For immediate release
June 12, 2019
Contact: Steve Moyer, (571) 274-0593, smoyer@tu.org
Corey Fisher, (406) 546-2979, cfisher@tu.org
House Unveils Bill to Fully Fund LWCF
June 12, 2019 (Washington DC) — A bipartisan coalition introduced legislation Tuesday to permanently and fully fund the popular Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The move comes on the heels of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, which permanently authorized the program in February.
The legislation is sponsored by Rep. Jeff Van Drew (D-NJ), and is supported by members of Congress from both sides of the aisle, including Reps. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (D-MP), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Debra Haaland (D-MN) TJ Cox (D-CA), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), John Katko (R-NY) and Lee Zeldin (R-NY).
Since 1965, LWCF has been one of America’s most successful conservation and recreation programs, funding access sites for famous fisheries like the Madison River in Montana, LetortSpring Run in Pennsylvania, the Upper Colorado River in Colorado and many others. LWCF is also the primary funding source to acquire and conserve new public lands that are essential for sustaining our outdoor traditions and protecting fish and wildlife habitat.
“Permanently authorizing LWCF was a major victory for America’s hunters and anglers, but it was only half the battle,” said Steve Moyer, vice president of government affairs for Trout Unlimited. “Now is the time for Congress to finish the job and provide full, dedicated funding for this vital program.”
“On behalf of all Trout Unlimited members, I’d like to thank the bill’s sponsors for their tireless work to fulfill the LWCF promise to the American people,” continued Moyer. “Now more than ever we need places for families to get outside and experience our natural heritage. LWCF makes that possible, today and for future generations.”
Trout Unlimited is the nation’s oldest and largest coldwater fisheries conservation organization dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring North America’s trout and salmon and their watersheds. Follow TU on Facebook and Twitter, Instagram and our blog for all the latest information on trout and salmon conservation.