Lindsey Graham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lindsey Graham
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Official portrait, 2013
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| Chair of the Senate Budget Committee | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Sheldon Whitehouse |
| Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Chuck Grassley |
| Succeeded by | Dick Durbin |
| Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee | |
| In office February 3, 2021 – January 3, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Bernie Sanders |
| Succeeded by | Chuck Grassley |
| Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2019 – February 3, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Chuck Grassley |
| Succeeded by | Dick Durbin |
| United States Senator from South Carolina |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2003 Serving with Tim Scott
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| Preceded by | Strom Thurmond |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 3rd district |
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| In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Butler Derrick |
| Succeeded by | Gresham Barrett |
| Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 2nd district |
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| In office January 12, 1993 – January 3, 1995 |
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| Preceded by | Lowell Ross |
| Succeeded by | Bill Sandifer III |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Lindsey Olin Graham
July 9, 1955 Central, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | University of South Carolina (BA, JD) |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Air Force |
| Years of service |
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| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps |
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Lindsey Olin Graham (born July 9, 1955) is an American lawyer and politician. He is a U.S. Senator for South Carolina. He has held this important job since 2003. As a member of the Republican Party, he has led important committees in the Senate.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Lindsey Graham was born in Central, South Carolina. His parents ran a local business called the Sanitary Cafe. He was the first in his family to go to college. He joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program. This program helps students train to become military officers.
When he was 21, his mother passed away. About a year later, his father also passed away. This left his younger sister, who was 13, without parents. Lindsey became her legal guardian. He was able to attend the University of South Carolina in Columbia. This allowed him to stay close to his sister.
He earned a bachelor's degree in psychology in 1977. Later, he received a law degree in 1981 from the University of South Carolina School of Law.
Military Service
After law school, Lindsey Graham joined the United States Air Force. From 1982 to 1988, he worked as a lawyer in the Judge Advocate General's Corps. He served as a defense attorney and a chief prosecutor in Europe.
After his active duty, he continued to serve in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He did this while also working in Congress. He earned the rank of Colonel. In 2014, he received the Bronze Star Medal for his excellent service.
Political Journey
Before becoming a senator, Graham worked as a private lawyer. He then served in the South Carolina House of Representatives for two years (1993-1995). After that, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He represented South Carolina's 3rd district for eight years (1995-2003).
In 2002, he won a seat in the United States Senate. He has been re-elected several times since then. In the Senate, he often supports a strong national defense. He also believes the U.S. should be active in foreign policy around the world.
Early in his Senate career, he was known for working with politicians from different parties. He worked with Democrats on issues like how political campaigns are funded. He also worked on topics like climate change and immigration. He has also been a leader of the Senate Judiciary Committee. This committee handles laws about the justice system.
In 2015, Lindsey Graham ran for president as a Republican. He later decided to stop his campaign. He was initially critical of Donald Trump during the 2016 election. However, after Trump became president, Graham became one of his strong supporters.
Key Political Views
Lindsey Graham has shared his views on many important issues.
Immigration Rules
In 2010, Graham suggested changing the rule about U.S. citizenship. Currently, children born in the U.S. are citizens. He thought that children born to parents who are in the country illegally should not automatically become citizens.
Gun Safety
In 2022, Graham supported a plan to improve gun safety. This plan was agreed upon by both Republicans and Democrats. It included ideas like "red flag" laws, which help prevent dangerous people from having guns. It also suggested better background checks for young gun buyers.
Health Care
Graham did not support President Obama's health care law, known as the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). He voted against it. He is also a supporter of the Healthy Americans Act.
Climate Change
In 2020, Graham supported a bill called the Growing Climate Solutions Act. This bill aims to help farmers sell "carbon credits." These credits reward farmers for practices that reduce greenhouse gases.
Taxes
Graham has said that the U.S. government is very much in debt. He believes that politicians need to compromise on their ideas about taxes. This is important to help the country's finances.
Trade
When it comes to trade, some groups describe Graham's voting record as favoring "protectionism." This means he sometimes supports policies that protect local businesses. He also supports "subsidies," which are government payments to help certain industries.
Personal Life
After his parents passed away, Lindsey Graham helped raise his younger sister, Darline. He was 22 and she was 13. He has often said that this experience made him grow up faster. His sister has said that he was like a "brother, a father and a mother rolled into one."
Lindsey Graham has never married or had children. He lives in Seneca, South Carolina. He is a Southern Baptist and attends the Corinth Baptist Church.
Images for kids
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Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko presents the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise to Graham, December 30, 2016
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Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen meets with senators Graham and McCain, June 2016
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See also
