Rep. Van Drew, Chair Grijalva, Bipartisan Congressional Coalition Introduce Legislation to Fully Fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund

Washington D.C. – Rep. Jeff Van Drew (D-N.J.), Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and a bipartisan group of Congressional lawmakers and environmental leaders announced the introduction of The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Permanent Funding Act at a recently concluded press conference this morning at the U.S. Capitol. The bill fully funds LWCF at its authorized level of $900 million annually, which Congress routinely fails to do despite the program’s broad bipartisan support and decades of successful land conservation at the local, state and federal levels.

In addition to Grijalva, original cosponsors of the bill include Vice Chair Deb Haaland (D-N.M.), Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Rep. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (D-CNMI), Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.), Rep. TJ Cox (D-Calif.), Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and Rep. John Katko (R-N.Y.). Huffman, Fitzpatrick and Zeldin spoke at this morning’s event. Additional cosponsors include Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.).

The full text of Van Drew’s H.R. 3195 is available at https://bit.ly/2wOF9qf. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, introduced S. 1081, the Senate companion, on April 9.

“This bill is the epitome of everything it means to work together in a bipartisan way to get things done here in Congress. It is an example of something that we CAN agree on. Together with Rep. Fitzpatrick, Chair Grijalva, and many others, we figured out a way to get something done that means something, that won’t cost a single tax payer dollar, and that protects our parks and lands,” said Rep. Van Drew. “For over 50 years, the Land and Water Conservation Fund has invested over $350 million for some of New Jersey’s most significant natural areas such as the Cape May National Wildlife Refuge which provides access for recreational hunting, fishing and other outdoor experiences like birding. Permanently reauthorizing LWCF was an important step, but now we need to finish the job and ensure that the funds intended to create parks and protect open spaces actually get utilized for those purposes. Our bipartisan bill is a win for taxpayers, good governance and future generations of Americans.”

“The ongoing bipartisan support for LWCF is really a testament to the work of the people here today,” Grijalva said at the event. “I’m grateful for the leadership of Rep. Van Drew, who is championing this bill. We need to pass this legislation to ensure that LWCF can live up to its full potential.”

A livestream of the press conference is available at http://bit.ly/2Wx44Op. Photos of the press conference can be found at http://bit.ly/2I9jhfz.

The public lands package that became law earlier this year included permanent LWCF reauthorization, which ensures that the program does not become a political football in future years but does not assure full funding. LWCF, which is funded by a royalty on oil and gas extracted from federal waters in the Outer Continental Shelf, is authorized to spend $900 million annually on state, local and national conservation projects, but Congress has routinely underfunded the program by 50 percent or more each year.

“Supporting local communities with the resources to build parks and public spaces improves the quality of life for families in New Mexico and across the country, but Congress has repeatedly shortchanged the Land and Water Conservation Fund,” said Committee Vice Chair Deb Haaland. “It’s a no brainer – by guaranteeing full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, we’ll support our local neighborhoods in their efforts to improve public safety, promote healthy families and build strong communities.”

“National treasures across the country, including the Point Reyes National Seashore, Redwood National Park, and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in my congressional district, as well as countless state parks, trails, and recreation areas, have all been protected for the public thanks to the wildly successful Land and Water Conservation Fund,” said Rep. Huffman. “Unfortunately, LWCF is chronically underfunded, leaving a long list of projects and communities waiting for funding. Our bipartisan Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Permanent Funding Act would provide certainty to LWCF and allow future generations to continue to be able to enjoy the great outdoors.”

“The American people believe in preserving our lands, and I'm proud to stand with a bipartisan group of my colleagues to introduce this vital legislation to protect our natural resources,” said Rep. Cox. “Now, more than ever, we must combat the administration’s attacks on our public lands. The LWCF Permanent Funding Act will ensure the LWCF receives guaranteed funding needed to protect our national parks and lands that are vital to our communities. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this important legislation.”

“The Land and Water Conservation Fund has been one of our country’s most important conservation programs since 1964, protecting millions of acres of our shared public lands in all 50 states,” said Rep. Lowenthal. “I was thrilled to see the LWCF permanently reauthorized through passage of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act in March 2019, and I applaud Rep. Van Drew for his introduction of legislation to provide permanent, full funding for the program. A reliable funding stream will finally provide the long-term stability needed to ensure that we can continue to protect our nation’s remaining open spaces for future generations.”

“The Land and Water Conservation Fund is the single most impactful conservation tool we have at our disposal as a nation today – but only if it is fully and consistently funded,” said Rep. Gallego. “As the father of a 2-year-old who lives in the shadow of South Mountain Park, I know firsthand the importance of sharing our special public places with the next generation, and passing this bill to fully and permanently fund the LWCF will continue to make that American tradition possible.”

“Central New York is home to cherished national parks and protected areas that provide recreational spaces and drive tourism to the region,” said Rep. Katko. “The Land and Water Conservation Fund is absolutely crucial for sustaining the longevity of these spaces and I have always been a staunch supporter of funding this program. I am proud to support this initiative that permanently subsidizes the LWCF and ensures America’s public lands are enjoyed for years to come.”

“Since its establishment over 50 years ago, the Land and Water Conservation Fund has promoted recreational activity and contributed to our nation’s robust economy, along with conserving our national parks, forests, and critical wildlife areas,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick. “I fought for reauthorization of this fund which affects 98 percent of counties in the United States and encompasses 1 in 15 American jobs. Now I’m fighting to fully fund the LWCF so we can address conservation and recreational access needs across the country.”

“In Suffolk County alone, the Land and Water Conservation Fund has provided funding for over 65 parks, supporting public access, fishing, hunting, recreation and our environment without taking a dime of taxpayer money," said Rep. Zeldin. "On Long Island, our coastal economy is a vital component of our overall economy, and clean water, land and air are essential priorities all protected by the LWCF. I’ve been proud to help lead the fight to permanently reauthorize this important fund in the House, and now it’s time to ensure LWCF receives the vital funding it needs each and every year.”

The LWCF Permanent Funding Act is supported by a broad coalition of environmental organizations:

“LWCF is particularly important for Latino communities that traditionally lack equitable access to green and open spaces,” Jenny Brandt, Deputy Director, Conservation Programs, Hispanic Access Foundation. “This program increases access to local, state, and national parks for Latino communities - increasing opportunities for physical activity, places to gather with their families and communities, and recreational activities. For many Latinos and other diverse communities, sites funded through LWCF often provide their only means to experience the outdoors because this program directly supports local and municipal parks and projects."

“The Land and Water Conservation Fund was permanently reauthorized because people across the country overwhelmingly support LWCF and the benefits it provides to communities,” said Tiernan Sittenfeld, the Senior Vice President for Government Affairs with the League of Conservation Voters. “Now it’s time to keep up the momentum and ensure LWCF gets the funding it deserves. LWCF deserves full, guaranteed funding at $900 million every single year so our growing population can have more parks and public lands to boost the outdoor recreation economy and quality of life for all communities. We thank Rep. Van Drew, Chairman Grijalva and the bipartisan cosponsors of this legislation and have every confidence the pro-environment House of Representatives will lead the way to full funding for America’s best parks program.”

“Every dollar diverted from fully funding LWCF at $900 million a year is a lost opportunity to maintain and bolster our public lands and the $887 billion outdoor recreation economy that millions of Americans depend upon for their livelihoods and well-being,” said Patricia Rojas-Ungar, vice president of government affairs for Outdoor Industry Association (OIA). “OIA and our members support the bill’s sponsors. Jeff Van Drew (D-N.J.) and Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and all the bipartisan leaders working tirelessly to fully fund LWCF and ensure we seize the opportunity to create landscape connectivity, invest in our hiking and biking trails, provide funding for playgrounds, ballfields, and community gardens and more. We urge everyone who cares about getting outside on our public lands and the businesses and communities who rely on the outdoor recreation economy to contact their representatives in Congress and tell them to get LWCF fully funded.”

“We know that connecting with nature is linked to stronger communities and improved health, and the introduction of a bill that would fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund is terrific news,” said Diane Regas, President and CEO of The Trust for Public Land. “Full and dedicated funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund would mean more access to nature for more people in every state in our country.”

“No other conservation program can boast the diversity of benefits and benefactors like the Land and Water Conservation Fund, from local economic development, to urban greenspace, to the conservation of our nation’s most prized natural wonders, to climate resiliency and infrastructure cost-savings, all at no expense to the taxpayer,” said Jamie Williams, President of the Wilderness Society. “Simply put: The Land and Water Conservation Fund has provided benefits that span geographic, social and political divides.”

“The Land and Water Conservation Fund is America's most successful conservation program, helping protect national parks, conserve watersheds and create new outdoor recreation opportunities for communities,” said Kameran Onley, Director of U.S. Government Relations at The Nature Conservancy. “But that success has always been hampered by low and inconsistent funding for LWCF. These bills in the House and Senate will change that. Congress delivered a major win for conservation earlier this year when it permanently reauthorized LWCF, and it can deliver another win by ensuring LWCF will have full and dedicated funding. We look forward to working with lawmakers to make sure LWCF has the funding it needs to continue conserving our treasured natural landscapes for generations to come.”

“The Land and Water Conservation Fund has benefitted nearly all Americans who like to get outside, protecting iconic places from the Gauley River in West Virginia to the San Onofre State Beach in California. Building on the momentum of the public lands package, the bipartisan Land and Water Conservation Fund Permanent Funding Act honors the original promise of the program by providing permanent funding to create new parks, trails, and public lands. At a time when resources for public lands are in decline, this bill provides stable funding that is critically needed for recreation and conservation projects,” said Adam Cramer, Executive Director of Outdoor Alliance.

“Securing permanent authorization for LWCF was a significant milestone, but it means very little without predictable, robust funding to unlock inaccessible public lands and create new outdoor recreation opportunities all across the country,” said Whit Fosburgh, President and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “We’re grateful to see lawmakers respond to this fact and remain committed to the success of this important program.”

“BHA members all across the United States are more aware than ever about the critical role LWCF plays in our hunting and angling opportunities, fish and wildlife populations and shared lands and waters. We remain committed to seeing a full, dedicated funding bill passed and signed into law,” said Land Tawney, President and CEO, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.

“Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) projects have protected and expanded recreation access for all activities across the country,” said Jessica Wahl, Executive Director of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable. “Mandatory funding for the LWCF will unleash the program’s true potential – ensuring local communities and economies that depend on sustainable outdoor recreation will continue to flourish – and we stand ready to work with Congress to get this critical measure across the finish line.”

“Protecting our public lands for future generations is essential, but it’s by no means guaranteed, especially as long as these funds are redirected away from their intended uses,” said Jonathan Asher, Government Relations Director at The Wilderness Society and a spokesman for the LWCF Coalition. “Without strong, consistent funding, our public lands will be under the constant threat of development.”

Press Contact

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