Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced Beaufort County will receive a $2.59 million grant for improvements at the Hilton Head Airport.
“This grant is an investment in the future of Hilton Head and Beaufort County,” said Graham. “Airport improvements help improve passenger safety and spur future economic development.”
The funds will be used to acquire an Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Vehicle, install a secondary wind indicator, rehabilitate and expand the existing Crash Fire Rescue building, install an emergency generator, install perimeter fencing, rehabilitate the apron and associated taxiways, and widen and improve one of the existing runways.
The grants were awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
####
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the Richland/Lexington Airport Commission will receive a $4.05 million grant for improvements at Columbia Metropolitan Airport.
“This grant is an investment in the future of Columbia and South Carolina,” said Graham. “Airport improvements help improve passenger safety and spur future economic development.”
The funds will be used to reconstruct the existing airport access loop, acquire loading bridges for regional aircraft, rehabilitate the existing itinerant aircraft apron facilities, and make improvements to the terminal building.
The grants were awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
####
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) will receive $3,529,276 in federal grants to help construct a new terminal and rehabilitate a taxiway.
“Air travel is very important to Myrtle Beach and the tourism economy,” said Graham. “People love visiting Myrtle Beach and the more convenient we can make it to get there the better.”
“We’ve had quite a bit of good news recently involving the airport and increased air travel,” said Graham. “This grant is one more thing we can add to the list.”
Earlier this year, Graham met with local elected officials, airline representatives, customs officials and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to push for more resources at the airport. Graham’s efforts helped Myrtle Beach secure its own TSA director instead of having to share one with Charleston. Before this change, Myrtle Beach was the only airport of its size in the state to be paired with another airport under the TSA.
Graham also pledged his assistance for the airport when it begins applying for a designation as a port-of-entry, a distinction requiring the federal government to pay for customs handling. To qualify as a port-of-entry, the airport needs at least 15,000 international passengers annually. Myrtle Beach is expected to meet this designation later this year.
“I’ve been very impressed by the growth of air travel in Myrtle Beach,” said Graham. “We must continue to build the necessary infrastructure to allow the airport to grow. There’s no doubt in my mind that increased air travel will tremendously enhance economic opportunities in the area.”
#####
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) wrote U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft Monday requesting that the Department of Justice “produce any records relating to Deputy Attorney General (Jamie) Gorelick’s involvement in the development and promulgation of Attorney General Reno’s Procedures for Contacts Between the FBI and the Criminal Division Concerning Foreign Intelligence and Foreign Counterintelligence Investigations.”
The letter was in response to the 9/11 Commission’s failure to hear testimony from a key Clinton administration Justice Department official, preventing the Congress from receiving a full accounting of intelligence and law enforcement procedures that led to the tragic attacks.
In the letter, the Senators wrote that, “It is clear that the relationship between the intelligence and law enforcement communities in the years before September 11th must be fully examined.”
Eleven Senators on Friday wrote the chairman of the 9/11 Commission, urging the panel to hear testimony from former deputy U.S. attorney general, and current Commission member, Jamie Gorelick. Over the weekend, that request was denied, preventing a full and complete picture of the Clinton administration’s counterterrorism policy. Specifically, the Senators were looking for information on decisions that led to the “wall” preventing intelligence and law-enforcement organizations from fully cooperating in anti-terror efforts.
Sen. Graham chairs the Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime, Corrections and Victim’s Rights. Sen. Cornyn chairs the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights & Property Rights.
####
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and U.S. Rep. Henry Brown (R-Hanahan) today announced they have obtained approval for $250,000 in federal funding to complete the dredging of the Steel Mill Channel in Georgetown.
The work is expected to proceed within the next month in conjunction with other dredging activities currently ongoing in Georgetown Harbor. The channel is currently not navigable to ships carrying cargo. Dredging will make the former mill location more attractive to future buyers who would operate the mill.
“These funds will allow the dredging of the harbor to go forward,” said Graham. “There’s a lot of good reasons to dredge the harbor, one of the most pressing is to make it more attractive for a new employer to locate at Georgetown Steel. Delaying the dredging operations will result in increased costs and we could possibly lose a window of opportunity to secure a new employer. There’s no doubt the area has been hard hit and is in need of new jobs.”
“I want to personally thank my colleagues, Sen. Fritz Hollings and Congressman Henry Brown, for all the work they put toward this effort,” said Graham. “It would not have been possible without a team effort.”
Rep. Brown said, “I am very pleased that the Army Corps of Engineers has been so cooperative and will finish dredging to the pier area near Georgetown Steel. This is so important to the economic and commercial viability of this region. With the channel reopened to water traffic in the next few weeks, this project should provide the necessary incentive for a buyer to acquire the Georgetown Steel property and get it fully operating again. As a result, we can look forward to the return of job stability and economic growth for the Georgetown area.”
#####
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1419)
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the Pee Dee Community Action Agency in Florence has been awarded a $225,000 grant to support the Weed and Seed program. This is the fifth award to support the program in Florence.
Weed and Seed aims to prevent, control, and reduce violent crime, drug abuse, and gang activity in targeted high-crime neighborhoods.
The strategy involves a two-pronged approach: law enforcement agencies and prosecutors cooperate in ‘weeding out’ criminals who participate in violent crime and drug abuse, attempting to prevent their return to the targeted area; and ‘seeding’ brings human services to the area, encompassing prevention, intervention, treatment, and neighborhood revitalization.
During this project period, law enforcement efforts will focus on decreasing crime and violence involving guns and other criminal activities in the designated area. They will also focus on community corrections and alternative sentencing for juveniles.
“We need to ensure all our neighborhoods are safe from crime and drug abuse,” said Graham. “The programs funded through these grants take a unique approach to achieving that goal.”
The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice.
####
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.
####
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.
####
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.
####
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.
####
