Senator Larry Craig

2002 Industry Partnership Award

Larry Crag was born on the family ranch in Idaho, which was homesteaded in 1899 by his grandfather. After graduating from the University of Idaho where he served as Student Body President, he pursued graduate studies before returning to the family ranching business in 1971. In 1974, the people of Payette and Washington counties elected him to the Idaho State Senate, where he served three terms before winning the 1980 race as representative from Idaho’s First Congressional District. He was reelected four times before winning election to the U.S. Senate in 1990. In his first term in office, he quickly rose to the fourth highest Senate leadership position when his colleagues elected him Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee.

Re-elected to the Senate in 1996, Senator Craig has emerged as a leader in the battle for the Balanced Amendment to the Constitution, limited taxation, private property rights, and greater accountability in government. With his appointment to the Senate Appropriations Committee, he oversees funding on numerous subcommittees, including Energy and Water Development, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Military Construction, Agriculture, and Rural Development, among others.

As a member of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Senator Craig has proven to be a staunch supporter of the mining industry. He is the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Forests and Public Land Management, and is a member of the Subcommittee on Energy Research, Development, Production and Regulation, and the Subcommittee on Water and Power. In addition to his committee membership, Senator Craig sits on many caucuses and the Western States Senate Coalition. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the National Rifle Association and co-founded and co-chairs the Congressional Property Rights Coalition.

As a westerner and former rancher, Senator Craig plays a leading role in the formation of natural resource and energy policies. He has gained a national reputation as a stalwart against environmental extremism and has been a firm supporter of the Mining Law of 1872. He is married to the former Suzanne Thompson. They have three children - two sons, Mike and Jay, a daughter, Shae, and five beautiful grandchildren.

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