U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich are urging the leaders of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to permanently reauthorize and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) as negotiations take place between the Senate and the House to forge a compromise on the Energy Policy Modernization Act. The Senate version of the energy reform bill included language to permanently reauthorize the LWCF. In a letter, Udall urged committee leaders to ensure the provision is included in the final compromise legislation.
Udall and Heinrich have long advocated for the permanent reauthorization and full funding of the LWCF. The innovative conservation initiative has helped to preserve public lands, create and expand city parks and provide access to outdoor recreation in New Mexico and across the nation. Studies show the LWCF also benefits the economy — for every $1 invested, local communities see a $4 return.
In their letter to Committee leaders, Senators Udall, Heinrich, Jon Tester and Michael Bennet highlighted the importance of the LWCF to preserving the nation’s outdoor heritage. They urged their colleagues to advocate for the permanent reauthorization provision, as well as mandatory full funding for the initiative.
“For the last 50 years, LWCF has been one of our nation’s most successful conservation tools. LWCF has supported projects that increase opportunities for hunting, fishing, and other forms of outdoor recreation in every state in the nation,” the senators wrote. “From increasing access to our public lands for hunting, fishing and recreation to funding urban parks to protecting our cultural heritage, LWCF strengthens our economy and enhances quality of life in our communities.”
They added, “Despite high profile attempts to transfer federal lands to states, we firmly believe that keeping public lands in public hands is key to maintaining our western way of life.”
A copy of the letter is available below and here.
