Yesterday, 1 October 2018, the Land and Water Conservation Fund expired. It's insane to me that programs like that do expire, but that's another point. ESPECIALLY programs that don't cost the taxpayers any money and are for the good of all people.
If you've never heard of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), here's the basic primer.
The LWCF "is a Federal program that was established by Act of Congress in 1965 to provide funds and matching grants to federal, state and local governments for the acquisition of land and water, and easements on land and water, for the benefit of all Americans. The main emphases of the fund are recreation and the protection of national natural treasures in the forms of parks and protected forest and wildlife areas." [source]
So the whole point of the LWCF is basically to secure land for the enjoyment of the general public. Which is pretty awesome, in my opinion, and those politicians in the 1960s maybe got a few things right.
So far, in the last 50 years, the LWCF has protected 5 million acres of land all over the country. You can see a map of all the projects HERE that was put together by The Wilderness Society.
Funding for LWCF comes energy company royalties. Oil and gas companies pay royalties to the federal government to conduct offshore drilling. A portion of those revenues goes to fund the LWCF. That money is then used to buy land for public access and use. So at no cost to me or you the taxpayers (and at no additional cost to the energy companies - because they were paying this money anyway), we get funding for conservation works, parks, public lands, and other related projects. This is everything.
And Congress got lazy and let it lapse. It isn't the first time. And maybe it won't be the last time. But honestly it SHOULD be the last time. Permanent reauthorization of the LWCF is a no-brainer and tell your Senators/Representatives as much.
There are currently multiple bills that have been introduced.
2) S.896 "A bill to permanent reauthorize LWCF"
Less legalese updates can be found on the LWCF Coalition page HERE.
It seems likely that they will come to an agreement, and permanent funding could be possible. But continued support and action is important so keep telling your Senators & Reps!
Take action by signing the LWCF Coalition Letter HERE.
News articles:
Expired: Congress Fails to Reauthorize Land and Water Conservation Fund GearJunkie, 10/1/2018
Congress allows parks program to expire over the weekend Think Progress, 10/1/2018
More information:
The Wilderness Society, accessed 2 October 2018
Continental Divide Trail Coalition, accessed 2 October 2018
Pacific Crest Trail Association, accessed 2 October 2018
The Nature Conservancy, accessed 2 October 2018
The Wilderness Society, accessed 2 October 2018
Wikipedia, accessed 2 October 2018
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