UPDATE 7/15:
On June 17th the Senate overwhelmingly voted to pass legislation to fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) passed the Senate by a vote of (73-25), and will now move on to the House of Representatives, where the bill has the support of a bipartisan majority (Currently 232 Cosponsors).
On July 13th, Majority Leader Hoyer announced that the House will consider and vote on GAOA on Wednesday, July 22nd. We are looking forward to this landmark legislation passing the House with great bipartisan support.
—————————————————————————————————————-
March 24, 2020
It has been a roller coaster few weeks in the world of public lands with our efforts to fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) reaching a tipping point in early March. Right now the current global pandemic has us all focused on how to best support our local communities and loved ones, and remain optimistic at an incredibly challenging time, while Congress is focused on immediate rescue and relief efforts. But we remain hopeful that LWCF permanent funding legislation will advance and we are working with legislative champions to secure an opportunity whenever that becomes feasible. Here’s an update on recent developments, so you can help us pick back up where we left off -- on the brink of success!
Support from the Administration
For the past year the LWCF Coalition has been working with bipartisan champions on Capitol Hill to advance the Land and Water Conservation Fund Permanent Funding Act. There has been unprecedented bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress with 233 cosponsors in the House and 59 in the Senate. Both H.R. 3195 and S. 1081 have passed through their respective committees and await to be called on the floor for votes.
On March 3, President Trump announced via Twitter that he would sign permanent LWCF funding legislation and funding for maintenance at our National Parks, asking Congress to send him such a bill ASAP. This surprise was the result of a meeting he had with LWCF champions Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Steve Daines (R-MT) who touted the benefits of the program and impact it has on their states. This was a hugely pivotal moment for our Coalition -- the publicly-announced support of a President for LWCF permanent funding legislation that was ready to go and put it on the fast track.
Pacific Crest Trail, CA Credit: Bob Wick, BLM
Great American Outdoors Act
Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) wasted no time and immediately responded by introducing a new bill that will address both issues: LWCF and deferred maintenance funding. Introduced on March 9, 2020, with 56 original bipartisan cosponsors, the Great American Outdoors Act (S. 3422) would provide full, dedicated funding for LWCF, as well as provide funding for the maintenance backlog on our federal public lands.
LWCF and maintenance funding have always been viewed as two sides of the same coin -- both are required for our parks, refuges, forests and highly visited public lands to flourish, by protecting and developing their resources while providing increased access for all to enjoy. This legislation would guarantee that all the funds deposited into LWCF each year are spent on conservation and recreation priorities in every state and almost all counties in the country. To address backlogged maintenance on our federal public lands, the bill would establish the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Fund, which would direct up to $9.5 billion over five years to address priority repairs in national parks and on other public lands. Supporters from across the country are thrilled that both permanent LWCF and deferred maintenance funding are within reach. To learn more read our press release and quotes from LWCF Coalition partners. S. 3422 currently has 59 bipartisan cosponsors and was teed up for Senate Floor consideration just before coronavirus began having serious impacts across the country. It remains, for now, “in the queue.”
Ruby River, MT Credit Jodi Stemler
Share the Love and Take Action
In the weeks and months to come, our nation’s parks, trails, and outdoor spaces will be integral to our country's coping and recovery. We see a great number of partner groups, individuals, families, and countless others sharing how being outside has refreshed their spirits, whether it is walking their dog, going on a run, fishing a river, going on a bike ride, or other socially distant activities in public open space. Now, more than ever, we need to safeguard the funding that goes towards our public lands and guarantee we are providing access for our people who need these places for their mental, physical, and emotional health.
Likewise, the outdoor recreation economy supported by LWCF has taken a huge hit with the shutdown of travel and tourism across the U.S. Businesses small and large, in urban and rural communities, will need further investment to aid in their recovery, expand access to public lands and close-to-home recreation opportunities to accommodate resurgent visitation without crowding, and restore jobs and create new ones to help stabilize the broader economy.
We encourage our partners and LWCF supporters across the country to continue to share their love of public lands on social media and the great places protected by LWCF. Keeping up the energy around this issue will be important in the coming weeks and months. Take action by signing our current letter to Congress. Don’t forget to tag us and use #FundLWCF. We all love seeing inspiring photos of our public lands!
Chattahoochee River NRA, GA Credit: NPS