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August has arrived and has brought with it the high temperatures that invite so many to enjoy South Carolina’s beautiful beaches. As we find ourselves amidst these so-called Dog Days of summer, I appreciate this opportunity to share with you an update of our doings in Washington as well as back home in South Carolina’s First Congressional district.
Washington Update
Recognizing Historic Brookgreen Gardens – Earlier this month, I was joined by my colleagues in the South Carolina Congressional delegation in introducing a resolution honoring the 75th Anniversary of Brookgreen Gardens. My family and I have enjoyed the beautiful scenery, sculpture and native animals that make Brookgreen Gardens such a unique and special place and I wish them well for the next 75 years.
Veterans – As a member on the Veterans Affairs committee, it was my honor to have Ret. Brigadier General Thomas Mikolajcik testify before the sub-committee on veteran’s health. Gen Mik addressed the pressing need for increased research funding and heightened awareness of ALS (or Lou Gehrig’s disease) and called for a joint Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs policy ensuring that all veterans with service-connected-ALS receive the benefits they deserve.
Water Resources – I was pleased to be named to the Water Resources Development Act conference committee this month. As my district in South Carolina represents 75% of the state’s coastline, I have a strong desire to see the Water Resources Development Act signed into law. The House-passed version of the bill, which enjoyed strong bi-partisan support, prioritizes projects that are critical for protecting the environment and ensuring the safety of the entire region.
Coastal Mapping – The House of Representatives unanimously passed the Ocean and Coastal Mapping Integration Act of 2007. Our nation receives the majority of its products via ocean transport vessels which make many stops in places such as at the Port of Charleston. This legislation is a good first step in the coordination of the mapping of our Great Lakes and coastal state waters; I also hope this piece of legislation serves as a valuable tool for NOAA to improve their research and forecasting of hurricanes that could impact coastal South Carolina.
Charleston Aquarium – Earlier this month, I proudly fought to protect funding for the Charleston Aquarium in the Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill. An amendment was offered by one of my colleagues to strip the funding for this project, but the amendment was overwhelmingly defeated in a vote on the House floor. The Charleston Aquarium is home to the Sustainable Seafood initiative, and I was pleased to be joined by my colleagues in the South Carolina Congressional delegation in introducing a resolution honoring this important program.
Doings in the District
Georgetown Chamber of Commerce – The Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce held their 90th Annual Meeting at Pawleys Plantation. Ron Charlton, owner of Southern Coastal Cable and a member of Georgetown County Council, was the recipient of the Chamber’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Squeaky Swenson, Publisher of the Coastal Observer in Pawleys Island, was named Small Business Person of the Year.
Town of Hollywood – The Town of Hollywood marked the swearing-in of their new Mayor and several Town Council members with a ceremony and reception at Baptist Hill High School. Congratulations to Mayor Jacquelyn Heyward and all the members of Hollywood’s Town Council.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner – I was pleased to join several hundred employees of the Vought and Global Aeronautica plants for the roll-out of the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Presented via satellite from Boeing’s Everett, Washington facility, the 787 is their first new plane in a decade. The local partnership is responsible for making and modifying the rear section of the Dreamliner. The two companies are supplying about 60 percent of the 787 fuselage.
City of North Charleston – Mayor Keith Summey and all of the North Charleston City Council members were sworn in earlier this month at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center. My best wishes go to these civic leaders as they continue to lead our state’s third largest municipality.
Charleston Chamber of Commerce – The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce observed their 234th anniversary with their Annual Meeting and Gala at the North Charleston Convention Center. It was my honor to introduce my good friend and colleague, Congressman Jim Clyburn, who received special recognition at this year’s meeting.
Georgetown Festivals – The Georgetown Harborwalk Festival celebrated its 20th anniversary with crowds filling the waterfront streets. The organizers of this event, which does so much to showcase Georgetown, are to be commended for their efforts.
I-73 Northern Route – The S.C. Department of Transportation has presented the Recommended Preferred Alternative for the I-73 Northern Project. The northern route extends from I-74 in North Carolina and continues to I-95 which it links to the Southern Preferred Route, which was announced last year. When completed, I-73 will be the first interstate connection to the Grand Strand.
Leadership Conway – The Conway Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated the completion of this year’s Leadership Conway program and recognized their 21 graduates. Leadership Conway is chaired by Melissa Dows High of Beach First. Among Conway’s best and brightest, I commend the participants of this outstanding program and Brandon Sessions of MB Kahn Construction for his leadership.
Coast Guard Change of Command – Captain Michael McAllister has assumed command of United States Coast Guard Sector Charleston with the retirement of Captain John Cameron after 23 years’ service. Captain McAllister, who comes from Personnel Command in Arlington, Virginia, was previously assigned to Group Charleston. Captain Cameron has indicated that he and his family will make the Charleston area their home.
President’s Visit to Charleston – President Bush made a brief visit to the Charleston Air Force Base to thank the men and women for their dedication to the mission in the Middle East. I was honored to join the President on Air Force One and to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to our military and support personnel for their outstanding work. While in Charleston, President Bush also presented Marion Jones with the President’s Volunteer Service Award for 5,000 hours of service over 13 years. Later, he met with some family members of the Charleston Nine and gave Earl Middleton, one of the Tuskegee Airmen, a Congressional Gold Medal.
We are Here for You!
Hurricane Season – The coming months will bring what has traditionally been the most active portion of Hurricane Season. We have been quite fortunate to have little in the way of tropical disturbances thus far. Please do not allow this lack of activity to lull you into a sense of complacency. We live in a hurricane-prone region and you have an obligation to your family to be prepared for such an event. If you did not receive my Hurricane Preparedness Guide, and wish to have this resource to assist in your planning, contact one of my offices, and we’ll get one out to you.
Please take a moment to visit my updated web site: www.brown.house.gov . Information related to the Hurricane Preparedness Guide, a “One Stop Info Source” for storm-related information, is available on this site.
Passports – Our offices continue to be busy with requests related to passport processing. We are pleased to assist First District constituents with emergency passport processing. If international travel is in your future, make your application well in advance of your departure date. Processing times are averaging 10 to 12 weeks.
Service Academies – School will be starting next month and high school seniors should be aware that it’s not too early to begin the process for applying to one of our nation’s service academies. Complete information concerning the nomination process is available on my web site: www.brown.house.gov. Specific questions should be directed to Earl Copeland in my Charleston District Office at (843) 747-4175.
Assistance With Federal Agencies – If you need help with a federal agency, the resources of my office are available to you as a resident of the First Congressional District. Should you be seeking assistance, please do not hesitate to contact either my Myrtle Beach or Charleston offices. My hard-working staff of dedicated professionals is committed to provide the best constituent service possible.
Travel to Washington, D.C. – If you are planning a trip to Washington and are interested in Capitol or White House tour information, please contact my Washington Office. That is also the best point of contact if you wish to purchase a U.S. flag. The D.C. staff looks forward to hearing from you. They are also an excellent resource for the issues currently under consideration by the U.S. House of Representatives.
What’s On Your Mind?
I hope you find this E-Newsletter to be helpful and informative. I encourage you to forward it to friends and family. If someone you know is interested in receiving my Newsletter via e-mail, they need only visit my site and enter their zip code in the “E-Mail Updates” block found on the home page. Likewise, if you would like to contact me, I hope you will visit my website and send an e-mail message by clicking on the “Contact Me” block. Due to necessary chemical screening of all mail received at the Capitol, letters can take several weeks to reach the Washington, DC office.
Thank you for the honor and privilege of representing the citizens of the First Congressional District. I pledge to do my best in upholding the trust that you have placed in me.
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