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

WASHINGTON – South Carolina’s U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint along with Third District Representative Gresham Barrett today characterized next year’s funding for Savannah River Site as adequate to carry out the important operations of the Site. “Considering the pressure being placed on the federal budget because of the War on Terror and Gulf Coast hurricane relief efforts, I think we did as well as could be expected,” said Graham. “Funding for the Site this year is a mixed bag. We lost some fights and won others.” "Thanks to the leadership of Senator Graham and Congressman Barrett, we were able to fund the important needs of the Savannah River Site, including the necessary cleanup and moving forward on MOX," said Senator DeMint. "However, we must remain committed to new missions and ensuring full funding in future years." "We didn't get everything we had wanted, but in a time when everyone has been asked to cut back on spending I don't think we can complain about the overall funding levels," said Barrett. "As we move into 2006, I will continue to work with the other members of the delegation to secure the necessary funding to move forward on current projects and promote new missions." Among the highlights of the Energy and Water appropriations bill:

• The bill makes the Savannah River National Lab eligible for Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) funds. Eligibility for these funds will ensure that the Lab is able to capitalize on the enormous innovative potential of the work going on there. This funding will provide the resources necessary for lab employees to pursue innovative technologies and expand the mission of the lab.
• $1.17 billion for environmental cleanup.
• $220 million in funding for construction of the MOX fuel fabrication facility. Last month, the Department of Energy held a ceremony to mark the beginning of work clearing and prepping the area for construction and operation of the MOX facility. When completed, the start of the art facility will turn weapons-grade plutonium into fuel to make electricity at a commercial nuclear power plant.
• $24 million for the pit disassembly and conversion facility.
• $10 million for the melt and dilute technology for excess weapons-grade plutonium.
• $1 million for energy security and diversification at Savannah River National Lab (SRNL).

Due to delays in the MOX program brought about by the lengthy negotiations over liability issues with the Russian Federation the conference report moves back the operative dates in the Thurmond-Graham language by three years. The bill eliminates funding for further development of a Modern Pit Facility. "In the face of strong opposition to MOX, the funding level we were able to secure is a big step forward, and I am hopeful Congressional leadership is learning the national significance of SRS," said Senator DeMint. "I'm disappointed with the decision to eliminate funding for further development of a Modern Pit Facility. There is no doubt in my mind that we need a MPF and that SRS has the expertise and infrastructure to support such a facility; however, I understand as good stewards of the taxpayer dollar we must determine the appropriate size and scope of the facility," said Barrett. "Additionally, we are committed to ensuring the MOX facility is constructed and operational in a timely fashion. Since the liability issues concerning MOX have been resolved this funding allows us to move forward." “The funding for MOX allows us to continue making progress in the construction and eventual operation of the facility,” said Graham. “Now that the liability issues and MOX budget have been addressed, I think we showed a good faith effort on our state’s part to update the schedule. The MPF decision was disappointing but I expect we may revisit this issue in the coming years as we determine our future nuclear deterrent needs. The biggest obstacle to MPF moving forward is that the Department of Defense will not tell us their pit needs. Without their input it will be difficult to justify a multi-billion dollar program.” #####

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

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced South Carolina will receive a $2,851,022 grant under the Emergency Management Performance Grant Program. The funds can be used to support state and local emergency management and to encourage the improvement of mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities for all hazards. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. ####

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

WASHINGTON -- Today, by a vote of 49-42, the United States Senate expressed support for an plan authored by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) that strengthens the review process of detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (GTMO) while clarifying that non-citizen terrorists do not have unlimited access to U.S. courts. After the vote Graham made the following statement. “I firmly believe that 9/11 was an act of war and not a crime. The detainees at GTMO are not American citizens facing criminal trial, rather, they are terrorists who have taken up arms against the United States. “There has never been a time in our military history where an enemy combatant or prisoner of war has been allowed access to federal court to bring lawsuits against the people they are fighting. Habeas corpus rights have never been given to an enemy combatant and the Senate today reaffirmed that principal. “Today the Senate voted to allow detainees a one-time appeal of their status to a single federal court and, at the same time, stopped the legal abuse. Currently, over 160 cases have been filed by terrorists suing our own troops over every action taken. The due process rights of enemy combatants at Guantanamo Bay are stronger than Geneva requirements, and with the addition of federal court review, are a model for the world. “It is not fair to our troops fighting in the War on Terror to be sued in every court in the land by our enemies based on every possible complaint. We have done nothing today but return to the basics of the law of armed conflict where we are dealing with enemy combatants not common criminals.” Graham Amendment Senator Lindsey Graham’s amendment strengthens the review process of detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (GTMO) while clarifying that non-citizen terrorists do not have access to U.S. courts. The Current Situation at GTMO * The detention status of all detainees at GTMO is assessed by an administrative process called the Combatant Status Review Tribunal (CSRT). * CSRT determines the status of a detainee and whether they should be detained at GTMO as an unlawful enemy combatant. * The CSRT is composed of three military officers. One officer is a judge advocate (military lawyer) while the senior ranking officer serves as president of the tribunal. Each detainee is assigned a military officer as a personal representative. The officer assists the detainee in preparing for the tribunal hearing. * In the tribunal, detainees have the right to testify before the tribunal, call witnesses and introduce evidence. * Following a hearing of testimony and introduction of evidence, the tribunal goes into closed-door session to determine whether the detainee is properly being termed an enemy combatant. Any detainee determined not to be an enemy combatant is transferred to their home country or handled in a manner consistent with domestic and international obligations and U.S. foreign policy. * Enemy Combatants detained at GTMO also go before the Administrative Review Board (ARB) for an annual review of their status. The ARB is a three person panel comprised of military officers who determine if the individual is still an enemy combatant, still holds intelligence value or still presents a threat to the United States. What Reforms Are Proposed in the Amendment? The Graham amendment proposes several changes. They include: * CSRT may not consider information that was proven by preponderance of the evidence to have been obtained with undue coercion. * The Designated Civilian Official, the final authority on the Administrative Review Board, must be confirmed by the Senate. (Currently, the Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England) * Under the Graham amendment the determination of the CSRT would be subject to review by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. This in an historic and unprecedented change. The amendment also contains a provision authorizing the Secretary of Defense to change the procedures as long as they give notice to Congress in advance of implementation. The CSRT / ARB Process and the Geneva Conventions * Article 5 of the Third Geneva Convention of 1949 requires a party to an international armed conflict to use a "competent tribunal" to determine the status of a person when there is doubt as to whether the person qualifies as a Prisoner of War. * While, by definition, Article 5 does not apply to Al Qaida (because they do not qualify as POW’s and are not part of a state party), the United States established the CSRT and ARB to address the due process concerns expressed by the Supreme Court. * The CSRT and ARB procedures, especially with the changes required in this amendment, more than satisfy the requirement for a “competent tribunal” provided for in the Geneva Convention. The Need for Habeas Reform As it Concerns Enemy Combatants * The Supreme Court’s Rasul (2004) decision held that federal courts have jurisdiction to hear habeas petitions from Guantanamo detainees. * For the first time foreign terrorists in U.S. custody have begun claiming the rights and benefits of the U.S. Constitution, our laws, and treaties. * Over 160 habeas petitions on behalf of approximately 300 detainees have been filed in federal court to date. * An array of habeas challenges have been filed including those questioning the quality of their food and speed of mail delivery. Others have questioned the legality of their detention, propriety of returning a detainee to their home country, and allotment of exercise time. The Department of Justice is devoting tremendous resources to the litigation of habeas petitions filed by GTMO detainees. * The federal suits are also slowing our intelligence gathering efforts from detainees. Michael Ratner, a lawyer who has filed lawsuits on behalf of numerous enemy combatants, boasts of this fact. He said, “The litigation is brutal for [the United States.] It’s huge. We have over one hundred lawyers now from big and small firms working to represent these detainees. Every time an attorney goes down there, it makes it much harder [for the U.S. military] to do what they’re doing. You can’t run an interrogation…with attorneys. What are they going to do now that we’re getting court orders to get more lawyers down there?” * The amendment clarifies the previous understanding of the habeas statute that aliens outside the United States do not have access to our federal courts. * The amendment only applies to NON-CITIZEN TERRORISTS. Examples of Habeas Petitions Filed on Behalf of Detainees * Canadian detainee who threw a grenade that killed an Army medic in firefight and who comes from family with longstanding al Qaeda ties moves for preliminary injunction forbidding interrogation of him or engaging in "cruel, inhuman, or degrading" treatment of him (n.b. this motion was denied by Judge Bates). * "Al Odah motion for dictionary internet security forms" -- Kuwaiti detainees seek court orders that they be provided dictionaries in contravention of GTMO's force protection policy and that their counsel be given high-speed internet access at their lodging on the base and be allowed to use classified DoD telecommunications facilities, all on the theory that otherwise their "right to counsel" is unduly burdened. * "Alladeen -- Motion for TRO re transfer" -- Egyptian detainee who Combatant Status Review Tribunal adjudicated as no longer an enemy combatant, and who was therefore due to be released by the US, files motion to block his repatriation to Egypt. * "Paracha -- Motion for PI re Conditions" -- Motion by high level al Qaeda detainee complaining about base security procedures, speed of mail delivery, and medical treatment; seeking an order that he be transferred to the "least onerous conditions" at GTMO and asking the court to order that GTMO allow him to keep any books and reading materials sent to him and to "report to the Court" on "his opportunities for exercise, communication, recreation, worship, etc." * "Motion for PI re Medical Records" -- Motion by detainee accusing military's health professionals of "gross and intentional medical malpractice" in alleged violation of the 4th, 5th, 8th, and 14th Amendments, 42 USC 1981, and unspecified international agreements. * "Abdah -- Emergency Motion re DVDs" -- "emergency" motion seeking court order requiring GTMO to set aside its normal security policies and show detainees DVDs that are purported to be family videos. * "Petitioners' Supp. Opposition" -- Filing by detainee requesting that, as a condition of a stay of litigation pending related appeals, the Court involve itself in his medical situation and set the stage for them to second-guess the provision of medical care and other conditions of confinement. * "Al Odah Supplement to PI Motion" -- Motion by Kuwaiti detainees unsatisfied with the Koran they are provided as standard issue by GTMO, seeking court order that they be allowed to keep various other supplementary religious materials, such as a "tafsir" or 4-volume Koran with commentary, in their cells.

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

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint today announced the Conway Fire Department will receive a $442,524 grant to hire and recruit firefighters. “Firefighters and emergency service personnel dedicate themselves to protecting the health and safety of South Carolinians,” said Graham. “These grants help fire departments recruit and retain qualified professionals who are willing to risk their lives for others.” “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 SAFER fire grant program supports the hiring of full time firefighters and supports the recruitment and retention of volunteer fire fighters. Each award will require a five year performance period that will include a local matching requirement that increases over time, as follows: 10 percent in year one, 20 percent in year two, 50 percent in year three and 70 percent in year four. Grantees will be required to retain and bear the full cost of new hires for a minimum of one year beyond the fourth year of federal support. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. ####