President Obama’s for fiscal 2015 budget calls for full funding to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which has been used to build or improve thousands of athletic fields, parks and other recreational amenities since the 1970s, according to Outdoor Industry Association (OIA).
“Outdoor Industry Association applauds President Obama for his ongoing commitment to outdoor recreation, healthy lifestyles, and land conservation,” OIA said in a statement released Friday. “His 2015 federal budget proposal recognizes that meaningful investments in our nation’s public lands and waters will support businesses, communities and America’s youth.”
OIA's industry funded research shows nearly half of all Americans participate in outdoor activities, spending $646 billion on outdoor recreation every year, supporting more than 6.1 million sustainable American jobs and generating nearly $80 billion in federal, state and local tax revenue.
The administration's budget also asks for $640 million to prepare the national parks for the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service in 2016.
Lastly, the budget includes a necessary proposal to separate catastrophic wildfire expenses from management budgets, addressing the pressure agencies face to meet both management and wildfire crises on a shoestring budget.
“We commend the president for delivering a budget that understands the importance of investing in the future of America’s parks, waters and trails,” said Kirk Bailey, Vice-President of Government Affairs, Outdoor Industry Association. “As last year’s outcry over the parks and public land closures during the government shutdown demonstrated, Americans care about their public lands. We urge Congress and the administration to work together to pass a budget that sustains long-term investments in America’s parks, trails and waterways.”
