Strong bipartisan bill provides path to fund vital land and water conservation

WASHINGTON, March 4, 2020 ----- A Senate bill announced today would combine S.1081, the Land and Water Conservation Fund Permanent Funding Act, and S.500, the Restore Our Parks Act, to permanently dedicate full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, at $900 million a year, while addressing a backlog of maintenance needs for our National Parks.

Statement from Jamie Williams, President, The Wilderness Society

“With this strongly bipartisan bill, Congress has an opportunity to permanently and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a successful conservation program whose funds have been raided and diverted year after year. It’s time for our leaders to stand up, break the logjam in Washington, and pass this bill. People across the country who love their parks and public lands will be watching.”

The Land and Water Conservation Fund, instituted more than 50 years ago, was created to offset the use and damage to public resources from offshore oil drilling, at no expense to the taxpayer.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund and the push in Congress for full, permanent funding is a result of long-term and recent bipartisan champions. This legislation would provide stable and consistent funding that will help ensure that ready-to-go, well-vetted conservation projects and critical needs can move ahead and not stall due to inconsistent funding levels.

The Wilderness Society, founded in 1935, is the leading conservation organization working to protect wilderness and inspire Americans to care for our wild places. With more than one million members and supporters, The Wilderness Society has led the effort to permanently protect 111 million acres of wilderness and to ensure sound management of our shared national lands. www.wilderness.org.   

Contact: Kerry Leslie, Regional Communications Manager

ph: 415 398-1484, kerry_leslie@tws.org