safety of his family, and the safety of others associated with him. His cause should be our cause.

“Our future relationship with China should be based on exposing the honest differences between us and not just money and trade. There is no better example of the differences we have than the way the Chinese government treats its citizens, like Mr. Chen, who dissent from government policy.

“The Chinese communist dictatorship has a terrible human rights record. The United States must push the Chinese communist dictatorship toward democratic reform and respect of the basic human rights of its citizens. Mr. Chen’s case is a powerful reminder China still has far to go in respecting the freedoms and liberties we in the United States hold dear and sometimes take for granted.”

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today said he was very pleased the federal funds needed to continue the study of Charleston Harbor deepening had been secured in the Senate.

The Senate Appropriations Committee, of which Graham is a member, passed the Senate version of the Fiscal Year 2013 Energy and Water (E&W) Appropriations Act which contains $3.5 million for Charleston Harbor deepening study. The funding is the largest federal contribution to date.

“This is the most significant federal contribution made thus far to the Charleston Harbor deepening effort,” said Graham. “Deepening Charleston Harbor is the number-one issue for South Carolina’s economy. The Port of Charleston is our economic gateway to the world and that’s why I have long believed that when it comes to deepening Charleston Harbor, failure is simply not an option.”

“Today, about one out of every five jobs in South Carolina is tied – directly and indirectly – to the operation of the Port,” said Graham. “Deepening the port will allow us to keep these jobs in our state and also create more jobs in the future.”

Other notable funding in the bill includes:

• Charleston will receive $20.4 million for continued operations and maintenance funding for navigable waterways.
• The Port of Georgetown will be eligible to receive funding from the $30 million that was made available in the Small, Remote or Subsistence Harbor Maintenance Account.
• Folly Beach will receive $400,000 to study future beach renourishment efforts.
• South Carolina coastal communities, such as Folly Beach and Pawley’s Island, affected by beach erosion will now be eligible to receive funding from the $40 million fund for Shore Protection.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today said he was pleased the Savannah River Site is in line to receive full funding in the Senate version of the Fiscal Year 2013 Energy and Water (E&W) Appropriations Act which passed the Senate Appropriations Committee today. Graham is a member of the committee and voted in support of the appropriations bill which passed 28-1.

“With this bill, the federal government lives up to the commitments it has made to the state of South Carolina when it comes to cleanup and new missions at the Site,” said Graham. “I’m very pleased with the work of the committee and appreciate my colleagues in recognizing and rewarding the hard work done at SRS. We are operating under the spending limits agreed to under the Budget Control Act and this bill fits within those limited spending restraints.”

Among the major Site highlights of the legislation:

• Overall funding for the Site is approximately $1.7 billion;
• The MOX program will receive $388.8 million;
• Site Risk Management Operations will receive $444 million;
• Radioactive tank cleanup will receive $698 million including $22 million for Salt Waste Processing facility (SWPF);
• The Site’s community and regulatory support programs are funded at $16 million.

“The MOX program, which turns weapons grade plutonium into nuclear fuel is the ultimate example of turning swords into plowshares,” said Graham “This spending plan makes clear that the Senate remains committed to the MOX program and understands the importance of this project to our national security.”

Graham noted that last week the House Appropriations Committee reported a similar piece of legislation which reduced funding for the Plutonium Disposition Program (MOX) by $124 million.

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U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham spoke on the Senate floor on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Ambush election rule. The effort would unnecessarily shift the power away from job-creating small businesses and into the hands of unions.

To read the press release on this topic click here.