ALBUQUERQUE — The New Mexico Wildlife Federation strongly supports legislation introduced in the U.S. House to provide permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund while addressing deferred maintenance at National Parks and other federal properties.
A bipartisan group of House lawmakers on Thurs., June 4, introduced the Great American Outdoors Act. Among the original co-sponsors is Rep. Xochitl Torres Small, D-N.M.
The House legislation mirrors a bill pending in the Senate that has the strong support from New Mexico Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich. The Senate is likely to vote on the measure this month.
“The New Mexico Wildlife Federation is thrilled to see the House move ahead with permanent funding for the LWCF,” said Jesse Deubel, federation executive director. “We’re particularly pleased to see Rep. Torres Small taking a leadership role in pushing this critical legislation through.”
The legislation promises to help New Mexico’s growing and vitally important outdoor recreation industry as well as securing critical properties for wildlife and sportsmen, Deubel said.
“New Mexicans are turning increasingly to our public lands as we all struggle to deal with the ongoing pandemic,” Deubel said. “We at the wildlife federation support this legislation to protect and expand these critical public resources for future generations.”
The LWCF collects revenue from offshore energy production and uses it to acquire important lands around the country. The legislation would specify that the $900 million a year earmarked for the fund not be diverted to other congressional programs as it often has been.
In New Mexico, LWCF has helped preserve the Valles Caldera, Ute Mountain, Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge and other areas.
Early this year, President Donald Trump called on Congress to send him a bill that would fully and permanently fund the LWCF and restore the nation’s national parks. His call came after he earlier had suggested cutting the funding by as much as 97 percent.
In addition to addressing deferred maintenance at national park properties, the legislation would fund work on federal lands administered by the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, federal wildlife refuges and federal Bureau of Indian Education school construction.
The House Bill was introduced by Rep. Joe Cunningham, D-S.C.. A bipartisan group of other House members including Torres Small signed on as co-sponsors. The legislation enjoys national support from small businesses, sportsmen, the outdoor recreation industry, veterans, conservation organizations and others.