Congress must lead to preserve recreation and conservation programs. In fewer than 100 days, the nation’s Land and Water Conservation Fund will run out of money
By Norm Dicks / The Seattle Times / 6.20.2015
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]ime is running out for America’s premier conservation and outdoor recreation program. There are fewer than 100 days until the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) expires after 50 years of strong bipartisan support. This wonderful federal program works to secure our natural areas, water resources and cultural heritage, and helps open our public lands for outdoor recreation.
Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell addresses the importance of the Land and Water Conservation Fund and its role in our public lands for outdoor recreation uses.
The fund is built on a simple idea: As we sell off one natural resource owned by the public, we should reinvest some of that money into opening our natural treasures for future generations. The program is entirely funded with royalties from offshore drilling. This means that the LWCF does not receive a dime of taxpayer money. Instead, each year, $900 million from the drilling leases paid by oil and gas companies is supposed to be invested in parks and outdoor recreation for all Americans.
