WASHINGTON, DC – Liz Schrayer, President and CEO of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC), released the following statement on the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham: 

USGLC is saddened to learn of the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the most influential voices shaping America’s foreign policy and the role of effective international assistance and diplomacy as tools to advance U.S. interests. His legacy on our issues is truly consequential.

Senator Graham was a singular force in American politics, especially when it came to his deep conviction that America could not afford to retreat from the world. Just having returned from Ukraine to reaffirm America’s opposition to Vladimir Putin, he never shied away from a strong opinion, and he was among the Senate’s – and the Republican Party’s – most forceful champions for what he affectionately called “soft power.”

USGLC first hosted the Senator nearly two decades ago in his home state of South Carolina at The Citadel for one of our earliest town halls around the country. Surrounded by his constituents – faith, military, and business leaders – he made the case for America’s global engagement: “The foreign operations account is national security in another form, and the funds are an essential piece in protecting our own nation… we cannot afford to disengage from the world, particularly during dangerous times like these.” USGLC was proud to honor him with our 2012 Tribute Award.

As chairman of the Senate SFOPS Subcommittee, his hearings always made a mark on Capitol Hill – often featuring luminaries and celebrities from Bono to Ben Affleck to Admiral Stavridis. After one such hearing in 2015, I remember joining the Senator in a small anteroom just off the Senate floor as we personally rallied his colleagues to oppose an amendment that would have slashed the International Affairs Budget by 50 percent. The measure was defeated 96 to 4.

He became famous for his quintessential line during one of the countless times we hosted the Senator: “Building a small schoolhouse for a poor young girl in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq will do more damage… than any bomb you could drop.”

One of his greatest legacies was leading influential trips to Africa with his Republican colleagues, educating and inspiring them about the imperative of supporting America’s humanitarian, development, and global health programs for our national and economic interests.

On a personal level, Senator Graham was my longtime friend. Over the decades, we shared moments of agreement and disagreement – but never indifference. I will miss his humor, his candor, and his friendship.

My heart is with his family, his devoted staff, the people of South Carolina, and the people around the world whose lives he has forever impacted. America and the world have lost a foreign policy leader whose enduring legacy will be felt for generations.
May his memory be a blessing.

###