Jul 03 2003

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded three grants to South Carolina health care organizations to provide primary health care for individuals diagnosed with HIV. The Richland Community Health Care Association will receive $791,000; New Horizon Family Health Services in Greenville will receive $500,000; and the Low Country Health Care System in Fairfax will receive $485,000. The early intervention services grants can be used to provide patients:
  • Risk-reduction counseling on prevention, antibody testing, medical evaluation, and clinical care;
  • Antiretroviral therapies; protection against opportunistic infections; and ongoing medical, oral health, nutritional, psychological, and other services for HIV-infected clients;
  • Case management to ensure access to services and continuity of care for HIV-infected clients;
  • Attention to other health problems that occur frequently with HIV infection, including tuberculosis and substance abuse.
The grants are authorized by the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act, first authorized in 1990. The programs funded under this legislation work with cities, states and local community-based organizations to provide services to approximately 533,000 individuals each year who do not have sufficient health care coverage or financial resources for coping with HIV disease. “These grants are an important tool in the fight against this deadly disease,” said Graham. ####

Jul 02 2003

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded three grants to South Carolina health care organizations to provide primary health care for individuals diagnosed with HIV. The Richland Community Health Care Association will receive $791,000; New Horizon Family Health Services in Greenville will receive $500,000; and the Low Country Health Care System in Fairfax will receive $485,000. The early intervention services grants can be used to provide patients:
  • Risk-reduction counseling on prevention, antibody testing, medical evaluation, and clinical care;
  • Antiretroviral therapies; protection against opportunistic infections; and ongoing medical, oral health, nutritional, psychological, and other services for HIV-infected clients;
  • Case management to ensure access to services and continuity of care for HIV-infected clients;
  • Attention to other health problems that occur frequently with HIV infection, including tuberculosis and substance abuse.
The grants are authorized by the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act, first authorized in 1990. The programs funded under this legislation work with cities, states and local community-based organizations to provide services to approximately 533,000 individuals each year who do not have sufficient health care coverage or financial resources for coping with HIV disease. “These grants are an important tool in the fight against this deadly disease,” said Graham. ####

Jul 02 2003

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded two grants for over $450,000 to the University of South Carolina. The money will be used to support medical research and training.

The University will receive $315,435 to conduct arthritis, musculoskeletal and skin disease research and $135,100 for training at the USC Cancer Center.

“South Carolina’s colleges and universities are on the cutting edge of medical research,” said Graham. “The work they do helps improve and save lives.”

Jul 02 2003

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today said the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded an $800,000 grant to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) for abstinence education programs for youth. The money will be used to develop and implement abstinence education programs for young people ages 12 to 18. “When adolescents become sexually active, it can have negative effects on their physical and emotional health,” said HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson. “These grants create an environment within communities that supports teens in their decision to remain abstinent until marriage.” Abstinence education programs are designed as an intervention to reduce the number of adolescents who engage in premarital sexual activity and, consequently, the number of out-of-wedlock pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. The programs also encourage youth to avoid other behaviors associated with early sexual involvement, such as alcohol and drug use. “South Carolina’s children are our greatest resource,” said Graham. “We must continue to encourage and educate them to make sound decisions affecting their future.” ####

Jul 02 2003

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today said the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded an $800,000 grant to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) for abstinence education programs for youth.

The money will be used to develop and implement abstinence education programs for young people ages 12 to 18.

“When adolescents become sexually active, it can have negative effects on their physical and emotional health,” said HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson. “These grants create an environment within communities that supports teens in their decision to remain abstinent until marriage.”

Abstinence education programs are designed as an intervention to reduce the number of adolescents who engage in premarital sexual activity and, consequently, the number of out-of-wedlock pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. The programs also encourage youth to avoid other behaviors associated with early sexual involvement, such as alcohol and drug use.

“South Carolina’s children are our greatest resource,” said Graham. “We must continue to encourage and educate them to make sound decisions affecting their future.” ####

Jul 02 2003

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded two grants for over $450,000 to the University of South Carolina. The money will be used to support medical research and training. The University will receive $315,435 to conduct arthritis, musculoskeletal and skin disease research and $135,100 for training at the USC Cancer Center. “South Carolina’s colleges and universities are on the cutting edge of medical research,” said Graham. “The work they do helps improve and save lives.” ####

Jun 30 2003

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) made the following statement after Senate Democrats refused to end the partisan filibuster of the nomination of Judge Charles Pickering to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth District: “The Senate is entering into one of its darkest chapters with the continuation of partisan filibusters to block well-qualified judicial nominees. Judge Pickering has received the highest rating from the American Bar Association, has support throughout his home state of Mississippi from Republicans and Democrats, and has been a courageous leader in bringing a better racial climate to Mississippi by advocating moderation and tolerance. Judge Pickering is being denied a judicial promotion because of liberal special interests whose intention is to distort the record of a qualified and decent man.” “The partisan filibusters of judges driven by liberal special interest politics will put the Senate in a death spiral with regard to judicial nominations. If our Democratic colleagues do not cease in partisan filibusters of well-qualified nominees there will be a confrontation in the Senate of Constitutional dimensions that will take years to overcome.” Sixty votes are required to break a filibuster. Today 54 Senators voted in favor of ending the filibuster, and 43 were opposed. ####

Jun 30 2003

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced more than $700,000 in grants to fire departments in Bamberg, Blacksburg, Little Mountain, Newberry, Nichols, Pendleton, Reidville, St. Matthews and Union. “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 Assistance to Firefighters Grants will help the fire departments improve their training, wellness and fitness programs; purchase new firefighting equipment and personal protective equipment; and, make modifications to fire stations and facilities. Bamberg Bamberg Fire Department will receive $129,848. Blacksburg Buffalo Volunteer Fire Department will receive $55,215. Little Mountain Little Mountain Fire Department will receive $53,236. Newberry Friendly Fire Department will receive $24,750. Nichols Nichols Volunteer Fire Department will receive $91,665. Pendleton Sandy Springs Fire Department will receive $80,910. Reidville Reidville Area Fire District will receive $162,000. St. Matthews St. Matthews Fire Department will receive $66,015. Union Bonham Fire Department will receive $64,508. 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. The grants are made by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. ####

Jun 29 2003

National Guard and Reserve Members Score Health Care Victory

Graham Includes TRICARE Provision in Final Version of Supplemental Appropriation Bill

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), the only Senator serving in either the National Guard or Reserves, today announced improved healthcare benefits for the more than 1.8 million Guard and Reserve members. Graham, who maintains his rank as a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, passed his provision in the U.S. Senate with help from Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) and Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee Ted Stevens (R-AK). The provision, expected to cost $138 million this year, allows Guard and Reservists to enroll in TRICARE, the military health care program. Under current law, members of the Guard and Reserve and their families can only enroll in TRICARE when on active duty. The Graham/Daschle provision:
  • TRI-CARE Buy In: Guard members who are unemployed or whose employers do not offer health insurance would be able to enroll themselves and their families in the military’s TRICARE program on a cost-share basis. A single reservist would pay an annual premium, around 30 percent of the annual cost of providing care, amounting to about $420 annually for single reservists and $1,450 annually for a reservist and his or her family.
  • TRICARE Upon Receiving Orders: All Guard members, Reservists and their families would be eligible to enroll in TRICARE as soon as members receive activation orders, as opposed to when they are actually activated. This change will smooth and expedite the transition to active service.
  • Extension of TRICARE Eligibility after Demobilization: All Guard members, Reservists, and their families would be able to stay in TRICARE for six months after demobilization.
  • Authorization for Additional Medical Screening: The service secretaries are authorized to provide full medical screenings to members of the Guard and Reserves when they receive activation orders.
“I am pleased that the Congress has come together in a bipartisan fashion to improve healthcare for the brave men and women who valiantly serve our country in the Guard and Reserves,” said Graham. “These citizen-soldiers sacrifice to defend our freedom and they deserve to be rewarded. This is an extremely significant step toward repaying their efforts and the first step in what I hope will be an overhaul of the benefit package for our Guardsmen and Reservists. “This provision demonstrates a growing commitment in Congress to provide continuity of care for Guardsmen and Reservists,” said Graham. “Since 9-11 there has been a seven hundred percent increase in the use of the Guard and Reserve. We have not changed the benefits for these essential military personnel and it’s time we reward them for their service and patriotism. “Recent deployments have led to one-fourth of all Guard and Reserve members being called to active duty,” said Graham. “The stress on the Guard and Reserve force is beginning to show. The Army National Guard is almost 15 percent short, some 69,000 soldiers, of its recruiting goal. Hopefully this measure will begin to help correct this problem.” The Iraq supplemental appropriations conference report will be sent back to the House and Senate for final approval and then to the President for his signature. Major General Richard C. Alexander, president of the National Guard Association of the United States praised the provision. He said, “Today, Congress took a major step toward improving the health readiness of the National Guard and Reserves as well as the health care of individual Guardsmen and Reservists. This is the most significant victory the Guard and Reserves have had in Congress since the passage of the Montgomery GI Bill, and we expect that it will have similar positive impact in recruiting and retention. It should also make it easier to mobilize and demobilize.” ####

Jun 29 2003

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the Old City Jail in Charleston will receive a $500,000 grant for historic preservation. Save America’s Treasures grants, awarded by the U.S. Department of the Interior, are matching grants to preserve nationally significant threatened intellectual and cultural artifacts and historic structures and sites. A dollar-for-dollar non-Federal match is required. “One of South Carolina’s greatest assets is our rich history,” said Graham. “These funds will help preserve another one of Charleston’s great historic structures.” ####