Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) was honored by the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) as the 2018 recipient of the Joseph M. Magliochetti Industry Champion Award, a special recognition given to elected officials who have shown outstanding leadership on behalf of motor vehicle component suppliers. MEMA is the parent organization of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association, the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association, the Motor & Equipment Remanufacturers Association and the Original Equipment Suppliers Association.
“Time and again, Senator Graham has proven to be a friend to our industry, which is the largest sector of manufacturing jobs in the United States,” said MEMA President and CEO Steve Handschuh. “He has been supporter of our position on free trade and the North American Free Trade Agreement and recognizes the growth open and fair markets have brought to the supplier industry. Senator Graham has also consistently helped MEMA and our members by supporting critical legislation and issues that benefit our industry, including tax reform and workforce development. MEMA is pleased to recognize his efforts with this award, which carries great significance within our industry.”
“I’m honored to be recognized by the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association,” said Graham. “I appreciate this award and look forward to continuing to push for policies which create jobs in South Carolina in this very important and growing industry.”
Graham was elected to the United States Senate in 2002 and was re-elected in 2008 and 2014. He became the first person in South Carolina history to garner more than 1 million votes in the 2008 general election.
Prior to serving in the Senate, Graham was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994 as the first Republican from the Third Congressional District of South Carolina since 1877. Graham has earned a reputation as a conservative problem-solver and one of the strongest proponents of a robust national defense. A frequent visitor to American troops stationed overseas for on-the-ground assessments, Graham has consistently pushed for outcomes in the War on Terror that protect our long-term national security interests.
Graham also is a leader in cutting spending, reforming entitlements and policies that allow businesses to create jobs. He serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Armed Services Committee, the Budget Committee and the Judiciary Committee.
The Industry Champion Award is presented in the memory of Joseph Magliochetti, a former MEMA chairman, who also served as the chairman and CEO of Dana Corp. until his death in 2003. He was widely recognized as a leader and a visionary in the supplier industry, and his tenure as MEMA’s chairman left a legacy of advocacy and outreach on behalf of motor vehicle suppliers. This annual award recognizes a member of the House or the Senate who has worked diligently on behalf of parts manufacturers in the United States. Past Industry Champion Awards have been presented to Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), Congressman Dr. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
