Western Senators Push for Increased Public Access to Great Outdoors

Senators Voice Support for Land and Water Conservation Fund

(U.S. Senate) – Senators Jon Tester, Tom Udall, Michael Bennet, and Martin Heinrich are urging their colleagues to permanently reauthorize and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) as bipartisan negotiations take place over the Energy Policy Modernization Act.

In a letter to the Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the four senators highlighted the importance of LWCF.

“For the last 50 years, LWCF has been one of our nation’s most successful conservation tools. LWCF has supported projects that increase opportunities for hunting, fishing, and other forms of outdoor recreation in every state in the nation,” the senators wrote. “LWCF strengthens our economy and enhances quality of life in our communities.”

The Senate and House are currently negotiating a final energy reform bill and the senators want to ensure that permanent reauthorization of LWCF stays in the final bill.

“Despite high profile attempts to transfer federal lands to states, we firmly believe that keeping public lands in public hands is key to maintaining our western way of life,” the senators added.

The letter to Senators Lisa Murkowski and Maria Cantwell can be read HERE.