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Dear Friend, As a veteran who served 33 years in the United States Air Force, Air National Guard and Reserves, I am clear-eyed that my number one job as your United States Senator is the safety of our citizens. I am equally driven, however, to provide needed dollars for South Carolina. As Chairman of the Budget Committee and senior member of the Appropriations and Judiciary Committees, I’ve been able to deliver federal dollars to our state for critical needs that address everything from cutting-edge medical equipment and addressing the state-wide nursing shortages, necessary road, bridge and clean water infrastructure projects, and ensuring our first responders are equipped with the latest crime fighting and lifesaving tools. In fact, just this term alone, I have secured over $1.3 billion in direct spending to South Carolina--and $715,510,195 since Fiscal Year 2024. Had I not secured these funds, this money would have undoubtedly been sent to a nameless Washington bureaucrat who could care less about our community. I wasn’t going to let that happen. I wanted to highlight a small sample of the work I’m doing in your community. You deserve nothing less than an understanding of how these dollars are helping you instead of being handed over to a Washington bureaucrat. During the most recent funding cycle, I secured $4.42 million in federal funding to support the design and construction of a new two-million-gallon water storage and purification tank for the Laurens County Water and Sewer Commission’s water treatment plant. This agency provides wastewater management services to residents, farms and businesses throughout Laurens County and plays a critical role in delivering safe drinking water across the entire region. I believe this project will improve water quality and strengthen the reliability of the county’s water infrastructure. The project will also strengthen system resilience during extreme weather events and emergency conditions. Once completed, this investment will bolster Laurens County’s water infrastructure and help ensure the community has safe and reliable drinking water for years to come. In my view, rural communities, such as Laurens County, represent the backbone of South Carolina. Unfortunately, too often, Washington insiders overlook these areas because they fail to understand your needs. However, I know that in order for Laurens to prosper and attract new investments, reliable infrastructure is a critical ingredient for future success. I’m excited that this project not only fulfills residents’ essential needs but will also contribute to the community’s long-term growth. Virtually every day over the past 5 ½ years, I’ve met with South Carolinians who make their case for funding. My passion for our state and my position in the U.S. Senate places me in a truly unique position to deliver for South Carolina. I will gladly put my record up against any elected official in the country. I hope you found this note beneficial and understand that I will always take care of the needs of South Carolina first and I will ALWAYS have your back. Sincerely, Lindsey O. Graham United States Senator |
