News for Immediate Release
Feb. 26, 2019
Contact: Katie McKalip, 406-240-9262, [email protected]
Most significant conservation legislation passed by Congress in a decade
includes permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund
WASHINGTON – A massive package of public lands bills awaits the president’s signature following a vote today by the U.S. House of Representatives, making reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund and other key measures supported by sportsmen and women and a host of other outdoors users suddenly within reach.
The Natural Resources Management Act (S. 47) encompasses the consensus priorities of hunters and anglers and has attracted broad support among congressional leaders, including outspoken advocacy by a bipartisan cadre of senators and representatives. House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) and Ranking Member Rob Bishop (R-UT) were critical House leaders working to pave the way for passage in their chamber. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and former Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA) were instrumental in working with their Senate colleagues to advance a clean legislative package that passed 92-8 earlier in February.
Backcountry Hunters & Anglers has consistently spoken out in support of measures contained within the bill, in particular championing LWCF and its importance in the conservation and sustained access to public lands and waters critical to hunting and fishing.
“The masses are awakening, and the public lands revolution is growing,” said BHA President and CEO Land Tawney. “Today’s vote by the House of Representatives, coming on the heels of the Senate’s overwhelming support of S. 47 earlier this month, proves without a doubt that citizens’ voices do count and our nation’s congressional leaders can come together to advance meaningful bipartisan legislation.
“We have united as a nation of public land owners and spoken up for the places and opportunities that make our country unique the world over,” Tawney continued, “and our elected leaders in Congress deserve our collective thanks on behalf of our wild public lands, waters and wildlife. We encourage President Trump to follow the leadership of the people and sign this foresighted package of bills into law.”
S. 47 features measures long supported by BHA and its partners:
- Permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund with 3 percent dedicated to securing hunting and fishing access opportunities on public lands and waters;
- Frank and Jeanne Moore Wild Steelhead Special Management Area;
- Methow Valley permanent mineral withdrawal;
- Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act language for the Emigrant Crevice permanent mineral withdrawal;
- California Desert Protection and Recreation Act;
- Cerro del Yuta and Rio San Antonio wilderness areas;
- Reauthorization of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife program at current funding levels of $51.6 million until FY2022;
- Reauthorization of Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act at $6.5 million until FY2022, a $2.6 million increase of funding from currently enacted levels.
Read more about the measures contained within S. 47.
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The Voice For Our Wild Public Lands, Waters And Wildlife.