00:00Lindsey was a towering figure here in the Senate and on the international stage.
00:07His leadership on national security and on our national defense is well known.
00:13I traveled with Lindsey all over the world as part of congressional delegations, and
00:17I saw firsthand just how much he was respected by our allies and just how well he was able
00:25to connect with foreign leaders around the globe.
00:30Striking, too, was the instant connection he had with the military men and women that
00:36we met.
00:37They recognized him immediately as one of their own.
00:41Lindsey's work on these issues would be enough to cement his place as a leader in the Senate.
00:48But he was a leader on many other issues, too.
00:53As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee in the 116th Congress, he fought tirelessly
00:58to advance well-qualified judges.
01:01He was serving as chair of the Budget Committee at the time of his death and was responsible
01:05for getting important tax relief legislation to the floor.
01:10And no tribute to Lindsey's work is complete without mentioning that he was a powerful voice
01:18for the pro-life movement.
01:20Until my last breath, I will be fighting for this cause, he said.
01:26Mr. Vice President, Darlene, Senator Graham, Larry, members of the Graham family, ladies
01:33and gentlemen, good morning.
01:35It's difficult to believe that we're here today to say a final farewell to Lindsey as
01:39he leaves the Capitol for the last time.
01:42My heart is heavy.
01:44I feel his absence every day, and I know so many of my colleagues do as well.
01:49Senators on both sides of the aisle counted him as a friend.
01:54And Republicans and Democrats alike, including the Democrat leader, are here to say farewell.
02:01Lindsey was a towering figure here in the Senate and on the international stage.
02:08His leadership on national security and our national defense is well known.
02:15I traveled with Lindsey all over the world as part of congressional delegations, and I
02:19saw firsthand just how much he was respected by our allies and just how well he was able
02:26to connect with foreign leaders around the globe.
02:31Striking, too, was the instant connection he had with the military men and women that we
02:37met.
02:39They recognized him immediately as one of their own.
02:43Lindsey's work on these issues would be enough to cement his place as a leader in the Senate.
02:49But he was a leader on many other issues, too.
02:54As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee in the 116th Congress, he fought tirelessly
02:59to advance well-qualified judges.
03:03He was serving as chair of the Budget Committee at the time of his death and was responsible
03:06for getting important tax relief legislation to the floor.
03:11And no tribute to Lindsey's work is complete without mentioning that he was a powerful voice
03:19for the pro-life movement.
03:22Until my last breath, I will be fighting for this cause, he said.
03:27And he was.
03:30He was a fierce defender of Ukraine.
03:33He was a fierce defender of the unborn.
03:37And on the surface, these might seem like two completely separate issues.
03:43But it strikes me that, in another way, they are both of a piece.
03:48In both cases, Lindsey Graham saw injustice, and he spoke up.
03:55And was as typical of Lindsey, he spoke up fearlessly.
04:01I don't apologize for being pro-life, he said in an interview in 2022 and probably on a number
04:07of other occasions.
04:09It didn't matter to Lindsey whether an issue was popular or unpopular, whether he had the
04:15full support of his colleagues or whether he was standing alone.
04:20If he believed he was in the right, he spoke up.
04:26He told things the way he saw them, and he didn't mince words.
04:31But lest anyone think it was all work and no levity with Lindsey, let me just say that
04:38there was no one, no one who took his job more seriously than Lindsey Graham.
04:47But also, no one was more capable of cracking up a room.
04:53During the work week here in Washington, a lot of us are away from our families, so we
04:58often get together in groups for dinner.
05:01And let me tell you, Lindsey was always the first call.
05:06The conversation and the laughs always flowed at any meal where Lindsey Graham was present.
05:14He was entertaining always and pretentious never.
05:22There are a lot of so-called self-made people in the world, he once said.
05:27I'm not one of them.
05:30My family, friends, neighbors, and my faith picked me up when I was down, believed in me
05:35when I had doubts.
05:38You made me the man I am today, he said.
05:45Ladies and gentlemen, Lindsey will be remembered as a senator and as a statesman.
05:53But for me, most of all, I will remember him as my friend.
05:57It's hard to think that there will be no more Senate dinners with Lindsey.
06:02That he won't be dropping by my office to discuss some piece of legislation or make me
06:08laugh with his witty commentary.
06:11But I cling to the same faith that Lindsey had.
06:14To the sure and certain hope of the resurrection and the knowledge that death is not the end.
06:24I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord.
06:27The one who believes in me will live even though they die.
06:32And whoever lives by believing in me will never die.
06:38To Darlene and the Graham family, to Lindsey's beloved staff members, be assured of the prayers
06:48of my wife Kimberly and I and the prayers of so many in this room.
06:57And to Lindsey, rest in peace, my friend.
07:08I look forward to the days when you make us all laugh again.
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