Jul 21 2006

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint today announced more than $8.3 million in housing grants in Anderson, Beaufort, Charleston, Greenville, and Spartanburg. Anderson The City of Anderson will receive a $771,427 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). Beaufort Beaufort County will receive a $750,000 for the HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME), and $12,156 for the American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI). Charleston The City of Charleston will receive a $1,096,575 CDBG award, $832,065 for the HOME Program, and $397,000 for the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Program. Greenville The City of Greenville will receive a $1,123,708 CDBG award, and $379,544 for the HOME Program. Spartanburg The City of Spartanburg will receive a $789,283 CDBG award, and $328,868 for the HOME Program. Spartanburg County will receive a $1,329,187 CDBG award, $530,546 for the HOME Program, and $9,929 for the ADDI.
  • The Community Development Block Grant Program develops communities and provides housing by expanding economic opportunities for low and moderate income households.
  • The HOME Investment Partnership Program creates affordable housing by allowing communities to design and implement strategies tailored to their own needs and priorities.
  • The American Dream Down Payment Initiative promotes homeownership opportunities by providing necessary resources for down payment and closing cost assistance to lower-income and minority households.
  • The Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program provides housing assistance and related support services to state and local governments
The grants were awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. ####

Jul 20 2006

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today took to the floor of the U.S. Senate in support of reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act. “South Carolina has made great strides forward in terms of African-American voting participation and representation at all levels of state and local government,” said Graham. “I’m proud of the progress that has been made in years past and those who made it happen. During some very turbulent times, they shed blood, sweat and tears to bring about major change in our nation. I owe them a debt of gratitude, like others in my generation.” Graham noted that he was a child of the south and grew up in segregated schools for part of his life. But the civil rights movement enriched the country by allowing people to interact in ways that would have been impossible if segregation had continued. “South Carolina has come a long way in the past few decades and we have a lot to be proud of,” said Graham. “But just like every other part of the country, we still have a ways to go. I hope twenty-five years from now it can be said that there will be no need for a Voting Rights Act because things have continued to change for the better. If we continue making progress like we have in the past twenty-five years, we can make it happen.” #####

Jul 19 2006

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced Dillon School District Two will receive a $212,417 grant to promote a new literacy program. The funds will be used to initiate the Literacy for a Lifetime: Creating Literacy Communities program. The program will help to improve literacy and academic achievement by creating student book clubs in grades K-12, hosting visiting authors at schools, updating the library collections, hosting family literacy nights, and providing professional development for library media specialists and teachers. In addition, the program will provide instruction for teen mothers emphasizing the importance of reading to their children. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Education. ####

Jul 18 2006

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made the following statement on the Senate’s stem cell research vote. “I completely understand and appreciate the seriousness of the debate and how people of good will and motives may disagree on the proper course for our nation to chart. “After careful consideration, I come out on the side of not using taxpayer dollars to condone the destruction of viable embryos for research purposes. I feel very uncomfortable using taxpayer dollars to fund research on viable embryos when there are other alternatives available. “I remain concerned we are heading down a slippery slope, in terms of medical ethics, that may have no end. The argument that some of the embryos will be discarded if not used for research does not address the fundamental question of whether the federal government should condone such practices with taxpayer funding. “At this moment in time of scientific development and as the moral debate continues to move forward, I believe the answer should be a no vote on sanctioning the destruction of viable embryos. All of us, no matter our differences were once viable embryos. “Also, if the President carries through on his veto threat, I will vote to sustain.” #####

Jul 18 2006

WASHINGTON– U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham, Jim DeMint, and U.S. Representative Henry Brown today announced the State of South Carolina will receive a $3,655,499 Pre-disaster Mitigation Grant to help the City of Charleston with a seismic and wind retrofit of the historic Dock Street Theatre. The grant represents a federal share of the total project cost of $4,949,940. The remainder will come from non-federal sources. “I am pleased that the City of Charleston is taking proactive steps to help protect one of the state and nation’s most historic structures,” said Graham. “The preventative repairs are designed to help protect the building in the event of a natural disaster.” “The historic Dock Street Theatre has been a part of Charleston history for hundreds of years,” said Senator DeMint, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Disaster Prevention and Prediction Subcommittee. “I’m pleased this important part of South Carolina’s culture will be preserved for generations to come.” "The Dock Street Theater is a jewel in a city that is so richly blessed with historically significant architectural treasures,” said Brown. “I am pleased that FEMA recognizes the importance of preserving this building, the first designed solely for theatrical performances in America. This grant will help ensure that future generations will have the opportunity to appreciate the rich cultural history enjoyed by Charleston's residents and visitors since the 1700s." The funds will be used for structurally strengthening the walls and roof, compaction grouting, and carbon fiber strengthening of the un-reinforced masonry structure, and installing window shutters. The project is a collaboration with the State of South Carolina’s Department of Archives and History and is in keeping with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency. ####

Jul 18 2006

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced South Carolina State University will receive a $354,908 grant to support its GEAR UP program. GEAR UP is a national grant program to support early college preparation and awareness activities for low-income students. The program assists students in the Allendale County and Orangeburg School District 3 in meeting South Carolina State Performance Standards, complete a college preparatory course of study, train teachers, increase parental and community involvement, and increase the awareness of financial aid resources. The program begins to work with students in the 7th grade and continues through high school graduation. Services provided include tutoring, mentoring, counseling, workshops, field trips, and college visitations. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Education. ####

Jul 17 2006

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement on the nomination of William J. Haynes to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. “I understand several Senators on the Judiciary Committee, including the Chairman, have submitted additional questions to Mr. Haynes. It is my belief these questions should be answered in a relatively quick manner by Mr. Haynes. “After all relevant information is received and reviewed, I stand ready to vote.”

Jul 14 2006

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Saxby Chambliss (R-Georgia) today announced the Senate has approved a resolution recognizing the week of September 10, 2006 as “National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week.” The resolution, introduced by Graham and Chambliss, was passed unanimously and calls on Americans to observe the week with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs to demonstrate support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). The Senators made the following statement: “Historically Black Colleges and Universities provide quality educational experiences and play a vital role in an increasingly complex and highly technological society. HBCUs have a rich heritage and have played a prominent role in the history of the United States. Further, they have allowed many disadvantaged students to attain their full potential through higher education. We are pleased the Senate has come together in a bipartisan fashion to recognize the contributions and accomplishments of these institutions.” South Carolina is home to 8 Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Georgia is home to 10. A complete list can be found at http://www.ed.gov/about/inits/list/whhbcu/edlite-list.html ####

Jul 12 2006

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced Horry County School District will receive a $961,579 Safe Schools/Healthy Students grant. The Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative is a national grant program that provides federal funds to create safe and drug-free schools, develop social skills, and promote healthy childhood development. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Education. ####

Jun 29 2006

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Jon Kyl (R-AZ) today issued the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on the Hamdan case: “We are disappointed with the Supreme Court’s decision. However, we believe the problems cited by the Court can and should be fixed. "It is inappropriate to try terrorists in civilian courts. It threatens our national security and places the safety of jurors in danger. For those reasons and others, we believe terrorists should be tried before military commissions. "In his opinion, Justice Breyer set forth the path to a solution of this problem. He wrote, ‘Nothing prevents the president from returning to Congress to seek the authority he believes necessary.’ "We intend to pursue legislation in the Senate granting the Executive Branch the authority to ensure that terrorists can be tried by competent military commissions. Working together, Congress and the administration can draft a fair, suitable, and constitutionally permissible tribunal statute." # # #