Wes Hickman (202-224-5972

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the U.S. Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2004 Omnibus Appropriations Bill. The $373 billion bill contained the seven remaining spending items which make up the federal budget. Graham voted for the bill which passed 65-28. The legislation already passed the House of Representatives and will now be sent to President Bush for his signature. “I am pleased that my colleagues have come together in a bipartisan fashion to finish the work on the federal budget,” said Graham. “I would like to thank my colleague, Senator Hollings, and all the members of the delegation for working together to benefit all South Carolinians.” Graham noted the bill contains millions of dollars to fund South Carolina related projects. They include: Agriculture Projects Upstate

• $900,000 for a Department of Agriculture study done in cooperation with Clemson University to characterize land use changes while preserving natural resources.
• $273,000 to Clemson University to continue research to develop innovative pest control techniques.
• $270,000 to Clemson University for cotton quality research.
• $234,000 to Clemson University for peach tree short life research in southeastern orchards.

Pee Dee

• $270,000 to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) study of animal waste treatment in Florence.
• $90,000 to ARS for the study of emissions from livestock waste water in Florence.

Lowcountry

• $3.15 million to the U.S. Vegetable Laboratory in Charleston for construction.
• $270,000 increase to FY03 funding for research staff at the U.S. Vegetable Laboratory in Charleston as additional scientists are necessary to conduct priority research.

Statewide

• $3.768 million to study shrimp aquaculture in South Carolina and six other states.

Transportation Projects Upstate

• $11 million for site acquisition and design for a new Federal Courthouse in Greenville.
• $1 million to South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) for surface improvements to the Arkwright Connector in Spartanburg.
• $200,000 for multimodal transportation center improvements in Greenville.

Midlands

• $4 million to SCDOT for the U.S. 78 Bamberg Scenic Highway Project.
• $4 million to SCDOT for the Bobby Jones Expressway/Palmetto Parkway extension.
• $2 million to the City of Orangeburg for railroad relocation projects.
• $2 million for riverfront redevelopment in North Augusta.
• $1.5 million for the Sumter Municipal Airport to install an Instrument Landing System (ILS).
• $1.05 million for improvements to Assembly Street, Whaley Street, and Rosewood Drive in Columbia.
• $500,000 for the construction of the Bishopville Bypass in Lee County.
• $440,000 to the Fairfield County Airport for a runway extension.
• $400,000 for the construction of a pedestrian walkway over U.S. 601 to service South Carolina State University and Claflin University.

Pee Dee

• $1.4 million to SCDOT to upgrade the I-95 and S.C. 327 interchange in Florence County.

Lowcountry

• $4 million to the Medical University of South Carolina Intermodal facility for maintenance, acquisition, and rehabilitation of bus facilities.
• $3 million to SCDOT for construction on Bowman Road and Johnnie Dodds Boulevard in Mt. Pleasant.
• $1.25 million to the North Charleston Regional Intermodal Transportation Center for maintenance, acquisition, and rehabilitation of bus facilities.
• $1.25 to SCDOT for the construction of the Cooper River Bridge replacement.
• $1 million to SCDOT for construction of a four lane divided arterial over an approximately 10-mile corridor of U.S. 278.
• $1 million to SCDOT for improvements to the Berlin G. Meyers Parkway Extension in Georgetown.
• $1 million to Andrews Municipal Airport for pavement reconstruction.
• $300,000 to the Lowcountry Regional Transportation Authority for maintenance, acquisition, and rehabilitation of bus facilities.
• $250,000 to SCDOT for the construction of a U.S. 17 and Bowman Road interchange in Mt. Pleasant.
• $200,000 for the Myrtle Beach Regional Multimodal Transit Center.

Statewide

• $4 million to the SCDOT to help replace South Carolina’s transit fleet.
• $3.5 million to SCDOT for the Inroads Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) project to place video cameras, changeable message signs, and other safety devices along South Carolina’s interstate highways.
• $2.25 million to SCDOT for a construction study of I-73.
• $1 million to SCDOT for statewide transit facilities construction.
• $750,000 to conduct a Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor Study.
• $300,000 to SCDOT for the research and development of ball bearing packages with intelligent safety aids for vehicles.
• $250,000 for a corridor and borders project in association with I-73.

Veterans Administration & Housing and Urban Development Projects Upstate

• $1 million to the city of Rock Hill for the revitalization and development of the Arcade-Westside area of Rock Hill.
• $500,000 to the Winchester Conservation Museum for building expansion in Edgefield.
• $225,000 to the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind in Spartanburg for the construction of a teaching/living facility.
• $175,000 to the City of Greenville for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements.
• $150,000 to the Golden Harvest Food Bank in Aiken, SC and Augusta, GA to enhance two food bank warehouses.

Midlands

• $350,000 to the University of South Carolina for a geological study of uranium groundwater contamination.
• $300,000 to Calhoun County for water infrastructure improvements for the Fort Motte water system.
• $250,000 to Kershaw County for water and wastewater infrastructure development.
• $150,000 to Calhoun County for the construction of a community recreational facility.
• $100,000 to the Eau Claire Development Corporation for land acquisition near Farrow Road.

Pee Dee

• $300,000 to Alligator Rural Water Company in Chesterfield County for water infrastructure improvements.
• $150,000 to Lee County for renovations to the Ashwood Gymnasium.

Lowcountry

• $2 million increase in funding for the School of Science and Mathematics at the College of Charleston to enhance and expand science and technology programs.
• $1.2 million to the Town of Ravenel for the construction of a main sewer transmission line along Highway 17.
• $1 million to the Five Rivers Community Development Corporation in Georgetown for economic development and affordable housing.
• $1.4 million to the Commission of Public Works of the City of Charleston for wastewater tunnel replacement.
• $400,000 to the Myrtle Beach Downtown Redevelopment Corporation for storm water infrastructure improvements.
• $250,000 to the Town of Estill for water infrastructure improvements.

Commerce and Justice Programs Upstate

• $10 million for the National Textile Center. NTC is a research, development, and technology transfer consortium that links the textile industry to leadership research and education programs at Clemson University and other universities.
• $1.1 million to the Palmetto Expo Center in Greenville to develop security enhancements and renovations related to emergency utilization.
• $1 million for technology improvements and network infrastructure to support the Greenville Automotive Research Park.
• $850,000 to the City of Greenville Police Department for communication system upgrades.
• $350,000 to the Abbeville County Sheriff’s Department for mobile data computers and in-car cameras.
• $300,000 for the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Department for the purchase of mobile data computers and communications upgrades.
• $300,000 to Spartanburg County for an advanced 9-1-1 notification system.
• $300,000 to the Union County Sheriff’s Department for mobile data computers and communications upgrades.
• $100,000 to the city of Tega City for law enforcement technologies.

Midlands

• $9.4 million to the South Carolina Judicial Department to continue purchasing equipment for the integration of the case docket system in to a state-of-the-art comprehensive database to be shared between the court system and law enforcement.
• $500,000 to the University of South Carolina for the National Center for Prosecutorial Ethics.
• $350,000 to the Newberry County Sheriff’s Department for the purchase of mobile data computers
• $100,000 to the City of Columbia to support a methamphetamine initiative.

Pee Dee

• $33.123 million to the Federal Corrections Institute (FCI) Williamsburg for a new prison facility.
• $10.532 million to the FCI Bennettsville for a new prison facility.
• $500,000 to the Marion County Sheriffs Department to implement a records management system.

Lowcountry

• $17.275 million for the Cooperative Offshore Fisheries Enforcement Program. This program provides the equipment and funding for South Carolina Department of Natural Resources enforcement officers.
• $16.75 million to Bonneau Ferry for Coastal/Estuarine Land Acquisition.
• $14 million to the Medical University of South Carolina.
• $4.5 million to ACE Basin for estuarine procurement, acquisition, and construction.
• $2.5 million to Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester Counties for a shared information system for local law enforcement.
• $2 million to the National Marine Fisheries Service for South Carolina Cooperative Research.
• $1 million to the National Marine Fisheries Service for South Carolina Oyster Recovery.
• $800,000 to the National Marine Fisheries Service for the Charleston Health and Risk Assessment in Charleston.
• $750,000 to the Low Country Children’s Center in South Carolina for continued support for a collaborative effort among local organizations in Charleston that provide full services to children who have been abused.
• $650,000 for research into the Charleston Bump.
• $650,000 to the National Marine Fisheries Service for the study of South Carolina Shrimp Pathogens.
• $500,000 for Billfish Tagging in the Charleston Bump and other locations.
• $500,000 to the National Marine Fisheries Service for the South Carolina Taxonomic Center to support fishing activities.
• $500,000 for the Freewoods Farm Living Farm Museum in Horry County.
• $350,000 for the Hampton County Sheriff’s Department for the purchase of computers and surveillance equipment necessary to patrol high crime areas of the county.
• $300,000 for the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department for the purchase of mobile data computers and in-car cameras.
• $175,000 to the National Ocean Service for South Carolina Marine Debris Removal.
• $100,000 to MUSC for a program which helps single head-of-household women with children turn away from crime and drugs and become self-sufficient.
• $100,000 to the National Ocean Service for Edisto Beach Marsh Protection.
• $20,000 to the Yemassee Police Department for the purchase of radios and in-car cameras.

Statewide

• $2 million for the South Carolina Truancy and Dropout Prevention Initiative.
• $2 million to the South Carolina Seafood Alliance to promote and develop fishery products and research pertaining to American fisheries.
• $1.5 million to SLED to continue the funding for necessary equipment for SLED’s criminal justice information system, to convert existing databases and integrate systems for accurate and rapid production of information to support identifications for criminal and civilian purposes.
• $1.5 million to SLED for continued funding to support the growing state and local law enforcement needs in the only full service forensic laboratory in the state.
• $1.5 million to provide community-based, cost effective alternative programs for juveniles who are, have been or may be subject to compulsory care, supervision or incarceration in public or private institutions in several states including South Carolina.
• $1 million to the Southeastern Law Enforcement Technology Center to partner with SPAWAR System Center Charleston to advance research and development into software radio technology.
• $1 million for SLED to continue funding for equipment to support a federal and state collaboration of investigators and forensics experts to solve crime.
• $695,000 for the South Carolina Domestic Violence Reduction Initiative of which $150,000 is for Safe Passage which assists victims in Greenville and Anderson. $150,000 for Safe Homes which assists victims in Spartanburg, and $220,000 for the Cumbee Center to Assist Abused Persons, which assists victims in Aiken, Barnwell, Allendale, Edgefield, McCormick and Saluda Counties.
• $500,000 for the South Carolina Export Consortium.
• $500,000 to SCDNR for the RecFIN program to support inshore recreational species assessment and enhancement.

Labor and Health and Human Service Projects (HHS) Upstate

• $500,000 for the Greenville Hospital Center to provide assistance in serving rural areas.
• $250,000 for the Call Me MISTER program at Clemson University.
• $250,000 for a Montessori project at Lander University.
• $200,000 for the University Center in Greenville.
• $200,000 for the Health Education Center at the University of South Carolina-Spartanburg.
• $100,000 for a finance study at Clemson’s Strom Thurmond Institute.

Midlands

• $5 million for the Strom Thurmond Fitness Center at the University of South Carolina.
• $1.2 million to the University of South Carolina to purchase equipment for the Multidisciplinary Science Center.
• $500,000 to Commun-i-care in Columbia to support a program that distributes prescription drugs to low income, uninsured South Carolinians.

Lowcountry

• $4 million to the Oncology Center at MUSC for facility improvements and equipment.
• $1 million to Trident Technical College to equip the information technology center, electromechanical skills lab, and the hospitality, tourism and culinary arts program.
• $200,000 to the Advanced Technology Institute in North Charleston.
• $200,000 to the St. James-Santee Family Health Center in McClellanville.
• $200,000 to the Beaufort County School District for the development and implementation of a modal program in technology and literacy for K-12 teachers.
• $200,000 to Charleston County for a Charleston Media Technology Park project.
• $100,000 to the College of Charleston for the purchase of scientific equipment.

Statewide

• $500,000 to the Jason Foundation for Education to extend science education and professional teacher development programs to schools in South Carolina.
• $500,000 for the South Carolina Women’s Business Center.
• $300,000 to South Carolina Educational Television to continue the Bridges Demonstration Project to develop educational curriculum compatible with digital broadcasting.

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