WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today received a letter of appreciation from Dr. Jim Rothnie and Dale Threatt-Taylor, Chair of the Board of Trustees and Executive Director of the South Carolina Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, indicating their appreciation of Senator Graham’s work supporting the Great American Outdoors Act. The legislation passed with bipartisan support earlier this week.

“On behalf of The Nature Conservancy of South Carolina’s Board of Trustees and our 9,000 members statewide, we write to thank you for your votes this week in support of the Great American Outdoors Act and your long-standing commitment to conservation,” wrote the Chairman and Executive Director.

“As you know, in South Carolina, LWCF has helped create, improve or open additional acres to public access at Caesars Head and Jones Gap state parks in the Upstate, Congaree National Park in the Midlands, and coastal destinations, including Francis Marion National Forest and Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge,” the Chairman and Executive Director continued. “Our state residents and visitors enjoy countless boat ramps, neighborhood ballfields, and community parks across the state thanks to this program. Passage of the GAOA will ensure these areas continue to thrive.

“The funding that the GAOA provides for our lands and waters is an investment in America that will yield benefits across the country,” the Chairman and Executive Director concluded.

#####

Full text of the letter is included below.

Dear Senator Graham,

On behalf of The Nature Conservancy of South Carolina’s Board of Trustees and our 9,000 members statewide, we write to thank you for your votes this week in support of the Great American Outdoors Act and your long-standing commitment to conservation. 

Passage of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) will ensure that people throughout the United States are able to enjoy the wonders to be found in our national parks and other natural areas. As you know, in South Carolina, LWCF has helped create, improve or open additional acres to public access at Caesars Head and Jones Gap state parks in the Upstate, Congaree National Park in the Midlands, and coastal destinations, including Francis Marion National Forest and Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. Our state residents and visitors enjoy countless boat ramps, neighborhood ballfields, and community parks across the state thanks to this program. Passage of the GAOA will ensure these areas continue to thrive.

The Nature Conservancy has been heartened to see so many different organizations and businesses come together to support the GAOA, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other champions of American business who understand the importance of the outdoor recreation industry to the country’s economy. That industry generates more than $778 billion in annual economic output in the United States and accounts for well over 5 million jobs. The funding that the GAOA provides for our lands and waters is an investment in America that will yield benefits across the country.

Thank you again to you and your staff for your support. After the Great American Outdoors Act is signed into law, we look forward to finding an opportunity to celebrate. 

Sincerely,

Dr. Jim Rothnie

Chair of the Board of Trustees     

Dale Threatt-Taylor

Executive Director