Georgia Right to Life Endorses Congressman Graves

Republican Congressman Tom Graves (GA-09) has received the endorsement from Georgia Right to Life for his strong stance in protecting life from conception until natural death.

“Julie and I are proud to receive the endorsement from Georgia Right to Life,” said Congressman Graves. “Protecting innocent life is a very important issue to my family and me. The reason I became involved in politics today was a result of the life issue. In Congress, the pro-life community has no stronger ally than me.”

Last year, then candidate, Graves became the first candidate in the race to earn the 100 percent Pro-Life certification by Georgia Right to Life.

Georgia Right to Life President Dan Becker at the time said, “What is unique about Tom and his wife Julie is that they were engaged in protecting the innocent unborn before ever entering the political arena. Tom’s support isn’t politically convenient and Georgia Right to Life knows his commitment is genuine. Not only was his first speech from the House well in support of the unborn, but he has been a consistent advocate for pro-life policies in the Georgia House of Representatives. Georgia Right to Life is confident that Tom Graves will continue to fight for the rights of the innocent unborn in Washington.”

In 2001, Graves supported his wife Julie as she founded and became President of the Gordon County Chapter of Georgia Right to Life. The Graves joined with churches throughout the community in opposition to an announced abortion clinic. Through their efforts and Divine intervention, the abortion clinic never opened.

“I saw how much of a difference someone could make by getting involved,” said Graves. “That issue raised my awareness to getting involved and engaged in the process.”

A year later Graves successfully won a seat to the Georgia House of Representatives.

In the State House Graves joined with State Rep. James Mills (R-Gainesville) and others to co-author the “Woman’s Right to Know” and “Sonogram” legislation, which provide mothers with more information about their pregnancy and the options other than abortion. Graves also co-authored Georgia’s Human Life Amendment, which is a state constitutional amendment that defines life from conception to natural death.

Congressman Graves was elected to Congress in a Special Election Runoff on June 8th to fill the 9th District’s unexpired term, receiving 56.5 percent of the vote. He also finished first in the May 11th Special General Election.

The Graves campaign has been endorsed by FreedomWorks, RedState’s Erick Erickson, the Club for Growth PAC, Jim Gilchrist’s Minuteman Project, Congressman Lynn Westmoreland, Republican Whip Eric Cantor, House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence, Congressman Patrick McHenry and the House Conservative Fund, Congressman Paul Ryan and former 9th District candidates Bert Loftman and Eugene Moon.

For more information about Congressman Graves’ re-election campaign, visit www.GravesForCongress.org.

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Graves was elected to the U.S. Congress in a special election on June 8th, 2010, to fill the 9th District’s unexpired term. He serves on the House Committee on Homeland Security as well as the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. He is a member of the conservative Republican Study Committee and the Republican Whip Team.

Graves previously served four terms in the Georgia House of Representatives and is recognized statewide as a conservative leader. He received a 2009 “National Legislator of the Year” from the American Legislative Exchange Council, a 2009 “Guardian of Small Business” Award from the National Federation of Independent Business, the 2009 “Legislator of the Year” Award from the Georgia Retail Association, the 2009 “Legislator of the Year” from the 9th Congressional District of Georgia and was nationally recognized as the “Legislative Entrepreneur of the Year Award” by the Freedom Works Foundation for his tireless effort to stem the tide of expansive government and reduce the tax burden on Georgians. Georgia Trend named Graves to its 2009 “40 under 40, Georgia’s Best and the Brightest.”

Graves grew up in White, Georgia and graduated from the University of Georgia, where he earned a Bachelors of Business Administration in Finance. Graves is a small businessman, past member of the Gordon County Board of Elections and an active member of the Gordon County Chamber of Commerce. He is married to Julie, a native of Marietta, and the couple has three children, JoAnn, John and Janey. They attend the Belmont Baptist Church in Calhoun.