Personal View: Portman's record on conservation speaks for itself JIM SAMUEL Jim Samuel As an active sportsman and waterfowl hunter, protecting our environment and preserving our natural resources here in Ohio, across the country and around the world is of the utmost importance to me. At the same time, I believe it is critically important that we continue to strengthen our economy by creating new jobs, investing in infrastructure and growing Ohio industries. Fortunately, we do not have to choose between increasing conservation efforts and creating new economic opportunities for hardworking Ohioans. The right policies at the local, state and federal level will help us meet both of these laudable goals — keeping our water, air and lands clean while powering a stronger, more resilient 21st-century economy. To that end, Ohio is fortunate to have a leader in conservation working in Washington to promote common-sense, bipartisan policies that safeguard our planet's most vulnerable natural resources in a thoughtful, pro-growth way. U.S. Sen. Rob Portman deserves to be recognized for his efforts to protect and preserve the environment, here in Ohio and globally.