(June 17, 2020) WASHINGTON DC – The Senate voted today 73 to 25 to pass the Great American Outdoors Act, a bill that permanently and fully funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund and provides money for the growing maintenance backlog on public lands.
Upon its passage, Trout Unlimited issued the following statement:
“We know LWCF is incredibly important to hunters and anglers as one of the most enduring and vital funds for securing access to our public lands at no cost to the taxpayer,” said Chris Wood, president and CEO at Trout Unlimited. “We’re thrilled and grateful to see the Senate pass this pivotal piece of legislation. In addition to LWCF, we can’t overstate the importance of the funding provided for the maintenance backlog, which will help fix the thousands of miles roads bleeding sediment into our rivers and streams and replace undersized culverts that block fish migration. This upkeep, while not flashy, is a critical part of the stewardship of our public lands.”
“We ask that the House move swiftly to pass companion legislation and get this bill to the President’s desk,” continued Wood. “The sooner this legislation gets enacted, the better off our outdoor traditions will be, now and for future generations.”
The House of Representatives version of the bill, H.R. 7092, was introduced by Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-SC) on June 4 with strong bipartisan support. The legislation currently has nearly fifty cosponsors from around the country.
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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.