Blog
Apr 13 2004
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) today announced a funding solution that should provide the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) with sufficient operating funds for the immediate future. Under the proposed plan, CARTA would “trade” some of its already appropriated federal funds – money that cannot be used for operating expenditures – for state money to pay for its paratransit services. Paratransit service generally means comparable transportation service, including demand-response service, for individuals with disabilities who are unable to use the fixed route transportation systems. CARTA would then be able to use the money that would be obligated for those services as operating revenue. The state and federal governments would neither lose nor gain money in this transaction. “This is an occasion where people in government found a way to make things happen instead of dwelling on why they could not,” said Graham. “This is a major breakthrough in the funding dilemma facing CARTA.” “Over the past several months, I have been pleased to work with CARTA, our local officials, and the congressional delegation to ensure they would be able to continue offering transit services to those in need,” said Graham. “CARTA’s continued operation is essential to those who rely on its services to get to work, to go to the store, or who have other business in the Charleston region. This plan will assist CARTA in achieving its goal of remaining a transportation link in the area.” “The ability to maintain a funding stream to keep CARTA operational until a new referendum is held will avoid a major disruption of service,” said Graham. “Transferring funds will allow services to continue in an acceptable manner until the voters have a chance to have their say. The ultimate decision as to whether CARTA will survive and if so, in what form, is in the hands of the taxpayers as it always should have been.” ######Apr 01 2004
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham’s long, nearly five year effort to make it a crime at the federal level for a criminal to attack a pregnant woman and do harm to her unborn child is now law. At a White House East Room ceremony attended by Graham, President Bush today signed the Unborn Victims of Violence Act (UVVA). “Regardless of pro-life or pro-choice feelings, almost 80 percent of Americans want separate prosecutions of criminals who attack pregnant women and injure their unborn child,” said Graham. “When a woman chooses to have a child, no criminal should take that right away.” “Unfortunately, pregnant women are often attacked for the purpose of injuring or killing the unborn child,” said Graham. “It would be a grave injustice for the law to only recognize one victim in such cases.” Graham twice pushed the legislation through the House in a bipartisan manner, but until last week it never came up for debate or a vote in the U.S. Senate. That changed last Thursday, when as a U.S. Senator, Graham played a leading role along with Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH) in pushing the legislation through the Senate. UVVA closes the gap in federal law by allowing two prosecutions for more than 60 federal crimes of violence including crimes committed on federal property, crimes against federal personnel, and crimes committed on military bases. “The Laci Peterson case is a clear example of a situation where two victims were involved,” said Graham. “Under California law, separate prosecutions are allowed for death or injury to the unborn child or mother. There is no such provision in federal law dealing with federal crimes of violence.” As an example, Graham noted a situation where a pregnant woman visiting the U.S. Capitol is assaulted and loses her unborn child. Since the Capitol is under Federal jurisdiction and there is currently no law on the federal books, the assailant could only be held accountable for the crime against the mother. The assailant would face no charge or receive no punishment for the harm done to the unborn child. The UVVA specifically exempts abortions from the list of prosecutable offenses. The bill does not permit prosecution: (1) for conduct relating to an abortion for which the consent of the pregnant woman has been obtained or for which consent is implied by law in a medical emergency; (2) for conduct relating to any medical treatment of the pregnant woman or her unborn child; or (3) of any woman with respect to her unborn child. “UVVA recognizes that families have suffered two traumatic events when a pregnant woman is attacked and allowing separate prosecutions is what justice demands,” said Graham. “It is a strong bipartisan statement to criminals who choose to attack pregnant women and their unborn children – you do so at your own peril.” #####Mar 30 2004
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced South Carolina will receive a $19,323,103 grant for the treatment of HIV/AIDS in the state. The funds, awarded under the Ryan White Title II Formula Grants Program, can be used to provide a variety of services, including:- Ambulatory health care;
- Home-based health care;
- Insurance coverage;
- Medications;
- Support services;
- Outreach to HIV-positive individuals who know their HIV status;
- Early intervention services; and
- HIV Care Consortia, which assess needs and contracts for services.