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Barrett Delivers Commencement Address

Anderson, SC - Congressman Gresham Barrett (SC, 3) addressed graduates, parents, faculty and staff of Southern Wesleyan University as part of commencement ceremonies held earlier today. During the speech, Barrett discussed the importance of character,integrity, andfaith. Hechallenged the graduates to be adifference maker in the world. At one point, Barrett spoke specifically about the importance of Freedom and the need to protect the Freedoms our Founding Fathers put forth as inalienable rights.

Click here to read the speech.

Hot Topics

  • Barrett Statement to TARP Hearing

    Barrett Statement to TARP Hearing

    On Wednesday, December 10, 2008, Congressman Barrett participated in a Financial Services Committee Hearing on “Oversight Concerns Regarding Treasury Department Conduct of the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP).” At this hearing, Barrett questioned Neel Kashkari, the Interim Assistant Secretary for Financial Stability at the Treasury Department about the his decisions in implementing the TARP and whether taxpayer money was being spent efficiently and effectively. Barrett also submitted the following testimony for the hearing record:

    “The bottom line is that I want this thing to work. The businesses in my district, large and small, don't care about political niceties. They don't care about what sounds good for the camera. They certainly don't care about partisan posturing. But they do care about their hard-earned tax money being wasted. They just want the TARP to be effective as possible so they can regain access to the credit that they so desperately need. They, rightly so, are expecting the highest degree of competence from their government, and quite honestly, we don't have a pristine record on that front. Like my constituents, when it comes to their tax dollars, I have no patience for even the slightest hint of incompetence. Trial and error is not an acceptable strategy in a situation like this, and we want to know whether there is a plan, and how our money is being used.

    “I didn't vote for the bill in order to bail out banks. In fact, I voted for it in spite of the fact that we are helping businesses that messed up. If we could have let them all fail without bringing down the American economy, that would have been preferable in my opinion. But unfortunately that wasn't an option. Since we now have intervened, we had better make this thing work. We should minimize the market distorting effects of the program, and we need to ensure that it's as targeted as possible. This is not a slush fund for special interest groups or a backstop for any failing business.

    “The explicit intent of the legislation is “to immediately…restore liquidity and stability to the financial system of the United States.” It for this purpose that I voted for this legislation, and in doing so, I want to see every dollar in this program spent as effectively as possible, with the most benefit to the economy.”

Press Releases: 2008

  • Barrett Delivers Commencement Address
    12/15/08 Anderson, SC - Congressman Gresham Barrett (SC, 3) addressed graduates, parents, faculty and staff of Southern Wesleyan University as part of commencement ceremonies held earlier today.  During the speech, Barrett discussed the importance of character, integrity, and faith.  He challenged the graduates to be a difference maker in the world.  At one point, Barrett spoke specifically about the importance of Freedom and the need to protect the Freedoms our Founding Fathers put forth as inalienable rights.
    read more
  • Barrett votes against Taxpayer backed loan for Auto Industry
    12/10/08 Washington, DC - Congressman Gresham Barrett (SC, 3) today voted against H.R. 7321, the Auto Industry Financing and Restructuring Act. H.R. 7321, which provides up to $14 billion of taxpayer backed loans to U.S. automakers. Barrett has continually expressed concerns regarding a government bail out for the auto industry because of his fear that it would set a bad precedent and that it is a vast expansion of federal interference in the internal business decisions of private enterprises. The bill passed the House by a vote of ___ to ___.
    read more
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