Bipartisan Senate bill would fund vital conservation program
Senate bill would provide stable funding for Land and Water Conservation Fund
WASHINGTON, April 9, 2019 ---- A Senate bill to fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund was introduced today by a bipartisan group of 14 Senators. The Wilderness Society applauds the bill, which would ensure stable and consistent funding for our nation’s premier program that preserves park land and access to recreation sites ranging from local ballfields to national battlefields, all at no cost to taxpayers.
Earlier this year, Congress approved and the president signed a public lands bill, S. 47, that permanently reauthorizes the program.
Statement from Jamie Williams, President, The Wilderness Society
“These 14 cosponsors from across the political spectrum demonstrate the broad support and sweeping benefits of this program for outdoor recreation, for wild places and for local communities. The Land and Water Conservation Fund has provided benefits nationwide that span geographic and political divides.”
Created in 1965, the Land and Water Conservation Fund leverages a small portion of public off-shore oil royalties to invest in national and local parks, neighborhood rec centers and access to hard-to-reach public lands. This program has delivered benefits to virtually every county in the United States.
CONTACT: Michael Reinemer, Michael_reinemer@tws.org, (202) 429-3949
The Wilderness Society is the leading conservation organization working to protect wilderness and inspire Americans to care for our wild places. Founded in 1935, and now with more than one million members and supporters, The Wilderness Society has led the effort to permanently protect 109 million acres of wilderness and to ensure sound management of our shared national lands. Visit www.wilderness.org.
