Sen. Lindsey Graham Honored For Conservation Efforts

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham helped unveil planned improvements to Sassafras Mountain last week, and during the ceremony received a surprise himself.

The Department of Natural Resources and a number of conservation and sportsmen's groups honored Graham for his dedication to conservation by presenting Graham with the 2012 Conservation Excellence Award.

The award praises Graham for his strong support of hunting and fishing, for his habitat protection efforts statewide and for his bi-partisan support of key programs such as the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. The resolution that awarded the honor to Graham was signed by officials from DNR, The Conservation Fund, National Wild Turkey Federation, The Nature Conservancy, Upstate Forever, Ducks Unlimited and the S.C. Wildlife Federation.

“I don't think we could ask for a stronger advocate of conservation and of outdoor recreation opportunities,” said Emily Cope, Deputy Director of DNR's Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division. “Whether it's hunting or fishing or protecting natural resources and habitat protection, Senator Graham is always very willing to go above and beyond to help us accomplish what we need to do here in South Carolina.”

DNR Director Alvin Taylor agreed.

“No elected official has done more for conservation than Senator Graham,” Taylor said. “The citizens of South Carolina will be thanking him hundreds of years from now because of his efforts to promote habitat protection and provide outdoor recreation opportunities.”
Former DNR Director John Frampton said he began working with Graham when Graham served in the State House.

“I never went to that office that I didn't get a warm reception,” Frampton said. “I never when to Lindsey Graham when he didn't support what we were doing in South Carolina, not just in habitat acquisition but in anything dealing with federal legislation. Lindsey Graham was always there. We're very, very fortunate to have him in the U.S.

“There's some real challenges he'll be facing over the next few years, with our budget the way it is, but I can tell you, he's a real steadfast supporter of conservation in South Carolina,” Frampton continued. “He understand what we're doing, because he grew up in these mountains. He's an active participant in outdoor recreation, and we don't see a lot of that in Washington.”

Graham said he has to make “a lot of hard decisions” in Washington, but working with South Carolina conservationists and sportsmen “wasn't one of them.”

“From my point of view, it's the easiest thing I've ever been asked to do, to preserve the beauty of South Carolina,” Graham said. “Sometimes it's hard getting people on board.”

Graham said he was following in the footsteps of “conservation giants,” Senators Strom Thurmond and Ernest Hollings and pledged to continue their legacies.