U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham Named Industry Champion by the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association

The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association, which represents 1000 member companies, gives the award each year to recognize members of the House or the Senate who have worked diligently on behalf of motor vehicle parts manufacturers in the United States.

April 10, 2018 – Washington, D.C. –  Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) was honored today 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 over one 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. Lindsey 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 which protect our long-term national security interests. 

Graham is also 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 M. 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 Michael Burgess (R-Texas) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Motor vehicle component manufacturers are the largest employer of manufacturing jobs in the U.S., employing more than 871,000 Americans. The industry contributes nearly 3 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product. Employment by suppliers is up 19 percent since 2012, generating a total direct and indirect employment impact of 4.26 million jobs.  

About MEMA
The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and its four specialized divisions comprise a leading international trade association in the fast-changing mobility industry. Representing vehicle suppliers that manufacture and remanufacture components, technologies, and systems for use in passenger cars and heavy trucks, MEMA serves as a critical bridge between high-tech capabilities in new vehicles –such as autonomous vehicles and vehicle connectivity—and the “nuts and bolts” of vehicle manufacturing. MEMA works at state, federal, and international levels to ensure that the marketplace and public policy support the development of advanced, transformative technologies that enable safer, smarter, and more efficient vehicles. MEMA’s members are represented through four divisions: Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA), Motor & Equipment Remanufacturers Association (MERA), and Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA). For more information on how MEMA is leading transformation in the mobility industry, visit www.mema.org.