One Step Closer: America’s Most Successful Conservation Program Advances

One hundred and thirty-five days after the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) expired for the second time in three years, permanent reauthorization passed the U.S. Senate by a vote of 92-8, demonstrating strong bipartisan support for the program. This is an incredible step forward for LWCF, America’s most important and cost-effective conservation and recreation program.

The public lands package, which included the permanent reauthorization of LWCF as a key component, is the biggest conservation legislation to be considered by Congress in a decade. The carefully negotiated legislation includes bipartisan common ground that brings people together, as shown by the massive outpouring of positive press and genuine good feeling on both sides of the aisle. 

“It’s one of the biggest bipartisan wins I have ever seen in Congress.” – Chairman Grijalva (D-AZ)

“It took public lands to bring divided government together.” – Sen. Daines (R-MT)

Now we need your help to urge the House of Representatives to vote for permanent reauthorization of LWCF.

Why? Because LWCF Protects our Redwood Forests, Parks, and Wildlands.

LWCF has been expired for more than four months, at a cost of $335 million so far in funds that should be directed to conservation and recreation projects across the country.  Each additional day that LWCF remains expired is another $2.5 million lost instead of being invested in outdoor recreation, historic preservation, and public access projects.

For more than 50 years, the Land and Water Conservation Fund has served as the engine of America’s conservation and outdoor recreation movement. Without using a single taxpayer dollar, LWCF invests in our quality of life, a booming recreation economy, and our history and culture by using Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) energy revenue to conserve land and build parks.

This is America’s most important conservation program, which has protected iconic places like Muir Woods National Monument and connected people to the outdoors at the federal, state, and local levels, from coast to coast. LWCF helped make it possible for Save the Redwoods League to help expand Redwood National Park. Our work to protect Mailliard Ranch, Westfall Ranch, and other redwood forests is also made possible with funding from programs including the LWCF, leveraged with support from League members like you. Learn more about LWCF.

We can’t protect and restore the redwoods without LWCF, or without you! 

Contact Your Member of Congress

1. Please reach out to your member of Congress today.
2. Introduce yourself. Let your representative know where you are from and why you are reaching out.
3. Mention your personal connection to the parks and waterways protected by the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
4. Consider sharing any of the talking points below that resonate with you.
5. Ask your Member of Congress to support the permanent reauthorization of LWCF, and say that you’d like to see it fully funded.
6. Be sure to thank the person you are speaking to and for passing on your concerns.

Talking Points

• I strongly support the Land and Water Conservation Fund. We urge you to support immediate House action on the public lands package (S. 47) and confirm to Leadership now that you will vote for it when it is brought to the House Floor.
• Lack of consistent, dedicated full funding for LWCF means expanded hunting and fishing access will remain closed to the public and hiking, biking, climbing, and paddling routes will become overcrowded or left vulnerable to development. This hurts America’s $887 billion recreation economy and the 7.6 million American jobs on which it depends.
• The federal government, through LWCF, has long been a partner in creating urban parks across the country, particularly through State and Local assistance grants. LWCF has funded playgrounds, ball fields, and neighborhood parks providing close-to-home recreation for millions of American families. These local efforts are also on the chopping block.
• Congress must capitalize on the rare bipartisan cooperation that LWCF inspires and renew the program with full funding. Bipartisan support for LWCF in Congress has been strong and consistent for over half a century, and the recent, historic vote in the Senate further underscores this fact.
• I hope you will stand up and defend our most important conservation and recreation program, the Land and Water Conservation Fund. To do otherwise will hurt both urban and rural communities in every state.

Learn more about LWCF and why it is our nation’s most critical conservation and recreation tool.