Oct 05 2004

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced Chester and Clarendon County Schools will receive Safe Schools/Healthy Students grants.
  • Chester County School District will receive a $956,753 grant.
  • Clarendon County School District Two will receive a $954,017 grant.
The Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative provides funding to implement a comprehensive plan of activities, programs, and services focused on promoting healthy childhood development and preventing violence, alcohol and drug abuse. Under the program, school districts partner with the community’s local public mental health authority, law enforcement, and juvenile justice entities. Safe Schools/Healthy Students is a joint initiative between the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Justice. The grants were awarded by the Department of Education. ####

Oct 04 2004

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) has introduced legislation making human traffickers eligible for the death penalty. The U.S. Department of State estimates more than a million women and children are trafficked around the world each year, generally for the purpose of domestic servitude, sweatshop labor, or sexual exploitation. The practice generates an estimated $9.5 billion a year. “Traffickers, just like alien smugglers, through unabashed acts of profiteering, endanger the lives of countless aliens while compromising the integrity of our immigration laws,” said Graham, chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Corrections and Victims Rights. “Make no mistake, the incentives for human smugglers are enormous.” Graham’s subcommittee held a hearing on the issue last July. At any given time, the State Department estimates thousands of people are in the smuggling pipeline, with the United States being the primary target. Smugglers and traffickers deliver some 50,000 aliens here annually. “Traffickers kidnap their victims, move them across borders, and then enslave them,” said Graham. “We must ensure the punishments for trafficking crimes are such that the risks of apprehension, prosecution and punishment far outweigh the payday. The best way to do that is the vigorous prosecution and harsh punishment.” Under current law, a person found guilty of alien smuggling where death results is subject to the full range of punishments including the death penalty. However, if death results from a trafficking offense, the defendant is not subject to the death penalty. “We must not allow otherwise innocent men, women, and children to be abused and killed by those who seek to profit from the desperation of others,” said Graham. “We should bring the punishment in line with this horrendous practice.” ####

Sep 30 2004

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made the following statement after papers were filed with the U.S. Trade Representatives office charging China with violating trade law by intentionally manipulating their currency. Graham made the following statement: “I appreciate the efforts by the Bush Administration to stop the Chinese government’s practice of manipulating their currency to create a discount for their products. “China pegs their currency to the dollar in an artificially low manner, creating a 15-40 percent discount. The value of China’s currency needs to be adjusted or set by the marketplace, like every other major economic power. “The practice of currency manipulation is adversely affecting American manufacturing and constitutes an unfair trade practice. That is why I am joining with other Congressional colleagues and filing a 301 trade practices complaint against China with the U.S. Trade Representative’s office. “While some progress has been made on this issue, the abuse has gone on too long and caused much damage to our manufacturing economy. Initiating a 301 case is the appropriate response and I hope it will be taken seriously by the U.S. Trade Representative.” #####

Sep 30 2004

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced Darkness to Light, headquartered in Charleston, will receive a $461,208 grant to help combat child sexual abuse. The funds will be used to develop and implement a web-based training program to help employees and volunteers of youth/faith organizations prevent, recognize and respond to child sexual abuse. Adults who complete the online training program will be educated about the prevalence and consequences of child sexual abuse. As part of the program, each participant develops a personal ‘action plan’ to better safeguard children. The online training includes creative learning exercises and innovative experiential scenarios to teach adults how to recognize the signs of sexual abuse and what to do when abuse is discovered. At the end of every training program, participants are given a test to assess how much they have learned and where there is need for further review. With this training program adults around the country can be properly informed about child sexual abuse and provided with the necessary tools to protect children. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Commerce. ####

Sep 30 2004

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced grants to Blacksburg, Greenville, and Reevesville. “Firefighters risk their lives to protect others, and they deserve the best equipment and training available,” said Graham. “Firefighters are some of the heroes in our midst.” The grants are awarded in one of two program areas:
  • Firefighting Operations and Firefighter Safety Program: The funds 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.
  • Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Program: The funds may be used for the purchase of firefighting vehicles including pumpers, brush trucks, tankers, rescue vehicles, ambulances, quints, aerials, foam units, and fireboats.
Blacksburg Antioch Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $125,010 Firefighting Vehicle grant. Greenville Duncan Chapel Fire District will receive $102,395 Firefighting Operations and Safety grant. Reevesville Reevesville Volunteer Fire Department will receive $65,863 Firefighting Operations and Safety grant. 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 them the tools and resources necessary to protect the health and safety of the public and their 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. Grant funds to local fire departments will come from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. ####

Sep 29 2004

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the University of South Carolina (USC) will receive a $2,158,370 grant to conduct hydrogen research. The grant will enable the university to focus on the production, storage, and uses of hydrogen. Hydrogen is viewed as a fuel source capable of lessening our nation’s dependence on oil from the Middle East. At USC and other institutions around the state, research into hydrogen and its ability to power everything from automobiles to power plants has intensified. In the U.S. Senate, Graham serves as co-chairman of the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Caucus, a bipartisan group of twelve Senators dedicated to pushing hydrogen research forward. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy. #####

Sep 28 2004

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), a member of the Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee, today announced schools in Charleston and Lancaster counties have been selected to receive education grants.
  • Charleston County School District will receive $2,223,201.
  • Lancaster County School District will receive $398,793.
The grants from the Smaller Learning Communities Program will cover the period October 1, 2004 through September 30, 2007. The purpose of the Smaller Learning Communities Program is to promote academic achievement through the planning, implementation or expansion of small, safe and successful learning environments in public schools. The program also aims to help ensure all students graduate with the knowledge and skills necessary to make a successful transition to college and careers. The grants were awarded by the U.S. Department of Education. #####

Sep 27 2004

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced over $2.6 million in grants to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) and the South Carolina Budget & Control Board. The SCDNR grants include:
  • $1,814,940 to assess and identify high priority commercial and recreational fisheries management research needs. This will include a study of the habitats upon which those fisheries depend as well as implementing cooperative research/monitoring projects that address those needs.
  • $441,985 grant to assist in the marking and recapturing of red drum in coastal South Carolina.
The Budget and Control Board will receive:
  • $441,707 grant to help counties continue their multi-year statewide mapping and Land Information System (LIS) in the state.
The grants were awarded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. #####

Sep 27 2004

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made the following statement on Senator Edward Kennedy’s (D-Massachusetts) remarks at George Washington University where he attacked President Bush’s handling of the Iraq war and even said he thanked God that President Bush was not President during the Cuban missile crisis. In his prepared remarks Kennedy said, “The President's handling of the war has been a toxic mix of ignorance, arrogance, and stubborn ideology.” He also said, “Iraq has been a constant perilous distraction from the real war on terrorism.” Graham responded: “Senator Kennedy’s evaluation and criticism of the war effort is over the top and represents a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of the conflict we are in and the nature of our enemy. “Unfortunately, the consequences of the verbal attacks from Senators Kennedy and John Kerry will only deflate our allies who are fighting and dying for freedom in Iraq. “The Kennedy/Kerry model of promising withdrawal beginning next year sends the wrong signal to the terrorists. Their comments embolden those trying to deny democracy to the Iraqi people. That’s not the kind of encouragement pro-democracy forces, who are risking their lives, need at this time. “Thank God President Bush understands our current crisis is not the Cuban Missile Crisis but involves a ruthless enemy our nation cannot negotiate with. “Thank God President Bush understands that ruthless, brutal regimes like Saddam Hussein must be dealt with aggressively. We can see from Libya’s efforts to dismantle their weapons program that strong responses do work in the Middle East. “Finally, thank God President Bush understands the limitations of the United Nations. The Kennedy/Kerry model of turning over control to the U.N. ignores the fact the U.N. has had a pathetic record when it comes to controlling ruthless dictators. “The Kennedy/Kerry model of withdrawal, defeatism, and over-reliance on the U.N. is a formula for disaster. Their plan would certainly destroy any possibility of creating a democratic Iraq which would be a transforming event for the Middle East. Future stability in Iraq will lead to greater stability in the Middle East. “There’s no doubt in my mind the Kennedy/Kerry plan is the wrong plan for America and winning the war on terrorism.” #####

Sep 22 2004

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced more than one million dollars in grants to fire departments in Awendaw, Barnwell, Bonneau, Clarks Hill, Gaffney, Heath Springs, Lancaster, Mauldin, Mayo, and Pelion. “Firefighters risk their lives to protect others, and they deserve the best equipment and training available,” said Graham. “Firefighters are some of the heroes in our midst.” The grants are awarded in one of two program areas:
  • Firefighting Operations and Firefighter Safety Program: The funds 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.
  • Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Program: The funds may be used for the purchase of firefighting vehicles including pumpers, brush trucks, tankers, rescue vehicles, ambulances, quints, aerials, foam units, and fireboats.
Awendaw Awendaw Fire Department will receive a $44,100 Firefighting Operations and Firefighters Safety grant. Barnwell Barnwell Fire Department will receive a $122,382 Firefighting Operations and Firefighter Safety grant. Bonneau Lake Moultire Fire Department will receive a $50,395 Firefighting Operations and Firefighter Safety grant. Clarks Hill Clarks Hill-Lost Wilderness Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $60,750 Firefighting Operations and Firefighter Safety grant. Gaffney Goucher White Plains Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $27,000 Firefighting Operations and Firefighter Safety grant. Heath Springs Rich Hill Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $135,900 Firefighting Vehicle grant. Lancaster Antioch Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $211,500 Firefighting Vehicle grant. Mauldin Mauldin Fire Department will receive a $100,800 Firefighting Operations and Firefighter Safety grant. Mayo Mayo Area Volunteer Fire District will receive a $175,500 Firefighting Vehicle grant. Pelion Pelion Fire Department will receive a $72,542 Firefighting Operations and Firefighter Safety grant. 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 them the tools and resources necessary to protect the health and safety of the public and their 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. Grant funds to local fire departments will come from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. ####