Blog
Jun 30 2004
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Sharon Axson (843-747-4175)
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and U.S. Representative Henry Brown (R-South Carolina) today announced Horry County Schools will receive a $981,562 grant to improve teaching programs in American history. “This is an innovative program that will allow American history teachers to continue their education and hone teaching skills,” said Graham, a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. “Professional development for South Carolina’s teachers provides a better education for our students.” "This grant showcases one of the more creative components of the No Child Left Behind Act," Brown said. "At the same time, it illustrates the program's direct impact on classroom instruction." The funds will be used to improve the quality of history instruction by supporting professional development for teachers of American history. Each summer, 40 teachers will participate in a staff development program that includes the study of primary source documents, backward planning unit design, and online seminars, as well as training in the Paideia instructional model. Seminars will focus on the latest historiography, major historical debates, and primary documents. The project’s goals are to (1) design, pilot, and institutionalize a three-year staff development model; (2) develop methods for working with school administrators to support this model; and (3) design and implement an instructional review process. For this three-year project, Horry County Schools will team with the National Paideia Center, Southeastern Region Vision for Education (SERVE), the National Humanities Center (NHC), the Center for Gifted Education, Francis Marion University, Furman University, and Coastal Carolina University. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Education. ####Jun 30 2004
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Wesley Denton (202-225-2452)
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and U.S. Representative Joe Wilson (R-South Carolina) today announced Richland County School District 2 will receive a $999,558 grant to improve teaching programs in American history. “This is an innovative program that will allow American history teachers to continue their education and hone teaching skills,” said Graham, a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. “Professional development for South Carolina’s teachers provides a better education for our students.” "I am proud to join Senator Graham in announcing these funds that will greatly enhance the educational opportunities of the children in South Carolina's Midlands," said Congressman Wilson. "President Bush has consistently worked to improve education throughout the nation, and this initiative will help ensure that no child is left behind." The funds will be used to improve the quality of history instruction by supporting professional development for teachers of American history. The three-year project provides content-driven professional development for American History teachers in grades four, five, eight, and eleven through summer institutes and post-institute support in three regions of South Carolina. Participants receive 30 hours of content instruction, 15 hours of cultural institution collaboration, and 15 hours of method instruction. The project is aimed at helping teachers to develop innovative teaching techniques through use of local primary sources, and to connect national history to local and regional events, people and places. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Education. ####Jun 30 2004
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Colleen Mangone (202-225-5301)
Anderson, SC - U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R, SC) and Representative Gresham Barrett (R, SC-3) today announced that Anderson School District One will receive a grant worth nearly $1 million through the Teaching American History Grant program. "This is an innovative program that will allow American history teachers to continue their education and hone teaching skills," said Graham, a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. "Professional development for South Carolina's teachers provides a better education for our students." "This is great news for the teachers and students of Anderson School District One," said Barrett. "It is important that our children learn American history so they can better understand America's place in the world, and better appreciate why we fight so hard to protect the freedoms we enjoy. This program will better enable that to happen." Anderson School District One will team up with the History Department at Clemson University, Anderson County Historical Society, Anderson County Library, Social Studies Consulting Services, and South Carolina Museum to promote excellence in the teaching and learning of American history. The Teaching American History Grant program is a discretionary grant program funded under the No Child Left Behind Act. The goal of the program is to support projects that raise student achievement by improving teachers' knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of American history. The program targets teachers in grades four and five without history credentials for intensive professional development including school-year retreats, summer institutes, peer support, hands-on training and coaching, designing model classrooms, technology support, and after-school student-teacher extension groups. The summer institutes address: the 13 Colonies, American Revolution, Constitution, 18th century Virginia, Civil War, Reconstruction, Western Expansion, Native American experience, Freedom of Expression, World War I, Great Depression, New Deal, World War II, Race and Rights, Role of Anderson County, and major development from WWII to the present. ###Jun 28 2004
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 handover of sovereignty in Iraq to the interim Iraqi government. Graham is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “I believe it’s smart to accelerate the handover of sovereignty to the interim Iraqi government. It highlights the fact Iraqi’s are ready and eager to assume self-governance. “The insurgents represent the past. They are trying to hold onto power because in a free and democratic Iraq the Saddam loyalists lose big time. The terrorists see Iraq as a frontline battle in their effort to undermine liberty and destroy peace loving people throughout the world. Their ultimate goal is to create a radical fundamentalist safe haven in Iraq. “After my recent visit to Iraq, I am convinced the Iraqi people have the will to defeat the terrorists. If we provide them with the capability, they are willing to pay a heavy price for their freedom. “We must redouble our efforts to provide well-trained forces capable of supporting the new government and increase efforts to help improve infrastructure, schools, and health care. Now is the time for the international community to step up to plate. “A successful democracy in Iraq is in the best interest of the world community. It is also a first step in eradicating extremism in the Middle East and terrorism around the globe.” ####Jun 25 2004
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the Medical University of South Carolina has been awarded three grants for more than $788,000 to conduct medical research. The following grants were awarded:- $270,100 for clinical research related to neurological disorders.
- $262,800 for cancer biology research.
- $255,500 for heart and vascular disease research.
Jun 25 2004
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the South Carolina Department of Public Safety will receive a $738,700 grant to aid in strengthening the state’s juvenile justice system. The money was awarded through the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) program. The JABG program helps states and local governments improve their juvenile justice systems. Awards are made to each state based on the population of youth under the age of eighteen. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice. ####Jun 25 2004
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the Lancaster County School District will receive a $399,774 grant to support counseling programs. Graham is a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. The funds will be used to establish or expand school counseling programs by hiring qualified school counselors, social workers, psychologists, or child/adolescent psychiatrists. Counseling services will use a developmental prevention approach, and will be designed and implemented with the involvement of parents of the participating students. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Education. ####Jun 24 2004
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the Senate confirmed Bryan Harwell to the U.S. District Court. “I am pleased my colleagues in the Senate came together in a bi-partisan fashion to confirm Bryan Harwell to the U.S. District Court,” said Graham. “I have had the pleasure of knowing Bryan for years, and know without a doubt his character, ability, and temperament are beyond reproach. I would like to thank President Bush for nominating him.” “Bryan is an asset to Florence and South Carolina in both his personal and professional life,” said Graham. “He is an excellent attorney, and has dedicated himself to serving the community by helping to ensure all citizens have access to quality legal representation. In addition, he has served his country honorably as a Judge Advocate General officer in the South Carolina National Guard.” “His willingness to subject himself to the scrutiny of the United States Senate demonstrates his commitment to serving South Carolina,” said Graham. “Bryan will wear the robe with honor, respect the letter of the law, and treat all who come before his court with dignity. He will make us all proud.” ####Jun 24 2004
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham’s (R-South Carolina) drive to help citizen-soldiers receive better health care benefits received a big boost this week. Twice the U.S. Senate voted to provide TRICARE, the military health care benefit, to members of the National Guard and Reserves regardless of their activation status. Today, the U.S. Senate passed 98-0 the defense appropriations bill funding reservists’ benefits, including a temporary expansion of the TRICARE program to members of the Guard and Reserve. On Wednesday, the Senate passed 97-0 its version of the defense authorization bill, including a Graham amendment making Guardsmen and Reservists eligible for the program. “I’m pleased the Senate agreed to the important change in the benefits package for members of the Guard and Reserve,” said Graham, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “This is the first time the Senate has appropriated money to expand TRICARE to all members of the Guard and Reserve, regardless of their activation status. We’ve had overwhelming votes in support of giving our reservists better health care benefits. We’ve got more work to do before this becomes law, but this week was a very productive one in moving the bill forward.” “We’re calling upon the Guard and Reserve at the same tempo level we did during World War II,” said Graham. “On a percentage basis, it’s even greater. So now is the time to increase benefits for Guard and Reserve members.” Members of the guard and reserves would be eligible to enroll in TRICARE for a modest annual premium regardless of their deployment status. Premiums would be about $530/year for individual coverage and $1,860/year for families. When fully phased in the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates the provision would assist more than 300,000 reservists and their family members. Graham said that in Iraq Guardsman and Reservists have rotated with the active-duty forces, increasing the reserve component share of the total U.S. forces to more than 40 percent. The reserves have also been charged with taking control of the entire peacekeeping mission in the Balkans. “Better health care benefits will help our recruiting, readiness and retention efforts,” said Graham. “They need it and I think based upon what they have been asked to do, particularly since 9/11, they’ve earned it. We’re going to continue to fight for better benefits for them.” “Guardsmen and Reservists are citizen-soldiers,” said Graham. “Increasingly they are being called up to duty, taken away from their work and families, and being sent to far-away lands for long tours of duty. We need to ensure the benefits they are receiving are equal to the sacrifice they are making to protect our country and interests around the world.” The Senate will now go to conference with the House of Representatives on both the Defense Authorization and Defense Appropriations bills. ####Jun 24 2004
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today said Congress should heed the warnings contained in the recently released U.S.-China Economic & Security Review Commission report and take action to curb Chinese currency manipulation abuses. Graham was joined at the Capitol Hill press conference by U.S. Senator George Voinovich (R-Ohio). Graham noted the Chinese yuan has been tightly pegged to the US dollar in a range of 8.28 yuan per dollar since 1994. Given China's enormous growth over the past decade, if the yuan were allowed to float freely, like other major currencies, economists believe it would appreciate substantially against the U.S. dollar. The first recommendation to Congress made by the Commission was to address China’s currency manipulation. “The Commission report serves as a wake-up call to Congress,” said Graham. “We have lost thousands of manufacturing and textile jobs not because the Chinese work harder or smarter, but because they are cheating. Congress chose to empower the Commission to look into issues affecting U.S.-China relations, now the question is will we listen to them?” In its findings, the Commission reported:- China is systematically intervening in the foreign exchange market to keep its currency undervalued.
- An immediate and significant upward reevaluation of the Chinese yuan against the dollar, combined with the removal of discriminatory Chinese trade practices, should help reduce the U.S. trade deficit with China which was $124 billion in 2003.
- China’s intervening to keep the yuan undervalued is in violation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which says members should, “avoid manipulating exchange rates…in order…to gain an unfair competitive advantage over other members.”
- China should implement reforms to prepare them for an eventual floating exchange rate. At this time, they should refrain from moving to a floating exchange rate as its banking system and financial markets are not prepared.
- Initially gives China a window of 180 days to revalue their currency or be faced with a 27.5 percent tariff on all Chinese manufactured goods.
- Requires the President to certify China “is no longer acquiring foreign exchange reserves to prevent the appreciation of the rate of exchange between its currency and the United States dollar for the purpose of gaining an unfair competitive advantage…” The certification includes a determination that China has “undergone substantial upward revaluation placing it at or near its fair market value.”
- Provides that if China has made a good-faith effort to revalue, the President may delay the imposition of tariffs for an additional 180 days. If at the end of the additional 180 days, the President determines that China has developed a plan to revalue, he may delay the imposition of tariffs for an additional 12 months.
