| Dear fellow South Carolinians,
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America’s Water Infrastructure Act I joined Sen. Graham in securing two important provisions supporting South Carolina’s ports as part of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee’s markup of the America’s Water Infrastructure Act at the end of May. The first provision begins the process of updating and modernizing the benefit-cost analysis used by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to evaluate the economic benefits and cost apportionment of water resource projects. Changes to the formula will help lead to more accurate project planning, quicker completion dates, and reduced costs for taxpayers. A second provision helps to ensure that the federal government fully honors its share of the costs for water resources projects. This provision will require federal reimbursement in these circumstances, thereby bolstering the accountability and reliability of federal cost-share agreements. I am excited to secure these two important provisions for South Carolina ports. We know that on a level playing field, South Carolina will compete, and win, against anyone, and taking steps toward modernizing the BCR is a big win for our state. Both of these provisions will help keep more projects on time and within their budgets. You can read more about the provisions here. Around the State Hurricane Season Begins:
Friday marked the first day of the 2018 Hurricane Season. Remember to make a plan with your family, know your evacuation zones, and stay safe. Whether a tropical storm or Category 5 hurricane, we want to make sure that SC residents are prepared for severe weather. The 2018 SC Hurricane Guide can be found at scemd.org and follow @SCEMD on social media for live updates.
SC Photo Challenge: Thank you to all the South Carolinians who submitted photos for my SC Photo Challenge. After receiving hundreds of outstanding submissions, I’m pleased to reveal the completed picture maps that now hang in each of my offices. I’m thrilled to see how proud folks are of our great state, and want to thank everyone again for submitting their photos. You can view some of the photo maps here. Service Academy Nomination Applications Open: The 2018 Military Academy Nomination Application is now open! My office is accepting applications for Service Academy Nominations through Friday, October 19th at 5PM. Candidates interested in attending one of the four service academies - U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, or U.S. Merchant Marine Academy - may submit applications and other necessary documents. For more information about the Service Academy nomination process, visit my FAQ page or call the Service Academy Coordinator at (803) 771-6112. Sincerely,
Tim | 