Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) reintroduced legislation last week to fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), according to Outdoor Industry Association.
The bill, S. 1265, is identical to legislation defeated in the last Congress but for the addition of a sportsmens provision which sets aside 1.5 percent of the Fund to allow for access projects for hunting, fishing, hiking, and other recreation activities, OIA reported.
“This bill is a common-sense approach to preserving our clean water, hunting, hiking and outdoor heritage without asking taxpayers to foot the bill,” said Montana Senator Max Baucus (D), one of four cosponsors on the bill. The other cosponsors are democratic Senators Jon Tester (MT), Mark Udall (CO), and Ron Wyden (OR).
LWCF is financed annually by a percentage of offshore oil and gas revenues, but remains at the whim of congressional appropriations. Despite President Obamas call for full funding last year, the legislation faces an uphill battle in a divided Congress focused on reducing federal spending.
LWCF has received the full $900 million appropriation only once in its 45-year history.
