Performance is better than promise. That's the creed by which United States Senator Fritz Hollings has modeled his lifetime of public service. A native of Charleston, S.C., Hollings graduated from The Citadel in 1942 and was immediately commissioned as a U.S. Army officer in World War II. He was decorated with the Bronze Star Medal and received seven campaign ribbons for his service in the North African and European campaigns. When Hollings returned from the war, he entered the University of South Carolina School of Law. Working through holidays and summers, he graduated in 1947 -- less than three years after he began.

The following year, Hollings began his career in public service and was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives. In his second term, Hollings' peers elected him Speaker Pro Tempore, a post to which he was reelected two years later. In 1955, he became South Carolina's lieutenant governor, and in 1958, at age 36, he was the youngest man in the 20th century to be elected governor of South Carolina. In 1966, Hollings was elected to the United States Senate to fill the unexpired term of Olin Johnson, an office to which he has been elected seven times. Currently, he is the fifth most senior member of the Senate.

Senator Hollings is Ranking Member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, where he champions a wide range of issues such as telecommunications, transportation security, consumer protection, coastal preservation and research, and trade policy. As a principal author of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, Hollings has worked throughout his career to promote competition within the telecommunications industry and to ensure that consumers benefit from innovative technologies at reasonable prices. As a result of the September 11th attacks, Hollings led the effort in Congress to improve America's transportation security, authoring legislation for our nation's aviation, port, and railroad systems to bolster national security, protect American citizens, and safeguard the economy. In terms of U.S. trade policy, Senator Hollings seeks to reinvigorate economic competitiveness and protect American jobs, while improving U.S. manufacturing and production capabilities. Finally, Hollings believes that a greater understanding and improved management of ocean and coastal ecosystems are essential to maintain healthy coasts and to prepare for and protect communities from natural hazards such as hurricanes. He continues to work to better the lives of South Carolinians and all Americans.

Senator Hollings also serves as the longest serving member of the Senate Budget Committee where he works to lead the nation's finances toward "true surplus." He was the first voice in the Senate to decry the practice of looting Social Security, Medicare and other Trust Funds to camouflage the size of the deficit. Today, he continues to fight for fiscal responsibility and denounce as a fraud and a disservice to future generations reports of a budget surplus from Washington and the media.

As the third most senior Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Chairman of the Commerce, Justice and State Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Hollings uses his seniority, experience and know-how to fight for responsible government and South Carolina's fair share. With his help, South Carolina has obtained the funds necessary to complete new infrastructure projects, improve public education, attract new businesses, enhance public safety and protect the environment.

Senator Hollings has dedicated his life to generating economic growth for South Carolina, promoting education and equal opportunity, and advocating progressive national public policy. An independent leader who tells it like it is, Senator Hollings does not rely on rhetoric. His record speaks for itself.

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