Blog

Feb 14 2003

Wes Hickman/Kevin Bishop

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) said the $397.4 billion spending plan funding nearly all non-defense federal government operations in the coming year will directly affect South Carolina. The legislation passed the Senate yesterday by a vote of 76-20 and President Bush is expect to sign it into law in the coming days. “This bill isn’t perfect, but it’s a good compromise between many varied interests. President Bush deserves credit for helping push the process along,” said Graham. “We still need to make structural reforms to how the Congress spends money and until we do the process is always going to be very messy. “I’m very proud of my Republican colleagues for having the discipline to pass last years’ appropriation bills which Democrats were unable to complete,” said Graham. “At the end of the day the new Republican majority was able to complete the appropriations process in a little over a month – a task Senator Daschle and his Democratic colleagues were unable to do in an entire year. “We demonstrated we're capable of leading the country,” continued Graham. “I'm very proud of my Republican colleagues for sticking together to vote down almost all attempts to add additional spending measures.”

Notable Projects in South Carolina Receiving Funding

Anderson County

$3 million for South Carolina transit system.
$1.5 million for Brown Road Bridge.

Barnwell County

$166,000 to the County Government Health Services Facility.

Berkeley County

$1 million for Railroad Avenue extension.
$450,000 for extension of water lines to Cross Community schools.

Beaufort

$2 million for 278 corridor improvements.

Charleston / North Charleston

$3.5 million for the MUSC Oncology Center.
$1.9 million for United States Vegetable Lab.
$1.8 million increase to College of Charleston School of Science and Mathematics.
$1.2 million for John F. Limehouse Bridge.
$1 million for biological and environmental research at MUSC.
$900,000 for the Commission of Public Works for wastewater tunnel replacement.
$810,000 for the South Carolina Association of Community Development Corporation for job training.
$630,000 for pre and post homeownership classes.
$500,000 to Trident Technical College.
$500,000 for North Charleston Regional Intermodal Transportation Center.
$416,000 for the Advanced Technical Institute Telehealth Deployment Center.
$202,500 to Housing Foundation, Inc for construction of the Lincolnville Community Center.
$180,000 to the country for wastewater infrastructure improvements.

Columbia

$1.8 million increase to the South Carolina Association of School Administrators for the Blue Ribbon School Reform Project and Interactive Library.
$1.5 for Columbia Metropolitan Airport ATC Tower relocation.
$1 million for Assembly Street railroad consolidation and grade crossing elimination.
$990,000 for facilities construction and redevelopment of the Drew Park Wellness Center.
$500,000 for the South Carolina State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education for distance learning programs.
$450,000 for the University of South Carolina for geological study for uranium groundwater contamination.

Clemson

$700,000 for Call Me Mister program at Clemson University.

Eastover

$225,000 for water infrastructure improvements.

Florence

$500,000 for swine lagoon alternatives research.
$450,000 for continued construction of a regional surface water plant.
$250,000 for Cotton Genetics Research.
$100,000 to ScienceSouth for science education programs, science traveling exhibits and outreach activities.

Georgetown

$2 million for Highway 17/521 improvements.
$360,000 for Five Rivers Community Development Corporation for economic development and affordable housing.

Greenville

$900,000 for city water and sewer infrastructure improvements.

Greer

$250,000 for master plan relocation study.

Jackson

$171,000 for removal of radium from water supply.

Jefferson

$600,000 for the Sandhills Medical Foundation.

Mount Pleasant

$900,000 for the Waterworks Commission for the Snowden Community Wastewater Collection project.

Marion County

$50,000 for the county library.

Myrtle Beach

$3 million for I-73 from North Carolina state line to Myrtle Beach.
$1.125 million for regional multimodal transit center.
$450,000 for South Carolina Downtown Redevelopment Corporation for storm water infrastructure improvements for the Pavilion Area master plan.

Orangeburg

$4.144 million for the Orangeburg Substation Phase II.
$550,000 to South Carolina State University of Southern Rural Transportation Center.
$400,000 to the County Rural Transit Demonstration Project at South Carolina State University.

Spartanburg

$1 million for the Arkwright Connector.
$1 million for runway extension at downtown airport.
$283,500 to the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind for facilities construction.

Rock Hill

$270,000 for a feasibility study and physical assessment for the redevelopment of the Rock Hill Printing and Finishing Company Textile mill site.

Sumter

$5 million for Intermodal Transportation Center.
$4.6 million for the Broad River Corridor.

Walhalla

$198,000 for water infrastructure improvements.

Williamsburg

$180,000 for Boys and Girls Club of Williamsburg country for construction related to facilities expansion.

Army Corp of Engineers- General

$575,000 for the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.
$200,000 for the Broad River Basin.
$135,000 for Charleston Harbor.
$100,000 for Pawley’s Island.
$50,000 for the Reedy River.
$50,000 for the Santee Delta Environmental Restoration.
$25,000 for the Waccamaw River.

Army Corp of Engineers- Construction

$5.5 million for Charleston Harbor Deepening and Widening.
$3.2 million for Hartwell Lake Upper and Lower Diversion.
$1.862 million for Lakes Marion and Moultrie.
$400,000 for Myrtle Beach Storm Damage Reduction.

Army Corp of Engineers- Operations and Maintenance

$10.516 million for Charleston Harbor.
$6.89 million for the Cooper River.
$3.7 million for Georgetown.
$3 million for the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.
$1 million for Port Royal Harbor.
$816,000 for Shipyard River.
$396,000 for Town Creek.
$257,000 for Folly River.

Savannah River Site

$93 million for the construction of the MOX fuel fabrication facility.
$33 million for pit disassembly and conversion.
$14.87 million for High Level Waste Removal.
$10.48 million for modernization of the Tritium Extraction Facility.
$2 million for Plutonium Packaging and Stabilization.
$198,372 for fissile material disposition.

Other Projects of South Carolina Interest

$10 million for the National Textile Center.
$7 million for South Carolina vehicles and facilities.
$5 million for the Forest Legacy Coastal Forest Ecological Restoration.
$2.5 million for land acquisition at the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge.
$2 million for the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center.
$2 million for the Francis Marion National Forest.
$2 million for the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River.
$1 million for the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor.
$1 million for intermodal/inland port terminal.
$1.5 million for South Carolina statewide ITS as part of South Carolina Department of Transportation.
$4 million for Bonneau Ferry.
$1.5 million for South Carolina shrimper assistance.
$1 million for South Carolina Oyster Recovery.
$800,000 for study to characterize land use change while preserving natural resources in cooperation with Clemson University.
$650,000 for a new maintenance facility at the Congaree Swamp National Monument.
$500,000 for high speed rail corridor in South Carolina.
$500,000 for South Carolina Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education / Distance Learning.
$500,000 for interchange improvements at Little Mountain exit on I-26.
$500,000 for South Carolina Taxonomic Center.
$500,000 for South Carolina seafood marketing.
$450,000 for shrimp pathogens.
$450,000 for Charleston Bump.
$262,000 for Peach Tree Short Life.
$166,000 for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
$150,000 for the Cape Romain National Wildlife Reserve.

Note: Please note the list is a guide and there may be other projects not included on the current list.

Feb 07 2003

Wes Hickman/Kevin Bishop

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R- South Carolina) along with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and a bipartisan group of lawmakers will be in Munich, Germany this weekend to attend the 39th Munich Conference on Security Policy. The major topics of discussion will be the conflict with Iraq and the continuing war on terrorism. The annual conference on global security brings together government and private sector experts from the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. “Our allies and the world will see our elected leadership is united in the goal of disarming Iraq and are prepared to use whatever means are necessary,” said Graham, a member of the Armed Services Committee. “It’s my hope this trip will help solidify support for any future action that might be taken to disarm Saddam Hussein and his weapons of mass destruction.” Conference attendees will hear from Secretary General of NATO Lord George Robertson, German Minister of Foreign Affairs Joschka Fischer, German Minister of Defense Peter Struck, Russian Minister of Defense Sergey B. Ivanov, French Minister of Defense Michele Alliot-Marie and others. Before arriving in Munich, the congressional delegation will attend a briefing at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

Feb 07 2003

Wes Hickman/Kevin Bishop

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R- South Carolina) announced today the Department of the Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has awarded a $323,070 boating infrastructure grant to the Harborwalk Marina in Georgetown. The funds will be used to remove an existing pier, and install new docks and fixed piers that can accommodate up to thirteen boat slips. This upgrade will provide transient boaters with greater access to the city’s historic district. “South Carolina’s waterways are one of our state’s greatest resources,” said Graham. “Recreational boaters are attracted to the historic sites and beautiful scenery along our coastal waterways. We need to provide safe and easy access from water to land.”

Feb 05 2003

Wes Hickman/Kevin Bishop

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made the following statement on Secretary of State Colin Powell’s presentation to the United Nations Security Council. “Secretary Powell presented to the nation and world a strong case that Saddam Hussein and Iraq continue to deceive about their weapons of mass destruction. He also presented some of the clearest links yet between the Iraqi regime and the al-Qaida terrorist network. The evidence was very compelling. “There’s no question that Iraq and Saddam Hussein aren’t telling the truth. Iraq had hundreds of artillery shells with chemical weapons, thousands of liters of anthrax, and hundreds of tons of nerve agents in their inventory. Now they are not accounted for. The Iraqi response of ‘we have no weapons of mass destruction,’ is a flat-out lie. “I hope the world will get behind President Bush in making sure this man cannot continue his weapons program. He either needs to be disarmed or replaced.”

Feb 03 2003

Wes Hickman/Kevin Bishop

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) said President Bush’s budget submitted to Congress today is another sign the Administration intends to aggressively push forward with the mixed oxide fuel (MOX) mission at Savannah River Site. President Bush requested Congress devote $402 million in the coming year for construction of the MOX Fuel Fabrication Facility at SRS. Under MOX, surplus weapons-grade plutonium from the U.S. nuclear arsenal will be converted into fuel to power a commercial nuclear reactor to produce electricity. “President Bush’s budget shows his commitment to moving forward on the MOX mission at SRS,” said Graham. “It’s a very important mission, not only for the country, but for the world.” Graham, along with the man he succeeded in the U.S. Senate, Strom Thurmond, authored legislation signed into law by President Bush that prevents the state from becoming the permanent storage site for plutonium. The federal government faces millions of dollars in fines and a legal obligation to remove plutonium from South Carolina if the MOX mission doesn’t go forward in a timely manner. Graham also noted the president’s budget contained good news on cleanup efforts at the Site. Among the notable items in President Bush’s request to Congress: A $124 million increase for DOE spending in South Carolina bringing the total to $1.8 billion; An additional $109 million for accelerated cleanup at SRS. DOE will now spend $1.35 billion on cleanup at the Site. “I’m pleased the President has kept his word and continues to put forward budgets and policies that help us clean up the Cold War legacy materials on the site while moving forward with important programs, like MOX, that will help make the world a safer place,” said Graham. “We’ve still got a long way to go in the budget process, but I think the President is getting us off to a good start.”

Jan 30 2003

Wes Hickman/Kevin Bishop

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R- South Carolina) today announced the Department of Health and Human Services National Cancer Institute has awarded $207,100 to the University of South Carolina for cancer research. “Cancer is one of the nation’s leading killers,” Graham said. “We have a responsibility to do all that we can to eradicate this deadly disease. I’m glad to see our state playing an important role in the battle against cancer.” The funds will be used for the University’s Selective Induction of Estrogen Conjugative project. The grant will help support research through 2007.

Jan 30 2003

Wes Hickman/Kevin Bishop

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today supported the nomination of Miguel Estrada to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. The 10-9 vote in committee was along party lines as Republicans supported and Democrats opposed the nomination. President Bush nominated Estrada in May 2001 but the nomination was blocked by the Democratic majority on the Judiciary Committee. “Mr. Estrada has unbelievable academic credentials and outstanding work experience,” said Graham. “He’s a solid person and a solid pick for the position. “The special interest politics of the left have great sway over many Senators in the Democratic party,” said Graham, noting the long delay in moving the nomination forward. “His critics rely on people in the shadows and on the fringe whose biggest objection to Mr. Estrada is he doesn’t see life their way. It’s unfortunate that liberal special interest groups and many Democratic Senators are opposing this qualified nominee.” Born in Honduras, Estrada came to the United States when he was 17 years old. He spoke only rudimentary English yet within five years he graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Columbia College in New York. He went on to earn his law degree, with honors, from Harvard University. Estrada worked at the U.S. Justice Department under both Democrat and Republican presidents and is a member of one of the most prestigious law firms in the country. Estrada has also won 10 of the 15 cases he argued before the Supreme Court. “His nomination to the Circuit Court is another example of the promise America holds to immigrants,” said Graham. “This fine man entered the United States as a teenager and has soared. He will bring honor to the bench.”

Jan 30 2003

Wes Hickman/Kevin Bishop

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R- South Carolina) today announced the Department of Health and Human Services has awarded the Medical University of South Carolina a $200,000 grant for repairs and upgrades of existing research facilities. “The research conducted at MUSC leads to improvements in healthcare for all South Carolinians,” Graham said. “Having state-of-the-art facilities is a large component of cutting edge research.” The funds awarded to the Medical University will come from the National Center for Research Resources.

Jan 27 2003

Wes Hickman/Kevin Bishop

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that they will provide the Town of Awendaw with more than $2 million for improvements to the town’s water and sewer system. The award consists of $1,725,900 in grant money and a $482,500 low interest loan. U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R- South Carolina) was pleased with the announcement. “I’m excited about the positive impact this will have on the people of Awendaw. Projects like this improve lives and invest in the future of the community,” Graham said. The money will be used for a variety of projects including the construction of two wells, an elevated storage tank, a treatment/disinfection control building, a mobile generator, and about nine miles of distribution lines. This project will directly benefit 237 residential users of the town’s water and sewer system.

Jan 27 2003

Wes Hickman/Kevin Bishop

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today said he agreed with President Bush in many areas of the State of the Union address to the nation. “The president is being very responsible holding Saddam Hussein accountable for his weapons of mass destruction,” said Graham. “The French, Germans, and United Nations at large are not being as responsible as they should be. “Iraq had hundreds of artillery shells with chemical weapons, two batches of anthrax material, and hundreds of tons of nerve agents in their 1998 inventory. Now they are not accounted for. I hope the world would follow the president’s lead and make Saddam Hussein account for these materials and other information about his weapons of mass destruction program. “The Iraqi response of ‘we have no weapons of mass destruction,’ is a flat-out lie,” continued Graham. “I hope the world will get behind the president in making sure this man cannot continue his weapons program. He either needs to be disarmed or replaced.” Senator Graham also said he was very pleased with President Bush’s economic stimulus package to get the American economy moving again. “Every time you propose cutting taxes, you get criticized by people who want to keep taxpayer money in Washington to spend on government programs,” said Graham. “The economy needs a shot in the arm. I believe the president’s proposal provides that shot in the arm and makes sense in the long term. “In the short term, we need to stimulate the economy and in the long term we must create better investment opportunities. What we don’t need is to grow the size of the federal government in Washington. “Phasing in the marriage tax penalty repeal at a faster level to increase consumer spending makes sense. Increasing the child tax credit up to $1,000 from $600 to help families to raise their kids makes sense. Stopping the taxation of dividends because it’s a double tax makes sense. These are all good ideas as well as adding a capital gains tax cut to spur on economic activity.” Finally, Graham said he looked forward to working with President Bush to save Social Security for future generations of Americans and pass a Medicare prescription drug benefit into law. “President Bush and I both want to see Congress address the looming bankruptcy of Social Security head-on,” said Graham. “We cannot sit on the sidelines and watch Social Security go bankrupt. Unfortunately, some people prefer to stick their head in the sand and pretend the problem doesn’t exist. That approach doesn’t make the problem go away; it only makes the problem worse. “I also look forward to working with the president as we strengthen and improve Medicare for the millions of seniors who rely on the program,” said Graham. “There are a couple provisions I want to see in any Medicare prescription drug benefit. The first is that consumer choice must be part of the mix. The federal government shouldn’t be allowed to tell seniors what drugs to get. I don’t want a patient to have to get permission from a federal bureaucrat to get their prescription filled. That is a decision left to the doctor and the patient. “The second is that every senior needs to help pay for prescription drugs based on their ability to help themselves. Our well-to-do seniors should have to pay more for premiums than fixed-income seniors. I think it’s only fair and we must do this to afford the program.”

Feb 14 2003

Wes Hickman/Kevin Bishop

Notable Projects in South Carolina Receiving Funding

Feb 07 2003

Wes Hickman/Kevin Bishop

Feb 07 2003

Wes Hickman/Kevin Bishop

Feb 05 2003

Wes Hickman/Kevin Bishop

Feb 03 2003

Wes Hickman/Kevin Bishop

Jan 30 2003

Wes Hickman/Kevin Bishop

Jan 30 2003

Wes Hickman/Kevin Bishop

Jan 30 2003

Wes Hickman/Kevin Bishop

Jan 27 2003

Wes Hickman/Kevin Bishop

Jan 27 2003

Wes Hickman/Kevin Bishop

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