This past week (January 15, 2013) the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Omnibus appropriations bill with major implications for South Carolina and Georgia, including critical funding for the Savannah River Site (SRS), the Port of Charleston's and Savannah's deepening projects and opportunities for maintenance funding for the Port of Georgetown.The bill passed 359-67 with support from S.C. Congressmen Joe Wilson, Trey Gowdy, Mick Mulvaney, Jim Clyburn, and Tom Rice; and local Georgia Congressman John Barrow. South Carolina and Georgia House members who voted against the omnibus bill included: Paul Broun (R-GA), Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Phil Gingrey (R-GA), Jack Kingston (R-GA), Mark Sanford (R-SC),and Austin Scott (R-GA).

The Senate overwhelmingly passed the 12-part omnibus spending bill 72-26 on January 16, 2014, which will fund the government through the end of September 30, 2014. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) voted in favor while Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) voted "no" and Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) did not cast a vote.The President signed the $1.1 trillion package (Fiscal Year 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act) into law on January 17, 2014.There was also a partial fix for the controversial cuts to military pensions that were included in the December budget agreement. The omnibus eliminates those cuts for both disabled veterans and for recipients of survivor's benefits. 

Now that the bill has passed, affected departments and agencies can begin the work of subtracting from their new spending figures the amount of funds that they have already used up since the fiscal year began last October, includingthe Department of Energy. At the Savannah River Site, the omnibus will provide a total of $1.134 billion, an increase of $46 million from previous requests. The reported SRS funding provided by the bill includes $432.5 million for the M&O operations; $565.5 million for tank waste cleanup activities, an increase of $13 million from the request; and $125 million for the Salt Waste Processing Facility, an increase of $33 million from the request.In addition, the bill funds the Mixed Oxide (MOX) Fuel Fabrication Facility construction  at $343.5 million, an increase of $23 million above the budget request, but a decrease of $57.5 million below last year's enacted level.Expect more to come on specific SRS funding and local contractor impacts in the near future.  

FY 2014 Defense Environmental Cleanup Funding Table

The $1.1 trillion bill marks the first time in two years that individual lawmakers have been able to put an imprint on virtually every part of thefederal budget, and they did so in ways subtle and direct.The extra money for nuclear programs is a hint of the kind of deal-making in the 1,582-page spending bill. Extremely instrumental in the deal making was Senator Graham.

Through the work of Senator Graham,the final product reined in over a $100 billion in spending over last year and as noted in the chart above rolls back federal agency spending to the final days of the Bush Administration. The noted SRS increase provisions were largely his work. This quote from the South Carolina Ports Authority President sums up Senator Graham's effort - the same can be said for his work relative to SRS."Senator Graham recognizes the rich opportunities for South Carolina when our ports remain competitive and invest in the future," said Jim Newsome, SCPA president and CEO.  "He is an incredible advocate for our state, and his efforts in the passage of this bill safeguard the progress of the Ports Authority's key strategic initiatives."

But many of those in the House also made the right vote in spite of tremendous pressure from DC based groups and other outside influences.While not everyone was happy with the bill and there was not 100% solidarity on the voting and support for SRS. South Carolina's Congressman Mulvaney summed up his "yes" vote this way "I voted for the omnibus appropriations bill today. It was far from perfect. But it marks a dramatic change in Washington. The base spending levels we approved today are $100 billion lower than those in 2008. I will say that again: when adjusted for inflation, the federal government will spend less on basic, discretionary spending this year than it did six years ago."

U.S. Senator Isakson had a similar message "I voted for the omnibus appropriations bill today because it contained several key provisions that are critically important to Georgians and the economic future of our state. In addition, the spending levels in this bill will not add to our deficit".

In summary, this bill is about creating jobs and improving infrastructure for the future economic development of both South Carolina and Georgia and more specifically the SRS. Again, more specific funding information concerning SRS will be out soon.

Will Williams is a native of Georgetown South Carolina. He graduated from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

Will began his career in 1989 with Burlington Industries in Raeford, NC as a Manufacturing Management trainee. 1991-1996 worked for Mohawk Industries in South Carolina as a shift manager, industrial engineering manager and manager of quality assurance. After that he worked seven years as an Area Director for ReadySC, a division of the SC Technical College System. In 2004-2007 he worked at the SC Department of Commerce as a project manager in the Global Business Development Division.

In 2008 he went back into the private sector as the Director of Business Development for Warren & Associates Design-Build. In 2010 he was named the Associate Director of The Economic Development Partnership that represents Aiken and Edgefield Counties.

In April of 2011 he became Director of The Partnership. He is responsible for new industrial recruitment and existing industry expansion as well as The Advanced Research Center, the first National Laboratory/County research facility in the United States. During his time at The Partnership he has been responsible for $1.4 billion in new capital investment to the region and over 1,000 new jobs. Over his career in economic development, he has been responsible for $2.3 billion in new capital investment and more than 2,000 new jobs. 

Will is a Certified Economic Developer by the State of South Carolina.

Will is a Board member of The SC Economic Developers Association. He is also an Alternate State Director for SC for the the Southern Economic Development Council. He is a member of the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce,  

North Augusta Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors,

Hitchcock Healthcare Board of Directors,

Public Education Partners Board of Directors,

Aiken Corporation Board of Directors,

Aiken Technical College Foundation Board of Directors,

Rotary Club of Aiken Board of Directors,

Lower Savannah Workforce Investment Board, and 

SRSCRO Board of Directors

Will is an Elder at First Presbyterian Church, Aiken. He is married to Ellen Williams, from Columbia SC. They have two sons. Will enjoys competing in triathlons, cycling and running events. Also plays golf, hunts, fishes and likes being outdoors.

Will has been an Economic Development Partnership's appointee to the SRSCRO Board since September 2012. He is a member of the SRSCRO Program Funding and the SRS Revitalization and Reuse Task Forces, and is a member of the Community Strategy for SRS, and the Fuel Cycle working groups.

Dr. Winsor and Dr. Miller

Starting January 2014, we welcome and recognize Dr. Susan Winsor, President of the Aiken Technical College, as the new SRSCRO Chair and Mr. Sanford Loyd, Sanford Loyd, CPA, PC as the Vice Chair.

Retiring Chair Dr. Marc Miller's guidance and leadership for the past two-years was acknowledged at our December 2013 Annual Meeting. Dr. Miller will stay at the Executive Committee as the Immediate Past Chair.

We look forward to continued success and a promising future under the direction of Dr. Winsor and Mr. Loyd.

SRSCRO Executive Director Rick McLeod (left) and Eddie Bussey

A long time SRSCRO Board member and the Secretary of the SRSCRO Executive Committee, Eddie Bussey retired from the Board. Also retiring from the SRSCRO Board at the end of 2013 were Board members Monty Philpot and Mark Wills.