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Floor Speech

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Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. President, America lost a fearless patriot in our friend Lindsey Graham. He devoted his life to serving the people of South Carolina and this Nation. He never shied away from a difficult fight, and he always stuck to his principles.

It has been so moving to see all the tributes to his life and his legacy pour in from each side of the aisle. It speaks to who he was as a leader, statesman, and a public servant. He believed in robust, respectful bipartisan debate, and he knew that, in Washington, you can only solve problems by building a big tent and inviting people to join you. He did it time and again, across more than three decades in public office, working to protect our national security, strengthen our military, secure our border, protect kids online, and save our elections.

I had the honor of serving alongside him on the Judiciary Committee, including during his time as both chair and ranking member. He knew that peace and prosperity are only possible under the rule of law, and he fought to defend the rule of law.

Just a few months ago, Lindsey and I filed the 287(g) Expansion Act to encourage State and local law enforcement to partner with ICE and accomplish President Trump's goal of deporting criminal illegal aliens and keeping our communities safe.

Last month, we also introduced the Election Security Partnership Act to get more States to submit their voter rolls to DHS through the SAVE Program and secure our elections. On that issue, Lindsey was a champion of the SAVE America Act to ensure that only American citizens vote in American elections. The Senate should put election integrity measures on the floor for a vote and honor his legacy. That is exactly what he would encourage us to do.

It was so moving to see his sister Darline sworn into office yesterday to complete his term. My prayers are with her and with his family, friends, staff, and all who loved him. May he rest in peace.

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