04.30.15

Grijalva, Udall Introduce Major Bill to Recruit Veterans, Underserved Communities for Environmental Conservation Programs

Washington, D.C. - House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, today introduced the Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2015. The bill expands the pool of Public Lands Corps participants to include many veterans, encourages recruitment among minority and underserved communities, makes it easier for Corps members to finish a degree before starting a full-time conservation career, and creates new programs to coordinate Corps activities at multiple federal agencies.

“Passing this bill would send a powerful message to our young people that conservation is an American legacy that belongs to everyone,” Grijalva said. “This bill is good for our country, our environment, our economy and our young people, and there’s nothing to object to anywhere in it. I encourage anyone who believes in protecting our public lands, bringing new communities into our national conservation efforts, and increasing economic opportunities to support this effort wholeheartedly. The more people we have protecting and improving our public lands, the stronger our country will be, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to see this bill become law.”

“The Public Lands Service Corps expands opportunities and provides training for young New Mexicans interested in conservation careers preserving our state’s treasured public lands and national parks,” Udall said. “Tourism and the outdoors industry create jobs and help drive the economy in many New Mexico communities. This bill will boost employment, and modernizing the Corps will help inspire a new generation of conservation leaders through public service -- all while combatting youth unemployment and helping to enhance our public lands.”

The Public Lands Corps, established by the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993, has employed thousands of young people around the country to repair and restore our national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, historic sites, and other public and tribal lands. Today’s bill modernizes the Corps by attracting new participants, especially from underrepresented populations, authorizing the creation of a new Indian Youth Service Corps to increase Native American conservation of tribal and other public land, allowing the National Marine Fisheries Service to employ Corps personnel to support the National Marine Sanctuary System, and making other improvements.

The Corps was established to address a massive public lands maintenance backlogs, but years of inadequate funding have prevented agencies from completing the work. By directly engaging youth in the conservation and maintenance of public lands, the bill restores the nation’s natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational and scenic resources while training a new generation of public land managers and enthusiasts.

According to a November 2014 analysis by the Department of Labor, the unemployment rate among youth ages 16-24 in the United States is nearly 14.3 percent. That rate is nearly triple the national average of 5.5 percent. Today’s bill seeks to increase youth employment and continue to improve our nation’s public lands through an already successful program.

“Senator Udall and Representative Grijalva are both long-time champions of Service and Conservation Corps,” said Mary Ellen Sprenkel, President and CEO of The Corps Network. ”The Corps Network is fortunate to have their support. The Public Lands Service Corps Act would make it easier for the federal land management agencies to partner with Corps to accomplish important and much-needed projects on our public lands and to develop the next – and more diverse – generation of resource managers and stewards, much as the Civilian Conservation Corps did during the Great Depression.”

“The Public Lands Service Corps Act will strengthen the Arizona Conservation Corps’ ability to engage Arizona’s young people and Veterans to complete mission critical projects in partnership with federal land management agencies,” said Rob Spath, Executive Director of the Arizona Conservation Corps. “At the same time these young people and Veterans will maintain Arizona’s treasures, they will build their own skills and experiences, contributing to a strong and health workforce and economy.”

“We are fortunate to have such strong support from our lawmakers in New Mexico,” said Ben Thomas, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps. “They are helping to blaze paths for our state’s young people to get the support, job training, and education they need to be successful in life. The Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2015 will enable Corps across the country, like New Mexico's Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, to continue forging critical partnerships with America's land managing agencies.”

House cosponsors include Reps. Sam Farr (D-Calif.), Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.) and Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.). Senate cosponsors include Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.). The bill is supported by the National Parks Conservation Association, the Sierra Club, the National Education Association, New Mexico's Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, and the Public Lands Service Coalition, which includes the Southwest Conservation Corps and the Arizona Conservation Corps.