Graham Receives Ronald Reagan Climate Stewardship Award

April 20, 2010

Republicans for Environmental Protection (REP), a national grassroots organization that includes many elected officials, is pleased to present Senator Lindsey Graham with its first Ronald Reagan Climate Stewardship Award.

REP gave Senator Graham the award April 20 at its Theodore Roosevelt Banquet, held at Union Station in Washington, DC.

"Senator Graham has stepped up to give America the leadership that our country needs and deserves on a critical issue that touches on our country's economic health, national security, and quality of life," REP President Rob Sisson said.

The Climate Stewardship Award honors the outstanding leadership of President Ronald Reagan, who safeguarded our climate by pushing through the Montreal Protocol treaty that began phasing out ozone depleting chemicals. That treaty has prevented the equivalent of 135 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering our atmosphere.

"Thanks to Senator Graham's courage, dedication, hard work—and his thoughtful, bipartisan approach to problem-solving—Congress is much closer to passing a climate and energy bill that will strengthen our economy, reduce harmful pollution, and move America closer to energy independence," David Jenkins, REP vice president for government and political affairs, said.

Senator Graham is the co-author of a long-awaited bill that he and two of his colleagues, Senators John Kerry and Joseph Lieberman, are expected to release in the coming week.

"Senator Graham understands, as President Reagan did, that responsible stewardship and conservation are original conservative values," said Jim DiPeso, REP vice president for policy and communications.

When faced with mounting scientific concern about ozone depletion two decades ago, President Reagan listened to all sides, carefully weighed the facts, and ultimately sided with the climate scientists who were urging him to take prudent action to safeguard our atmosphere.

The Montreal Protocol is widely regarded as the most successful environmental treaty in history.

"Reagan's leadership set a benchmark in climate stewardship that we urge all Republicans to emulate," Sisson said. "We are pleased that Senator Graham has met that test and we are honored to give him our first Ronald Reagan Climate Stewardship Award."