Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the Senate passed the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Act and the Southern Campaign of the Revolution Heritage Area Study Act. Both measures were included as part of a larger bill that included other heritage and interior-related legislation. The purpose of the Gullah/Geechee heritage corridor is to:

• Recognize the important contributions made to American culture and history by African-Americans known as the Gullah/Geechee who settled in the coastal counties of South Carolina and Georgia.
• Assist state and local governments and public and private entities in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida in interpreting the story of the Gullah/Geechee and preserving Gullah/Geechee folklore, arts, crafts, and music.
• Assist in identifying and preserving sites, historical data, artifacts, and objects associated with the Gullah/Geechee for the benefit and education of the public.

“I would like to thank my colleagues in the Senate for coming together to assist us in preserving a piece of South Carolina’s heritage,” said Graham. “It’s important we recognize the contributions of these South Carolinians and pass along their story to future generations.” “I would also like to thank my colleague Jim Clyburn for his efforts in pushing this forward,” said Graham. “He has been a tireless champion of the bill in the House and it is my hope that we will soon see this become a reality.” Graham noted that in addition to the Gullah/Geechee Heritage Corridor Act the bill also contained the Southern Campaign of the Revolution Heritage Area Study Act. The bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to study and report on the suitability and feasibility of designating specified South Carolina counties, cities, and public sites as the Southern Campaign of the Revolution Heritage Area. South Carolina has over 200 Revolutionary War sites, more than any other state, and is currently celebrating the 225th Anniversary of most of these battlegrounds. Although the Southern Campaign is considered by many the turning point of the Revolution, no heritage corridor currently exists to commemorate the Southern Campaign. The bill must now be passed by the House of Representatives and then signed into law by President Bush. ####