Wes Hickman (202 224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864 250-1417)

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the City of Spartanburg, fiscal agent for the Spartanburg Youth Council, will receive a $99,693 Drug Free Community grant to support their efforts to reduce substance abuse among youth in Spartanburg County. The funds will be used to establish a research-based family strengthening program to: Improve family discipline and supervision, reduce family management problems, and improve bonding; Develop youth leadership opportunities to enhance protective factors; disseminate information about the dangers of using alcohol, tobacco and other drugs; Strengthen interagency collaboration; Expand the coalition; Implement environmental policies with support from the community. “Coalitions like this help South Carolina’s youth avoid the pitfalls of abusing drugs and alcohol,” said Graham. “They take a unique approach to this serious problem, addressing not only law enforcement and education, but also getting families actively involved in the lives of their children.” The Drug-Free Communities Program provides grants of up to $100,000 to community organizations that serve as catalysts for citizen participation in local drug prevention efforts. 183 new grants totaling $17.5 million were awarded today to community anti-drug coalitions across the country. The grants were 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 Little River Medical Center in Little River will receive a $949,186 grant, and Palmetto Health Alliance will receive a $497,455 grant to improve access to healthcare in their communities. The Community Access Program (CAP) grants increase access to healthcare for uninsured and underinsured patients. CAP grants are designed to increase access to health care by eliminating fragmented service delivery, improving efficiencies among safety net providers, and by encouraging greater private sector involvement. Many CAP models provide for integration of substance abuse and mental health treatment into the primary care model and have as collaborative members social and human services organizations as well as the faith community. “The skyrocketing costs of healthcare and health insurance have left many South Carolinians without access to quality care,” said Graham, a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. “These programs represent a joint effort by private companies and the federal government to provide healthcare and improve lives.” The grants were awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ####

Wes Hickman (202 224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864 250-1417)

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the United States Senate unanimously approved his resolution demanding that China stop cheating in international trade. “I am pleased to see the Senate coming together in a bi-partisan fashion to address the problem of China undervaluing their currency,” said Graham. “Chinese trade abuses affect every American and will be the ruin of our domestic manufacturing industry if action is not taken soon.” Graham’s resolution calls on the Chinese to correct their currency undervaluation. Some economists estimate that the yuan is now undervalued by as much as 40 percent. The undervaluation of the yuan makes Chinese goods less expensive for foreigners, and it makes foreign products more expensive for Chinese consumers. The effective result is a significant subsidization of China's exports and a virtual tariff on foreign imports. Undervalued currency and the efforts of the Chinese government to intervene in the yuan’s value violate the rules of the World Trade Organization. “I have said for years the Chinese cheat on their trade agreements,” said Graham. “In South Carolina, we have seen the devastating impact illegal Chinese imports have on our domestic textile industry and the entire manufacturing sector.” Graham noted China’s access to the U.S. textile and apparel market more than doubled in 2002, growing by an astounding 117 percent and is up an additional 114 percent so far in 2003, according to recent numbers from the American Textile Manufacturers Institute. Since 1997, the U.S. textile industry has been forced to close more than 250 textile plants in the country. More than 200,000 U.S. textile workers have lost their jobs and five of this country’s largest textile mills including Pillowtex, Burlington Industries, CMI Industries, Galey & Lord, and Malden Mills have filed for bankruptcy. “Something has to be done to stop the Chinese from cheating on their trade agreements,” said Graham. “I hope this resolution gets their attention. I think it is an important first step.” Graham has also taken a lead role in pushing the Schumer-Bunning-Graham bill through the Senate. This legislation would impose a 27.5% tariff on all Chinese imports if they do not put an end to their currency manipulation. In addition, it would allow the President to remove sanctions once he certifies that China has moved to a market-based currency. The tariffs would kick in after a grace period of 180 days to ensure that Treasury officials have adequate time to work with the Chinese to institute reforms. “My resolution and the introduction of this bill will send a strong message to the Chinese that it is time for them to stop abusing our trade agreements,” said Graham. “If they want to be a part of the international community its time to be a responsible player and clean up their act. Until China is reigned in and starts playing by the rules, our manufacturing industry will continue to bleed jobs because of unfair Chinese trade practices.” Graham and several other Senators also circulated a letter to Senate colleagues seeking support for action against China. The letter invited members to sign a letter to President Bush urging him to initiate the China special textile safeguard and take other actions to protect American textile companies from Chinese abuses. “I will continue to fight for South Carolina’s manufacturing jobs, and to end the devastating flow of illegally subsidized and illegally shipped Chinese goods into this country,” said Graham. ####

Wes Hickman (202 224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864 250-1417)

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced Florence School District 3 will receive a $3,194,611 Early Reading First grant. Early Reading First supports the development of early childhood centers of excellence that focus on all areas of development especially on the early language, cognitive, and pre-reading skills that prepare children for continued school success and that serve primarily children from low-income families “This is a great investment in the future of our children,” said Graham, a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. “Early childhood education is vitally important to the successful academic and social development of students. This grant will help Florence County schools prepare young children for future academic success.” The Early Reading First program is one part of the No Child Left Behind Act, designed to improve education for all students in America. Grants are designed to help early childhood centers improve their programs, creating centers of excellence that provide young children with language and cognitive skills and an early reading foundation. Funds must be used to: Enhance children's language, cognitive, and early reading skills through professional development for teachers. Demonstrate language and reading activities developed from scientifically based reading research. Provide preschool-age children with cognitive learning opportunities in high-quality language and literature-rich environments. Use screening assessments to effectively identify preschool children who may be at risk for reading failure. Improve existing early childhood programs by using scientifically based reading research to improve all aspects of the program (including instructional materials, teaching strategies, curricula, parent engagement, and professional development). The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Education. ####