Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)

WASHINGTON- The United States Senate today passed the Fiscal Year 2006 Energy and Water Appropriations bill that contains more than $80 million for South Carolina projects. Senators Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint voted in favor of the bill, which passed 84-4. “I am proud of the delegation’s ability to secure federal funding for South Carolina’s infrastructure needs,” said Graham. “Over time, these projects will create jobs, encourage tourism, and provide for a healthier environment. I am a strong advocate of fiscal discipline, but equally believe South Carolina deserves her fair share of the pie for worthy projects.” "This bill provides funds to maintain our ports and secure some of South Carolina’s most important economic assets," said Senator DeMint. Highlights of the bill include: Low Country

• $9.934 million for operations and maintenance at Charleston Harbor
• $6 million for construction at Lakes Marion and Moultrie
• $2.615 million for operations and maintenance at the Cooper River/Charleston Harbor
• $2.234 million for beach erosion control at Morris Island Lighthouse
• $500,000 for biological and environmental research at the Medical University of South Carolina
• $413,000 for Corps of Engineers operations at Town Creek
• $60,000 for construction at Folly Beach
• $50,000 for investigations at the Santee Delta
• $23,000 for investigations at Edisto Island

Pee Dee

• $3.6 million for operations and maintenance at Georgetown Harbor
• $1 million for South Science Development in Florence for biological and environmental research
• $205,000 for aquatic ecosystem restoration at the Lynches River/Lake City
• $154,000 for the planning phase of a hurricane and storm damage reduction project on Pawleys Island
• $75,000 for construction at Myrtle Beach
• $25,000 for a stormwater drainage study at Surfside Beach

Midlands

• $9.942 million for operations and maintenance at Strom Thurmond Lake
• $5.7 million for major rehabilitation of the Thurmond Lake Powerhouse
• $4 million for Allen University
• $2 million for Claflin University
• $2 million for the University of South Carolina
• $1 million for Voorhees College
• $1 million for South Carolina State University
• $5,000 for an aquatic ecosystem restoration project at Pocotaligo Swamp

Piedmont

• $36,000 for an aquatic ecosystem restoration project at Wilson Branch

Upstate

• $14.957 million for operations and maintenance at Lake Hartwell
• $11.055 million for operations and maintenance at Richard B. Russell Lake
• $1.3 million for construction at the Richard B. Russell Dam
• $733,000 for major rehabilitation at the Hartwell Lake Powerhouse

Statewide

• $2 million for operations and maintenance of the Atlantic Intracostal Waterway
• $50,000 for modeling of the Waccamaw River Watershed

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