The U.S. House introduced the Great American Outdoors Act, a bipartisan bill that permanently funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).
“The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation applauds and thanks Representatives Mike Simpson and Joe Cunningham for their leadership in introducing this vital legislation. Full funding of the LWCF will provide conservation organizations and landowners certainty in their agreements to protect and expand wildlife habitat and public lands access,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “LWCF funding already allowed RMEF to complete more than 80 habitat and access projects that conserved more than 152,000 acres. Enactment of the Great American Outdoor Act would represent one of the most significant conservation achievements in decades. RMEF encourages swift passage of this critical bipartisan legislation by the House of Representatives.”
The bill also provides funding to address a backlog of deferred maintenance in National Parks, National Forests, Bureau of Land Management assets, Wildlife Refuges, and Bureau of Indian Education school construction.
RMEF played a prominent role in President Trump calling for full, dedicated LWCF funding.
The Senate previously introduced a similar version of the bill in May.
(Photo source: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation)