The House Appropriations Committee voted to eliminate funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund in the proposed 2006 budget. Since LWCF was created by Congress 40 years ago, the program has funded 40,000 parks in 98% of the counties in the nation. LWCF used off-shore oil and gas royalties to create and protect America’s parks, forests, and wildlife refuges. The funds used by the LWCF are a match, dollar-for-dollar, with new and existing state programs, doubling the funding and effectiveness of these programs.

“In 2000, President Bush pledged full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. This year, he walked away from that pledge, recommending zeroing out the state grant portion of the program. And today, the House Appropriations Committee has taken it one step further, eliminating both federal and state LWCF grants in their Interior Appropriations Bill,” said OIA President, Frank Hugelmeyer.

In other political news, OIA has issued a statement commending Senator Alexander of Tennessee and Senator Landrieu of Louisiana for their reintroduction of the Americans Outdoors Act in Washington D.C. If the Act is passed, it will establish a trust fund providing $1.43 billion in guaranteed annual funding, including full support for the LWCF, which was zeroed out earlier.

“Research has shown that accessibility to trails and recreation opportunities is directly related to increased physical activity and thus healthier Americans,” said Hugelmeyer. “We stand united to endorse the power and promise of this major legislative vehicle to reduce inactivity and promote health and wellness through increased access to quality parks and recreation.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity and inactivity account for $75 billion in health care costs each year. The President has identified reducing obesity as a key federal goal, instructing federal agencies to implement strategies to reduce this costly epidemic. OIA has pointed out that outdoor recreation is a means for reducing the impact of this epidemic.