Blog
Sep 17 2003
Wes Hickman (202 224-5972) and Kevin Bishop (864 250-1417)
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) announced the U.S. Senate passed the 2004 Energy and Water Appropriations legislation which contains funding for operations at the Savannah River Site. Graham voted for the bill which passed the Senate 92-0. “SRS is an important piece in our nation’s defense infrastructure,” said Graham, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “South Carolina has been a strong supporter of the SRS mission for decades, and we will continue to support their activities in the years to come.” “Providing full support for SRS in the Senate is one of my top priorities,” said Graham. “I am proud of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for passing this bill in a bipartisan manner.” The bill also congratulates the state for creating one of the first new graduate programs in nuclear engineering in the last 20 years and strongly encourages the U.S. Department of Energy to support the new program at the University of South Carolina. The bill must now pass a conference meeting of both the House of Representatives and the Senate before it can be finalized and signed into law by President Bush. Savannah River Site Projects Contained in the Senate Energy and Water Appropriation Bill- $402 million for the mixed oxide fuel fabrication facility
- $75 million the Tritium Extraction Facility
- $20.259 million for the construction of glass waste storage building #2
- $13.6 million for the pit disassembly and conversion facility
- $1.134 million for container surveillance capability
- $2.75 million for cleaning and loading modifications
Sep 17 2003
Wes Hickman (202 224-5972) and Kevin Bishop (864 250-1417)
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced Charleston will receive a $1 million grant and Savannah/Hilton Head will receive a $523,495 grant to improve air service to the respective regions. The funds for Charleston will be used to secure low-fare air services from Air Tran, and the Savannah/Hilton Head funds will be used to expand services to new routes. “Improving the air service in South Carolina is a great benefit to the state’s economy,” said Graham. “These awards will help bolster tourism and bring future business investment to the state.” The Small Community Air Service Development Pilot Program was established to provide small communities with financial and other assistance to address air service issues, particularly those relating to insufficient air service or high fares. The Program affords communities the opportunity to develop their own solutions to their air service problems based on the community’s particular needs and circumstances. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation. ####Sep 15 2003
Wes Hickman (202 224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864 250-1417)
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the University of South Carolina will receive a $297,154 grant to combat violence against women. The funds will be used to strengthen the University’s relationship violence and sexual assault program through collaboration with on-campus offices and local community agencies. The program will focus on five major objectives: Maintain and strengthen direct services for survivors, including maintenance of alternative housing space; Strengthen collaboration with off-campus law enforcement; Provide high quality response training sessions to law enforcement, campus judicial council members, medical staff and residential housing staff; Strengthen the mandatory prevention education program for first year students through the integration of technology into the workshop curriculum; and, Strengthen collaborative campus programming for the campus-wide awareness campaigns and targeted educational initiatives. “Violence against women and sexual assault on campuses is a serious issue,” said Graham, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Crime, Corrections, and Victims’ Rights. “These crimes are often unreported, so it is vital we create an environment that encourages victims to come forward, provides the necessary support structure for victims, and educates the campus community about these crimes.” The Office for Sexual Health & Violence Prevention will assume primary responsibility for the implementation of this grant. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice. ####Sep 15 2003
Wes Hickman (202 224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864 250-1417)
WASHINGTON – Home owners along South Carolina’s coast are closely watching the path of Hurricane Isabel to see where she will make landfall. Hurricanes of this magnitude usually do terrible damage costing millions of dollars and countless hours of cleanup and repairs. The effects of a powerful hurricane such as Isabel will probably be felt years after the storm has passed. One lasting effect felt by homeowners long after the cleanup is over, is the lack of affordable insurance. Often times after a natural disaster, insurance companies will pay homeowner claims and then make a business decision to not renew or issue new policies in an area fearing another catastrophic event. U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today sought to alleviate this problem by introducing legislation to create a federal backstop for catastrophic risk insurance coverage. The legislation would ensure the availability of affordable homeowners insurance in areas like the South Carolina coast that are at risk from major natural disasters. “Natural disasters have the potential to create significant insolvency in the insurance industry and keep affordable property and casualty coverage out of reach for many American homeowners,” said Graham. “Homeowners along South Carolina’s coast and elsewhere should not be punished. We need to help insurance rates stay low enough to ensure all Americans can purchase the insurance they need to protect their families.” The bill divides the country into six regions. When an earthquake, hurricane or typhoon occurs in one of these areas, the U.S. Treasury Department would auction off reinsurance coverage to private and state insurance carriers in the region. This federally backed coverage would be cheaper than reinsurance coverage offered by private providers. Graham noted the bill allows private insurers, reinsurers, and capital market companies to participate in these auctions. “This bill will create competition in the reinsurance market,” said Graham. “Competition is good for consumers because it lowers prices and improves the product.” The program will require a one-time government outlay of $2 million. Afterward, it will be self-sustaining, operating on the proceeds from the auctions and investments. ####Sep 15 2003
Wes Hickman (202 224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864 250-1417)
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced Florence County will receive a $499,697 grant to support the juvenile drug court in South Carolina’s twelfth judicial circuit. The court assists youths who struggle with substance abuse and criminal behavior by providing them with judicial supervision, intense alcohol and drug treatment, personal case managers, and community support. “This money will help ensure youthful drug offenders receive the supervision and treatment necessary to overcome addictions and curb illegal behavior,” said Graham, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Corrections, and Victims’ Rights. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice. ####Sep 15 2003
Wes Hickman (202 224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864 250-1417)
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the South Carolina Department of Education will receive $2.48 million in federal funds to support the development of the South Carolina Truancy and Dropout Prevention Initiative. The funds will be used to develop innovative technologies to identify and track youth at risk for truancy, to establish alternative community and school-based programs, and to create the South Carolina Center for Dropout and Truancy Prevention Programs. “The development of South Carolina’s youth is the key to future success in our state,” said Graham. The funds were awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Congressional Earmark Program. ####Sep 15 2003
Wes Hickman (202 224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864 250-1417)
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the Lexington-Richland Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council will receive a $74,358 grant to combat drug and alcohol abuse among the area’s youth. The funds will be used to support the Fighting Back Coalition in achieving its goals of reducing substance abuse among youth and strengthening community anti-drug coalitions. Specifically, the money will be spent on the implementation of five strategies:- Continue to deliver the Transitions Program to area youth, designed to prepare junior and senior high students for issues they may face when entering college or the workforce;
- Continue to administer the Media Literacy Program, which integrates media literacy messages with education;
- Maintain the Prevention Resource Center clearinghouse which provides substance abuse information to members of the community free-of-charge;
- Continue to utilize the Speaker’s Bureau to provide information to organizations and groups in the community; and
- Increase coalition membership through active recruitment. “Substance abuse prevention programs are an important element in the successful development of South Carolina’s youth,” said Graham, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Corrections, and Victims’ Rights. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice. ####
