June 1999 Volume 6, Number 5
Provide Full, Permanent Funding for LWCF
Every year, the federal government receives $900 million in revenues from offshore oil
and gas drilling - specifically earmarked for land acquisition through the Land and Water
Conservation Fund. But since the 1980s, only a fraction of those funds ever makes into the
LWCF's yearly budget; most simply disappear into the Treasury.
The result is a huge backlog in the federal acquisition of valuable wildlands.
"Resources 2000," a bill sponsored by California Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) and
Rep. George Miller (D), would provide permanent annual funding for the LWCF.
Specifically, the bill would direct half of the $900 million allocation to federal land
acquisition purposes. It would allow for the purchase of inholdings in the Mojave and
Joshua Tree national parks, which would help fulfill the promise of the California Desert
Protection Act of 1994, as well as lands critical to the successful restoration of the
Everglades.
The other half would go for matching grants to state and local governments for land
acquisition and preservation, and planning and development of outdoor recreation
facilities. It would also provide new funding to support urban parks, coastal and marine
habitat restoration, wildlife conservation, endangered-species recovery, historic
preservation, and farm and rangeland conservation.
To take action: Please contact your senators and
representative and urge them to co-sponsor Resources 2000, H.R. 798.
Go on to the next article, "Stop the Logging, Start the
Restoration."
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