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Senate Committee Backs Extension of Federal Conservation Fund
Updated on Oct. 2
The US Senate Energy and Resources Committee approved a bill on Tuesday, Oct. 2, to permanently reauthorize the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund and provide money to fully pay for it.
The fun had lapsed on Sunday, Sept. 30, despite bipartisan efforts to permanently reauthorize the conservation measure before that deadline.
The bill now goes to the full Senate for a vote.
Earlier in September, the US House Committee on Natural Resources passed H.R. 502, which would permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The bill still needs to be voted on by the full House of Representatives.
“This is a taste of what’s possible when people work together in good faith. Days like these are far too rare in Congress, and if we keep this up we might just restore public trust in Congress’ ability to get things done,” Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), ranking member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, said in a press release. “Thanks to a lot of hard work on both sides, the days of LWCF being a political football could end very soon and our national parks can start getting the maintenance funding they sorely need. I’d like to thank Chairman Bishop for the chance to work together on this. I hope we get to do it again.”
The fund, which comes from earnings from offshore oil and gas leasing, supports tens of thousands of national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and recreation areas. These grants have funded projects in every county in the country. This includes our cherished long-distance trails across the US.
Contact your local rep and urge them to vote in favor of bill H.R. 502 to pass the LWCF.
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