#SaveLWCF
UPDATE 12/17/2015: We learned yesterday that the federal budget agreement will extend the Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) for another 3 years. Since Congress let LWCF expire in Sept., that IS good news. BUT – we’re going to keep working for permanent reauthorization to this critical program. Stay tuned in the new year for ways you can help. . .
11/23/2015 The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), America’s signature conservation and outdoor recreation program, has been a celebrated bipartisan success story for 50 years, growing and protecting America’s most precious places – everything from Yellowstone to your local neighborhood park. And because LWCF is funded through public oil and gas leases, not a single dollar is taken from American taxpayers.
In a sign of just how bad things have gotten in Washington D.C., Congress allowed the LWCF to expire this year. So, in the coming months, it will be critical to let your U.S. Congressperson or Senator know that you want the LWCF permanently re-authorized.
The LWCF has been used in almost every county and in every state. LWCF has invested more than $213 million in our state over the past five decades, protecting unique Illinois treasures such as the Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge, the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, and Cypress Creek National Wildlife refuge. These places provide some of the best public land for hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing in Illinois.
And these lands generate jobs and boost the economy of Illinois. Outdoor recreation in Illinois supports 204,000 jobs which generate $6.7 billion in wages and salaries, and produces nearly $1.6 billion annually in state and local tax revenue.
On this map, you can see how much LWCF has invested in your state for local parks, land conservation, and recreation. Read more about the LWCF and the efforts to save it on the LWCF Coalition page.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund is aptly defended in this opinion piece in the New York Times.
Stay tuned for more ways you can help the LWCF.
