Palmetto State News

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, representing South Carolina and serving as Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, addressed the Senate floor today regarding the upcoming budget resolution vote. This vote precedes a series of amendment votes, commonly referred to as a "vote-a-rama."

The fiscal year 2025 budget resolution serves as a framework for a reconciliation bill aimed at enhancing border security, strengthening military capabilities, and boosting American energy independence.

Senator Graham stated, "Ladies and gentlemen, we’re about to embark on a plan to jumpstart the most transformational border security bill in the history of the United States."

He expressed his preference for comprehensive legislation that makes tax cuts permanent while addressing border issues and military needs. He remarked, "To my House colleagues: I prefer one big beautiful bill that makes the tax cuts permanent, that does the things we need to do on the border and with our military, and cuts spending. I wish you all the best. I prefer what you’re doing to what we’re doing. But we have to have a Plan B if you can’t get it done soon."

Graham noted historical precedents where Democrats used similar processes for significant legislative achievements such as Obamacare and the Inflation Reduction Act. He said, "Democrats used this very process to pass Obamacare and the Inflation Reduction Act. We’re going to use it to secure our border."

He highlighted that this resolution empowers committees like Judiciary and Homeland Security to devise a $175 billion plan focused on border security in collaboration with the Trump Administration.

Regarding defense spending, Graham explained there is an increase of $150 billion due to various threats: "There’s $150 billion in increased defense spending. Why? Because we have a lot of threats."

Addressing concerns about funding allocations within the resolution, he clarified misinformation about Ukraine funding: "This idea that there is somehow money in this resolution for Ukraine… is not true… It’s up to the [authorizing] committees as to what is in the… package."

Graham outlined directives given to several committees: "We’re telling the Armed Services Committee, spend $150 billion the way you see fit [to bolster the U.S. military]. We’re telling two committees to spend $175 billion [total] to secure our border. And we’re telling seven other committees find savings inside your committee to offset the spending we’re creating in this bill." He expressed confidence in their ability to achieve these savings: "I think they can do that... Every committee that’s been instructed to save at least $1 billion will be able – finally – to…reduce spending because we are directing them to."