Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the Georgetown County Water and Sewer District will receive a $2.845 million grant and a $1.314 million loan for sewer infrastructure improvements.
The funds will be used to construct approximately twelve miles of eight-inch gravity wastewater collection line, 27,000 linear feet of force main, and eight pump stations.
“The community in which this work will be done ranks fifth on DHEC’s list of communities needing improved sewer service,” said Graham. “These infrastructure improvements will help alleviate a growing health concern and make the area more attractive for future development.”
The grant and loan were awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today said he was pleased with the meeting the congressional delegation held with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and State Ports Authority (SPA) to discuss issues relating to the decision to build a new marine cargo terminal on the former Charleston Naval Base.
There has been concern the Corps would want to conduct a full-blown Environmental Impact Study (EIS) which would slow progress on the project. The Navy base has already been the subject of environmental studies and additional delay could hurt the state’s economy.
“I believe another extended study would slow down our progress and be totally unnecessary,” said Graham. “I also think it would be a waste of taxpayer dollars.”
“As Senator Hollings noted in our meeting, a similar situation existed in Norfolk, Virginia and it only took six months to get everything resolved,” said Graham. “If it’s an achievable standard for Norfolk then it should be achievable for Charleston. After meeting with them, I think the Corps will work in good faith with us to expedite this.”
“The congressional delegation is totally behind this effort and understands the urgent need to expand the port as soon as possible,” said Graham. “The port is one of the leading economic engines in our state and every day we delay hurts businesses in our state.”
Also in attendance at the meeting were Representives Henry Brown and Gresham Barrett, and staff from the offices of Representatives Jim DeMint, Joe Wilson, John Spratt, and Jim Clyburn.
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Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the Beech Island Rural Community Water District will receive a $2.9 million loan for water infrastructure improvements.
The funds will be used to install approximately 2,896 radio-read meters, a new office building, a new well and treatment building, approximately 4,800 feet of six-inch water main.
“Infrastructure improvements help provide better service to the residents of Beech Island and make the area more attractive for future economic development,” said Graham.
The loan was awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced Lake City will receive a $2.2 million loan for water infrastructure improvements.
The funds will be used to install approximately 19 miles of water lines and for the replacement of existing meters.
“Infrastructure improvements help provide better service to the residents of Lake City and make the area more attractive for future economic development,” said Graham.
The loan was awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the Saluda County Water and Sewer Authority will receive a $2.57 million grant and a $3.25 million loan for water and sewer infrastructure improvements.
The funds will be used to construct a new 2 million gallon per day water treatment plant, a 12 million gallon per day raw water intake, and a 4 million gallon per day pumping station.
“Infrastructure improvements help provide better service to the residents of Saluda County and make the area more attractive for future economic development,” said Graham.
The grant and loan were awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the University Center in Greenville will receive a $198,820 federal grant to improve educational resources.
The funds will be used to replace outdated educational technology and software acquisitions for the Center.
“The University Center plays a vital role in the Upstate’s educational system,” said Graham, a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. “These funds will help improve educational opportunities available to people in the area.”
The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Education.
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Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today attended a White House Rose Garden ceremony with the President and First Lady to honor the four finalists for National Teacher of the Year.
Among the finalists was Jason Fulmer from Graniteville, South Carolina’s Teacher of the Year for 2003-04. Fulmer is a third-grade teacher at Redcliffe Elementary in Aiken.
“Jason is a dedicated educator and I want to extend my congratulations on his distinguished achievement,” said Graham, a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP). “It is indeed an honor to be recognized by your peers as South Carolina’s Teacher of the Year and even more so to be selected as one of four national finalists. He has served his community and state well and has done an excellent job representing South Carolina.”
The National Teacher of the Year was awarded to Kathy Mellor of Rhode Island. Other finalists included Fulmer, Kyle Hileman, Kansas Teacher of the Year, and Dennis Griner, Washington State Teacher of the Year.
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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 York County and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
“I am disappointed that any portion of the county was considered to be out of attainment. I think we made a strong case as to why we should not have been lumped in with Charlotte-Mecklenburg. However, I also understand the EPA’s decision could have been worse and am glad they chose not to place the entire county in non-attainment.
“The county and state, on their own initiative, have put in place air quality remedies. It’s my hope and belief this will achieve the goal of providing better air quality and minimize further action by the EPA.
“Over the coming days and weeks, we’ll study this decision and see what it holds for the future. I will continue to closely monitor this situation and see what further steps, if any, can and should be taken. Needless to say, I remain concerned that today’s decision will have a negative impact on future economic development efforts in the county.”
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Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) today announced a funding solution that should provide the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) with sufficient operating funds for the immediate future.
Under the proposed plan, CARTA would “trade” some of its already appropriated federal funds – money that cannot be used for operating expenditures – for state money to pay for its paratransit services. Paratransit service generally means comparable transportation service, including demand-response service, for individuals with disabilities who are unable to use the fixed route transportation systems. CARTA would then be able to use the money that would be obligated for those services as operating revenue.
The state and federal governments would neither lose nor gain money in this transaction.
“This is an occasion where people in government found a way to make things happen instead of dwelling on why they could not,” said Graham. “This is a major breakthrough in the funding dilemma facing CARTA.”
“Over the past several months, I have been pleased to work with CARTA, our local officials, and the congressional delegation to ensure they would be able to continue offering transit services to those in need,” said Graham. “CARTA’s continued operation is essential to those who rely on its services to get to work, to go to the store, or who have other business in the Charleston region. This plan will assist CARTA in achieving its goal of remaining a transportation link in the area.”
“The ability to maintain a funding stream to keep CARTA operational until a new referendum is held will avoid a major disruption of service,” said Graham. “Transferring funds will allow services to continue in an acceptable manner until the voters have a chance to have their say. The ultimate decision as to whether CARTA will survive and if so, in what form, is in the hands of the taxpayers as it always should have been.”
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Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham’s long, nearly five year effort to make it a crime at the federal level for a criminal to attack a pregnant woman and do harm to her unborn child is now law. At a White House East Room ceremony attended by Graham, President Bush today signed the Unborn Victims of Violence Act (UVVA).
“Regardless of pro-life or pro-choice feelings, almost 80 percent of Americans want separate prosecutions of criminals who attack pregnant women and injure their unborn child,” said Graham. “When a woman chooses to have a child, no criminal should take that right away.”
“Unfortunately, pregnant women are often attacked for the purpose of injuring or killing the unborn child,” said Graham. “It would be a grave injustice for the law to only recognize one victim in such cases.”
Graham twice pushed the legislation through the House in a bipartisan manner, but until last week it never came up for debate or a vote in the U.S. Senate. That changed last Thursday, when as a U.S. Senator, Graham played a leading role along with Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH) in pushing the legislation through the Senate.
UVVA closes the gap in federal law by allowing two prosecutions for more than 60 federal crimes of violence including crimes committed on federal property, crimes against federal personnel, and crimes committed on military bases.
“The Laci Peterson case is a clear example of a situation where two victims were involved,” said Graham. “Under California law, separate prosecutions are allowed for death or injury to the unborn child or mother. There is no such provision in federal law dealing with federal crimes of violence.”
As an example, Graham noted a situation where a pregnant woman visiting the U.S. Capitol is assaulted and loses her unborn child. Since the Capitol is under Federal jurisdiction and there is currently no law on the federal books, the assailant could only be held accountable for the crime against the mother. The assailant would face no charge or receive no punishment for the harm done to the unborn child.
The UVVA specifically exempts abortions from the list of prosecutable offenses. The bill does not permit prosecution: (1) for conduct relating to an abortion for which the consent of the pregnant woman has been obtained or for which consent is implied by law in a medical emergency; (2) for conduct relating to any medical treatment of the pregnant woman or her unborn child; or (3) of any woman with respect to her unborn child.
“UVVA recognizes that families have suffered two traumatic events when a pregnant woman is attacked and allowing separate prosecutions is what justice demands,” said Graham. “It is a strong bipartisan statement to criminals who choose to attack pregnant women and their unborn children – you do so at your own peril.”
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