Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint today voted in favor of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2006 that contains more than $8.1 million for South Carolina related projects. The bill passed the Senate 81-18, and was approved by the House last week.

“I am pleased that our Congressional delegation worked together to secure funding for these projects,” said Graham.

South Carolina related projects funded in the bill include:

Charleston

• $2 million for modernization of the U.S. Vegetable Laboratory
• $50,000 for research on integrated disease management strategies on livestock and crops

Clemson University

• $1.19 million for a land use change study
• $282,000 for crop/pest interaction study
• $278,000 for peach tree short life study

Florence

• $100,000 increase in funding for swine lagoon alternatives research at the Agricultural Research Station (ARS)
• The bill provides language permitting the purchase of land by the ARS research laboratory

Orangeburg County

• The bill directs the Department of Agriculture to give consideration to applications submitted by the county for grants and loans to be used for rural development.

South Carolina Related

• $4.2 million for the Shrimp Aquaculture

The bill is expected to be signed into law by President Bush.

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