HONORING SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM

On 2026-07-15, Representative Sheri Biggs (R-SC-3) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM" in the House.

HONORING SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 115 (Wednesday, July 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 15, 2026)] [House] [Pages H4540-H4543] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM (Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 3, 2025, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina was recognized for 30 minutes.) Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, the South Carolina House delegation is humbled to pay tribute to our beloved late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham. We have several Members here tonight to speak. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from South Carolina, (Mr. Norman) of Rock Hill. Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I thank Congressman Wilson for organizing this tribute to a dear friend of all of us, not only in South Carolina but all over every State in this country. I wish everyone could have been in the Senate well when Darline, his sister, took the oath of office from the President pro-tempore of the Senate and then took the desk that Lindsey had occupied for 24 years in the Senate. It was moving. It was a tribute to Lindsey Graham that she was able to do this and appointed by Governor McMaster. Lindsey understood that success in South Carolina meant looking out for every South Carolinian. Whether it was a major defense project or a small-town infrastructure need, he fought to bring Federal resources back to South Carolina and make sure that every corner of our State had a voice in Washington, D.C. From securing the Medal of Honor for a marine, Major James Capers--it was a 5-year timeframe to work to get Major Capers the Medal of Honor, Lindsey was a part of that--to supporting our military installations, strengthening our border security, defending the rights of States and advancing priorities that benefit South Carolina, we worked side-by- side on issues that mattered to those back home. {time} 1910 He believed in delivering results, not just making speeches. He knew that the work of elected officials is measured by what they accomplish for the people they represent, and he consistently fought to ensure that South Carolina received its fair share of opportunities. We didn't have to agree on every issue. Lindsey never had an enemy that I knew of, and you could disagree with him while not being disagreeable. When there was an opportunity to move the State forward, Lindsey was willing to put the work in. This was evidenced to me when I went on a trip to Munich, Germany, back in 2020. I think it was a 4-day trip. I watched him go to every meeting of every country that was there primarily to share our ideas and to bring companies back to the United States, which benefited every State in the Union. He had a passion for that, particularly a passion for Ukraine and other countries that he had a belief in. His legacy will include far more than legislation. He will be remembered in the communities that benefited from his advocacy, the veterans he fought for, the historic sites he worked to preserve, and the love he continuously included and worked for for countless South Carolinians. Lives were improved, families benefited from the efforts that they showed. He had a constituency staff second to none. If you called Lindsey Graham's office, he did what he could to help you out, regardless of whether you were from South Carolina or not. He was a funny man. Like any good comedian, it is not what he said, it is how he said it. Lindsey Graham made his life work for the betterment of South Carolina and the betterment of others. He will be sorely missed in this State and sorely missed by Darline, who he raised and adopted after both parents died. We thank him for a life well lived. Again, I thank Joe for having this moment to recognize a great man. Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Norman for his heartfelt comments. Indeed, I agree with and appreciated talk radio show host Kelly Nash, WVOC, who correctly began statewide broadcasting Monday that South Carolinians are heartbroken upon learning of the passing of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham on Saturday. I will always be grateful for my decades-long association with Senator Graham, as we served together. He was the South Carolina Air Guard Staff Judge Advocate, and I was the South Carolina Army Staff Judge Advocate serving together. Courageously, after one of our drill days, he announced to me his candidacy for the State House from Oconee County, South Carolina. I immediately congratulated him, but then I caught myself, and I remembered that, in fact, nobody from our party had ever been elected from Oconee County to the State House. Indeed he made history and became the first Republican elected from Oconee to the State House of South Carolina. Sunday morning, when I spoke with President Donald Trump, I knew he shared the grief of all South Carolinians. It was just heartfelt to hear him as we reviewed the service of Senator Graham, understanding that he truly was a champion for peace through strength, dedicated to public service, his military career, his service as a veteran, and his service in the State House, U.S. Senate, and in every way backing up the people of South Carolina. Senator Graham's last week of life was symbolic of his dedication for America. He attended the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkiye. While he was there, he met with President Ahmed al-Sharaa of Syria. It was really very significant because he had been skeptical, as many people, about the new Government of Syria. He, upon meeting with President al-Sharaa, identified that President Donald Trump was correct, give Syria a chance, and so it was exciting that he announced that he looked forward to actual progress with the new Government of Syria to be working with the United States. Additionally, he next went to Kyiv, Ukraine, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. While he was there, it was so impressive that he had the opportunity to also visit a drone manufacturing facility to see the extraordinary success of the people of Ukraine, who are going to be victorious over war criminal Putin. With the development of drone technology, indeed, the people of Ukraine are an inspiration. While he was there, he was able to announce that in working with President Donald Trump that there would be sanctions on war criminal Putin and on Russia. Indeed, it is so meaningful that indeed as soon as we got back to Washington, the U.S. Senate--I thank Senator John Cornyn and others--have made it possible that there will be a Russian Sanctions Act which, indeed, will be in the name of Lindsey Graham as the Lindsey Graham Russian Sanctions Act. It will be so impressive to help back up the people of Ukraine. Additionally, when Senator Graham arrived back in Washington on Saturday, how incredible that he had the strength and fortitude to have a very long conversation with President Donald Trump to review the activities of the week and the successes that he saw of the Trump administration to provide peace through strength, but suddenly there was sudden death right after the phone call. With that, myself personally, when I learned of the passing of the Senator, I was at Souda Bay in Greece visiting Navy personnel of the U.S. Navy to, indeed, thank them for their service. As soon as I heard about the passing, within an hour, I sent a tweet: ``With the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham, he will always be cherished as an American patriot, tireless for peace through strength, successful defeating totalitarians. All three generations of the [[Page H4541]] Wilson family extend deepest sympathy and appreciation of his dedicated service.'' The three generations of the Wilson family begin with my wife, Roxanne, and myself. I am really grateful our son, Attorney General Alan Wilson, who we have really been so appreciative, was to be on the Lindsey Graham Republican ticket as the nominee for Governor of South Carolina in November. The Wilson family is so happy to work with persons and now with Darline Graham, what a wonderful person. Then our third generation actually, Houston Wilson of SMU served as a Graham U.S. Senate floor page. Over and over again, our family appreciates personally and the people of South Carolina are so grateful for the service of Senator Lindsey Graham. I am very happy that we have been joined by Congressman Russell Fry of Surfside Beach, and I now yield to him. Mr. FRY. Mr. Speaker, I thank Joe Wilson for organizing this fitting tribute to a statesman who we will surely miss. I join my colleagues here both from South Carolina but really around the country, and indeed around the world, in mourning the passing of our senior Senator, statesman Lindsey Graham. Lindsey was more than just a Senator. He was a dedicated public servant, a fierce advocate for South Carolina, and an even better person and a great friend. His life, his legacy are the people and the lives that he touched, the energy that he brought to public service, the dedication to issues, the enjoyment of a good argument, even when you disagreed with him, and the humor that he always had really in almost every situation. It really was kind of a hallmark of who he was. He was from central South Carolina, born to working-class parents who died very early. He was placed in an incredible predicament, at 21 years of age, to take care of his 13-year-old sister. What an insane thing to think about in our country right now, that somebody would do that and that they would not just try to do it--a lot of people would try to care for their siblings--but that they would be successful in that endeavor and really stop and take a moment and make sure that your number one mission was the success of your family and your young sister. {time} 1920 Lindsey's entire world was turned upside down when he lost his parents, but he did a remarkable job. I think that shows who he is as a person. He has had a lot of titles, Mr. Speaker. He was in