 
"The Land and Water Conservation Fund protects special places that people want to visit, like the Skagit River here in Washington. We make a living helping people experience these places. And visitors benefit local economies. I support full funding for the LWCF for the sake of rural communities, the tourists they draw and the nature around them."
- Rod Amundson
Owner,
Wildwater River Tours, Inc.
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- December 17, 2011 Conservation, Business and Sportsmen Groups Applaud Congressional Efforts to Protect LWCF Funding in FY12 Budget
- July 25, 2011- New Bipartisan Poll Shows Overwhelming Support Across America for Land and Water Conservation Fund
- July 13, 2011- National Bipartisan Poll Memo
- May 31, 2011- Over One-Third of the U.S. House of Representatives Sign Letter Supporting Funding for LWCF
- April 14, 2011- Conrad Anchor Testimony Release
- December 20, 2010 - Senate Urged to Join House and Pass Bill with Full Funding for Conservation Program »
- August 3, 2010 - Senate Urged to Join House and Pass Bill with Full Funding for Conservation Program »
- July 15, 2010 - House Committee Passes Bill Securing Funding for Conservation and Recreation Program »
- April 16, 2010 - America's Great Outdoors Conference Focuses on Need for Vital Land, Recreation Funding »
- February 1, 2010 - Obama's Budget Includes Key Funding for Land & Water »
- November 6, 2009 - Senate Bill Would Fulfill Longstanding Promise for Conservation and Recreation Program »
- September 17 , 2009 - Coalition Supports Conservation at House Hearing »
Trust for Public Land Lauds House Passage of Full Funding for Land and Water Conservation Fund
News Release by Tim Ahern
WASHINGTON, July 30 (AScribe Newswire) -- The Trust for Public Land, a national conservation organization, today applauded the House of Representatives for approving legislation that will provide permanent and full funding for land conservation and outdoor recreation.
The provision, included in the Consolidated Land, Energy, and Aquatic Resources Act of 2009 (CLEAR Act, HR 3534), would ensure the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), the federal government's chief means of acquiring land for the public and supporting state and local park and recreation projects, would receive its full $900 million annually.
"This legislation will revitalize this beleaguered program, which has been poorly funded and unable to address backlogged conservation and recreation needs at the local, state and federal levels," said Will Rogers, President of The Trust for Public Land "The LWCF was intended as a conservation offset for the sale of America's offshore oil and gas. It reinvests energy revenues in the protection of some of America's most precious land resources and provide close-to-home recreational opportunities for Americans in every state in the nation," said Rogers. "Given the tragic leak of oil in the Gulf of Mexico, the vision behind LWCF is more relevant than ever. We commend the leadership of the House of Representatives, Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rep. Nick J. Rahall, D-W.Va., and all House members of the House who supported the bill."
The full Senate may begin work next week on a counterpart bill (S. 3663) that would guarantee $900 million per year for LWCF through fiscal year 2015.
LWCF is supposed to receive $900 million per year, part of the offshore revenues, which typically amount to $6 billion or more annually - but has been shortchanged by Congress nearly every year, with revenues diverted to other purposes. Full funding has been appropriated only once in the 45-year history since 1964 and recently declined to a low of $138 million in 2007.
"This shortfall has resulted in a huge land protection and outdoor recreation backlog of unmet funding needs across our federal public lands, and state and local parks," said Rogers.
The Trust for Public Land is a national non-profit land conservation organization, which conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens, and other natural places, ensuring livable communities for generations to come. Since it was founded in 1972, TPL has helped protect more than 2.8 million acres in 46 states. TPL depends on the support of individuals, foundations, and corporations. For more information, visit http://www.tpl.org .
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CONTACT: Tim Ahern, The Trust for Public Land, 415-710-9095,
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