House-Proposed Cuts Will Impact Water Quality, Historic Sites, Working Ranches and Forests, Recreation Access and Local Economies

            If enacted, the Committee's proposed cuts would devastate the LWCF program that provides funding to safeguard natural areas, water resources and our cultural heritage, and to provide recreation opportunities to all Americans. Land conservation projects in almost every state in the nation are pending the outcome of the FY 2011 budget process, with willing-seller landowners patiently waiting for funding to complete conservation sales. At risk are projects that protect water quality, Civil War battlefields, working ranches and forests and critical natural resources, state and local parks, as well as those that ensure access to public lands for hunters, fishermen and outdoor recreationists.

       "Our government needs to live within its means, just like our businesses are doing. But the choice to slash funding for LWCF cripples a program proven to support millions of sustainable, American jobs -- jobs in every community, urban and rural, across our country," said Frank Hugelmeyer, president and CEO of the Outdoor Industry Association. "On Main Streets across America, sales for specialty outdoor retailers grew 6.3 percent in 2010. Chopping funding for parks, trails and greenways is a direct threat to small businesses and the jobs they create."

       Outdoor recreation, much of which takes place on local, state and federal lands protected by LWCF, is vital to our nation's economy. Hunting, fishing, camping, climbing, hiking, paddling, backcountry skiing, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, and other activities contribute a total of $730 billion annually to the economy, supporting 6.5 million jobs (1 of every 20 jobs in the U.S.) and stimulating 8 percent of all consumer spending according to the Outdoor Industry Foundation. In addition, a Department of Interior report from 2010 found that 20 jobs are created for every $1 million invested in our recreation economy each year. Full funding of LWCF at $900 million would potentially create tens of thousands of recreation jobs in our local communities each year.

       "Investing in the great outdoors will show a huge return. Funding things like the Land and Water Conservation Fund allows businesses like mine to hire more employees which will help more Americans get outdoors. And that will make both our people and our public lands healthier," commented Ashley Korenblat, President of Western Spirit Cycling in Moab, Utah.

       With the proposal announced by the House Appropriations Committee, Congress is taking a further step towards taking away from the American people the funding they were promised years ago. LWCF is already paid for through a small portion of annual receipts from offshore oil and gas drilling, not taxpayer dollars. It is authorized to receive $900 million a year from revenues that typically average over $6 billion annually but is subject to the approval of Congress. Because the program has rarely reached its authorized level of expenditure, there is a $17 billion credit of unspent LWCF funding in the U.S. Treasury.

       The Land and Water Conservation Fund Coalition is an informal partnership working together to support full and dedicated funding for LWCF. The coalition includes hundreds of local, state and national business, recreation, private landowner and conservation organizations across the country.

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       CONTACT: Jodi Stemler, 703-915-1386

 

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