Blog
Apr 13 2007
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint today announced more than $800,000 in competitive scientific research grants for Clemson University, Columbia College, Newberry College, and the University of South Carolina.
Clemson University
Clemson University will receive $339,065 for a project entitled "Collaborative Research: CEDAR--Experimental and Modeling Study of Mesoscale Ion-Neutral Coupling in the Auroral Thermosphere."
Columbia College
Columbia College will receive $149,968 for a project entitled "Using Discovery-Based Experiments to Integrate FT-NMR Spectroscopy into the Chemistry Curriculum."
Newberry College
Newberry College will receive $140,701 for a project entitled "Application and Integration of Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometer in the Undergraduate Chemistry Laboratory: Chemistry Major with Forensic Science Concentration."
USC Research Foundation
USC Research Foundation will receive $200,000 for a project entitled "Synthesis of Necklace-Shaped Boron and Boride Nanowires for Polymer Nanocomposite Applications."
All of the grants were awarded by the National Science Foundation.
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Apr 12 2007
Wes Hickman (202) 224-5972 or Kevin Bishop (864) 250-1417
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made the following statement on his vote against the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 which passed the Senate yesterday by a vote of 63-34. Graham voted in support of the alternative bill, the HOPE Act, which passed 70-28. He said: "I completely understand and appreciate the seriousness of the embryonic stem cell 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 embryos, the early stage of all human life, for research purposes. "President Bush has threatened to veto the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act and I support a presidential veto. Destroying viable embryos is not a choice we should or have to make. "I hope Congress will pass and send to President Bush the HOPE Act introduced by Senators Norm Coleman (R-Minnesota) and Johnny Isakson (R-Georgia). It allows robust research without embracing the slippery moral slope that comes from destroying viable embryos. It passed the Senate overwhelmingly and if given the opportunity, the House of Representatives will do likewise. "The HOPE Act allows for research on stem cells, including pluripotent stem cells which have the flexibility of embryonic stem cells, without destroying viable human embryos. It is a better way for our nation to proceed on this sensitive subject." ####Apr 03 2007
Wes Hickman (202) 224-5972 or Kevin Bishop (864) 250-1417
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) made this statement on yesterday's decision by the Supreme Court declining to hear appeals from detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. "I am pleased the Supreme Court rejected the terrorist's lawyers request to overrule Congress and grant habeas corpus rights to enemy combatants. "We are at war and the detainees being held at Guantanamo Bay pose military threats to our country. They are not and should not be treated as common criminals under domestic criminal law. The terrorists do not deserve the same rights as our citizens. "I firmly believe the Military Commissions Act, which applies the law of armed conflict to those held at Guantanamo Bay, will be upheld in its entirety by the Supreme Court when it is fully reviewed." #####Mar 30 2007
Wes Hickman (202) 224-5972 or Kevin Bishop (864) 250-1417
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement on the Guantanamo Bay military commission which accepted a guilty plea from Australian David Hicks. Hicks is to be sentenced to seven years in prison for providing material support to Al Qaeda. Under the plea agreement Mr. Hicks will serve his sentence in Australia. Last year, Graham played a leading role in the drafting and eventual passage into law of the Military Commissions Act (MCA), which establishes the rules and procedures to try enemy combatant terror suspects before military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He said: "I'm extremely pleased the military commission process is up and working. I believe the sentence handed down by the military judge was appropriate. "I'm grateful to our Australian allies who showed tremendous patience in ensuring Mr. Hicks would be held accountable for his crimes. The Australian government should be congratulated for allowing the process to move forward and justice to be rendered. "I hope today's proceedings will be a deterrent to any person intrigued by the idea of associating with Al-Qaeda or other terrorist organizations in any shape, form, or fashion." #####Mar 29 2007
Wes Hickman (202) 224-5972 or Kevin Bishop (864) 250-1417
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) made this statement after the Senate vote on legislation to withdraw American troops from Iraq. "This bill is a national disgrace. "The legislation sets withdrawal dates which tell our enemy exactly when we're leaving and how long they have to wait us out to win in Iraq. It also spends more than $20 billion on projects completely unrelated to the military and efforts to win the War on Terror. "Timelines for withdrawal are a death blow to our chances for success in Iraq. They freeze the political and economic reconciliation among Iraqis. They are a death sentence for Iraqi moderates trying to bring peace and stability to their country. As for our troops, those who are left to serve waiting for the withdrawal day to come will be risking their lives without purpose. It is an untenable position to put them in. "Is it really a national emergency critical to winning the War on Terror for the cities hosting the Republican National Convention and Democratic National Convention in 2008 to receive matching $50 million grants? Is there even a remote correlation between fighting the War on Terror and $24 million slated for sugar beet growers? What about $20 million for reimbursements of insect damage in Nevada or $13 million for ewe-lamb replacement and retention? "The President is right to veto this legislation and I look forward to sustaining his veto." #####Mar 27 2007
Wes Hickman (202) 224-5972 or Kevin Bishop (864) 250-1417
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement on the Senate amendment offered by U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Mississippi) to strip the arbitrary Iraq withdrawal deadline from the emergency war supplemental. Graham is a co-sponsor of the Cochran amendment. "A date certain for withdrawal dooms any chance of winning in Iraq. It is also a vote of no-confidence in General Petraeus, his new strategy, and our troops' ability to carry out the mission. Congress should not define how long our enemy has to hang on to win. "As for our troops, those who are left to serve waiting for the withdrawal day to come will be risking their lives without purpose. It is an untenable position to put them in. "Timelines for withdrawal are a death blow to our chances of success in Iraq. They freeze the political and economic reconciliation among Iraqis. They are a death sentence for Iraqi moderates trying to bring peace and stability to their country. If we leave, under these circumstances, Baghdad will be a blood bath. "Timelines for withdrawal are a political act for the political moment. I hope Congress strips them from the legislation." ####### UPDATE: The Cochran amendment was defeated in the Senate by a vote of 48-50.Mar 26 2007
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint today announced the city of York will receive $1.5 million to upgrade the Fishing Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
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Mar 26 2007
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today voted against the Democratic budget resolution. The measure which lays out a spending plan for the next five years passed 52-47. "The Democrat's budget throws fiscal discipline out the window and shows the country that Democrats live up to their tax and spend stereotype," said Graham. "It increases taxes on the American taxpayer by $700 billion and contains billions in new spending. It also completely ignores the impending crises in Social Security and Medicare." Senate Democrats twice defeated efforts by Graham to provide tax relief to the American people.- Graham introduced an amendment today that would make permanent the current individual income tax rate structure. Current marginal tax rates are 35, 33, 28 and 25 percent; however, this rate structure will expire December 31, 2010. If allowed to expire, rates will increase to 39.6, 36, 31, and 28 percent. A recent study commissioned by the Small Business Administration found that a one percent increase in marginal tax rates cuts the life span of a small business by 32.5 percent for single filers and 44.8 percent for married filers. The amendment was defeated 52-46.
- Earlier this week, Graham introduced a measure that would have established the Death Tax exemption at $5 million and ensure the rate will be no more than thirty-five percent, extended the lower rates contained in 2001 Bush tax cuts on dividends and capital gains -- a change that would help more than 200,000 taxpayers in South Carolina -- and extended educational tax deductions including deductions for tuition and student loan interest and the $250 teacher classroom expense deduction. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 51-47.
Mar 23 2007
Wes Hickman (202) 224-5972 or Kevin Bishop (864) 250-1417
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made the following statement on the House of Representatives passage of the supplemental wartime appropriations bill. The measure passed today establishes an arbitrary date for troop withdrawal from Iraq, includes tens of billions of dollars in non-war related earmarks intended to buy votes, and puts American troops in Iraq at risk by imposing restraints on the Commander-in-Chief and the commanders on the ground. Graham said: "The vote in the House of Representatives was a disgrace. "The House put more than $20 billion in spending -- completely unrelated to the war -- in the bill. Putting pet projects into an emergency spending bill funding our troops fighting a war is one of the low points of my time in Congress. The Democratic House also put conditions on how to operate in Iraq that will undermine our efforts to secure victory. They set deadlines for withdrawal that will empower our enemies. "In the Senate, I will do everything in my power to strike the provisions of this bill that undercut our troops' ability to win this war. Congress is not the Commander-in-Chief and should not micromanage the war. It's incredibly disappointing to see House Democrats put our troops at risk for short term political gain. The Democratic leadership in the House is like the cavalry in reverse. They're coming over the hill, but instead of helping, you know they are just going to make the problem worse. "The President is right to threaten a veto of this legislation. If this bill ever makes it to his desk, he won't have a shortage of pens available to sign a presidential veto. If necessary, I will be more than happy to bring one for him to use." ####Mar 22 2007
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON – Over the past two months, two wildlife habitat conservation projects in South Carolina have received more than $13 million in federal grant money.
In January, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) announced $8.6 million for the Woodbury Wildlife Management Area and Hamilton Ridge Wildlife Management Area. Today, he announced these wildlife areas will receive another $5 million in federal grants. The funds will be used by the state to help purchase the tracts of land. Both protected areas will be placed in the SCDNR Wildlife Management Area program and will be open to the public for traditional outdoor recreational opportunities such as birding, nature walking, hunting, and fishing.
“One of South Carolina’s greatest treasures is the natural beauty of our surroundings,” said Graham. “We have a responsibility to help ensure our state’s natural resources are preserved for the benefit of future generations. I’m very pleased to see a continued commitment to protecting both of these environmentally significant tracts of land.”
The Forest Legacy Project grants include:
- $2.5 million to purchase the Woodbury Wildlife Management Area. The Woodbury tract, covering 25,668 acres, will protect 27.5 miles of river frontage along the Great Pee Dee River and 11.5 miles of frontage along the Little Pee Dee River in Marion County. Graham announced $4.45 million for this project earlier this year.
- $2.5 million to purchase the Hamilton Ridge Wildlife Management Area along the Savannah River in Hampton County. This tract of 13,281 acres is adjacent to 12,600 acres of South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR)-owned Wildlife Management Areas known as Webb and Palachucola. Protection of Hamilton Ridge will double the protected acreage in this block and add another 8.5 miles to the existing 5 miles of state-protected frontage on the Savannah River. Graham announced $4.15 million for this project earlier this year.
The grants announced today were awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service.
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