Blog
Aug 28 2006
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint today announced the South Carolina Department of Public Safety will receive a $616,000 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention grant to improve our state’s juvenile justice system. The funds may be used for a variety of programs and activities including: planning and administration, compliance monitoring, juvenile justice issues for American Indian tribes, substance abuse prevention, crime prevention, gang involvement prevention, identification of at risk youth, treatment programs, and aftercare. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice. ####Aug 10 2006
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint today announced more than $635,000 in grants to fire departments in Cordova, Gaffney, Goose Creek, Hampton, Vance, and Williamston. “Firefighters and emergency service personnel dedicate themselves to protecting the health and safety of South Carolinians,” said Graham. “These grants help fire departments save lives by providing the means to obtain the best equipment and training available.” “I’m pleased to announce these grants that are important to the brave firefighters that risk their lives for the families of South Carolina,” said Senator DeMint. The Operations and Firefighter Safety Program grant may be used for training, wellness, and fitness programs; the purchase of firefighting equipment and personal protective equipment; and modifications to fire stations and facilities. The grants awarded include: Cordova Cordova Fire Department will receive $106,593. Gaffney Gaffney Fire Department will receive $160,466. Goose Creek Goose Creek Rural Fire Department will receive $93,216. Hampton Hampton Station 50 will receive $159,999. Vance Vance Volunteer Fire Department will receive $91,110. Williamston Williamston Fire Department will receive $26,410. The Assistance to Firefighters grant program awards one-year grants directly to local fire departments, enhancing their ability to respond to fire and fire-related hazards in the community. The program supports departments by providing the tools and resources necessary to protect the health and safety of the public and firefighting personnel. Grantees share in the cost of the funded project at a percentage based on the population of their respective jurisdiction. Grantees that serve jurisdictions of 50,000 or fewer residents are required to provide a non-Federal cost-share of 10 percent while grantees that serve jurisdictions of over 50,000 provide a 30 percent cost-share. The match must be in cash without the use of in-kind contributions. In addition, the maximum amount of federal funds that an applicant can be awarded is $750,000 during any fiscal year. The grants are made by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. ####Aug 10 2006
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made the following statement on the foiled terror plot to blow up flights from Great Britain to the United States. “To win the War on Terror, our will as a nation must be greater than the will of the terrorists. This is another reminder our enemy remains out there -- plotting and scheming -- to do harm to us and other freedom-loving people around the world. "I want to congratulate the intelligence and law enforcement agencies in Great Britain and the United States for working to stop this terror plot. Lives were saved because of their work. “Our enemies’ desire to harm us has not changed. The evil they represent needs to be confronted. “We need to keep the terrorists on the run and win the War on Terror being fought in Iraq. The terrorists understand what is on the line -- it is why they are so brutal and vicious. They know if a democracy can emerge from a dictatorship, it will be a mighty blow to their efforts to spread evil throughout the Middle East and around the globe. “As a nation, we should learn two lessons from today's events. Stopping this plot shows the need for us to have good intelligence, well-trained law enforcement officers and agencies, and valuable allies like Britain. Second, the enemy has not gone away. While they may have changed methods and forms, they still have the same desire to kill Americans and other freedom-loving people. They must be defeated.” ####Aug 07 2006
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint today announced more than $8.1 million in housing grants in Aiken, Charleston, Columbia, Florence, Lexington, and Myrtle Beach. Aiken The City of Aiken will receive a $220,161 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). Charleston Charleston County will receive a $2,080,165 CDBG award, $974,131 for the HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME), an $88,890 Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG), and $18,392 for the American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI). Columbia The City of Columbia will receive a $1,350,639 CDBG award, $1,041,000 for the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Program, and $826,501 for the HOME Program. Florence The City of Florence will receive a $347,365 CDBG award. Lexington Lexington County will receive a $1,014,447 CDBG award. Myrtle Beach Myrtle Beach will receive a $206,338 CDBG award.- The Community Development Block Grant Program develops communities and provides housing by expanding economic opportunities for low and moderate income households.
- The HOME Investment Partnership Program creates affordable housing by allowing communities to design and implement strategies tailored to their own needs and priorities.
- The Emergency Shelter Grant program improves the quality and number of emergency homeless shelters.
- The American Dream Down Payment Initiative promotes homeownership opportunities by providing necessary resources for down payment and closing cost assistance to lower-income and minority households.
- The Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program provides housing assistance and related support services to state and local governments.
Aug 04 2006
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced Robert Sumwalt of Columbia has been confirmed by the Senate to serve on the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). On Graham’s recommendation, President Bush nominated Sumwalt in June, 2006. He was confirmed unanimously by the Senate last night. “Robert Sumwalt has a distinguished career in the field of aviation safety,” said Graham. “He is uniquely qualified for this position. I am pleased President Bush nominated him, and I was proud to support his nomination. Robert represents the best of South Carolina and will serve his nation with distinction.” Sumwalt worked for 24 years as a pilot with US Airways, and currently manages the aviation department at SCANA Corporation in South Carolina. Sumwalt has received extensive education and training in aviation safety and aircraft accident investigation at the University of Southern California. A co-founder of the Air Line Pilots Association Critical Incident Response Program, he also served as a member of the NTSB’s human performance group in the USAir 427 accident investigation. In 2003, Sumwalt joined the faculty at Southern Cal’s Aviation Safety and Security Program. In addition, he frequently conducts aviation safety, crew resource management, and human factors seminars. He is also a speaker at numerous domestic and international aviation safety conferences. From 1991 to 1999, Sumwalt worked as a research consultant to the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) Aviation Safety Reporting System. He has also authored several books on aviation safety. Sumwalt will serve the remainder of the existing term which expires at the end of this year, and a subsequent term which ends December 31, 2011. The NTSB is an independent Federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant accidents in the other modes of transportation -- railroad, highway, marine and pipeline -- and issuing safety recommendations aimed at preventing future accidents. ####Aug 03 2006
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today introduced an amendment that will prevent American servicemen and women from being charged and tried in the Iraqi criminal justice system. The provision, offered as an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2007 Defense Appropriations Bill, passed 97-0. Graham sponsored the amendment along with Senator Barbara Boxer (D-California). Graham noted that while the vast majority of U.S. troops are serving honorably and without incident, some Iraqi officials have called for the right to charge and prosecute Americans for alleged crimes against Iraqis. This provision clearly rejects that line of thought and places disciplinary responsibility solely on the American military. Graham made the following statement. “The last thing our troops in Iraq need to worry about is being prosecuted by an Iraqi court under a system of justice that is foreign to American values. This amendment will ensure that no American military personnel serving in Iraq could be prosecuted by Iraqi courts or charged by Iraqi officials. “We have had troops stationed throughout the globe for decades and it is common practice for the American military to retain jurisdiction over any alleged crime committed by American servicemen overseas. The military takes seriously its obligation to discipline its force and to hold American troops accountable when they engage in criminal misconduct abroad. We have a great track record in vigorously prosecuting crimes against foreign nationals by military personnel and an equally good track record of providing a full and fair trial to our men and women in uniform. “I can assure the Iraqi people that any misconduct engaged in by American military personnel will be seriously pursued and vigorously prosecuted. I can assure the American people that any serviceman or woman charged with a crime will get a full and fair trial. “It is important for the United States Senate, and Congress as a whole, to clearly state that no American serviceman or woman serving in Iraq will ever be subject to the Iraqi criminal justice system. I hope this will relieve the concerns of the family members of those serving in Iraq.” ####Aug 02 2006
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today voted in support of an amendment offered by U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama) which provides $1.8 billion in funding for the construction of at least 370 miles of triple-layered fencing and 461 miles of vehicle barriers at strategic locations along the southwest border. The amendment was attached to the Senate Defense Appropriation bill which authorizes funding for the Department of Defense. “The first issue to address in immigration reform is border security,” said Graham. “Without strong physical border security no immigration reform will be successful in stopping the flood of illegal crossings. The porous nature of our border doesn’t just pose immigration problems, but national security ones as well. Additional border fencing is a small price to pay when it comes to protecting our national security and relieving the pressure we face from illegal immigration.” Graham noted that border fencing and better physical security of our borders coupled with establishing a guestworker program and a worker verification system are the key components in passing comprehensive immigration reform. Graham has continued to meet with senators and members of the House of Representatives in an effort to find common-ground on immigration reform. He has also expressed interest in immigration reform proposals based on some of the principles outlined in legislation proposed by U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) and Representative Mike Pence (R-Indiana). “We need to comprehensively address immigration reform and I think we ought to do it before the November elections,” said Graham. “With Presidential leadership and the ongoing talks between members of the House and Senate, I’m optimistic we can get it done. The American people expect us to get this done and we shouldn’t let them down.” #####Aug 01 2006
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) made this statement on legislation to expand oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Graham is a supporter of the legislation. He said: “The legislation strikes a good balanced between needed energy exploration and sound environmental policy. Any drilling that takes place will be over 100 miles off the Gulf Coast of Florida and can be accomplished without disturbing the coastal areas. The amount of energy that could be extracted is significant and would help make our nation less dependent on foreign sources of oil. “There’s no doubt that as a nation we need to become more energy independent. This is another step forward and I hope the House of Representatives will agree to the Senate’s proposal.” #####Jul 31 2006
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint today announced the town of Branchville will receive a $1.1 million grant and a $600,000 loan for water system improvements.The funds will be used to install water distribution lines from Branchville on Highway 21 to the Cattle Creek Road area of Orangeburg County. The project includes approximately 81,500 feet of water line, 54 hydrants, and a 250,000-gallon elevated storage tank. There is currently no public water available in the project area.
The grant and loan were awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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