The Trust for Public Land’s statement:
The Trust for Public Land reacts to Consolidated Appropriations Act
March 22, 2018
San Francisco
Diane Regas, President of The Trust for Public Land, today issued this statement following release of the omnibus
appropriations bill that would fund the government through FY 2018. The Consolidated Appropriations Act funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) at $425 million.
“By funding the LWCF at $425 million, Congress has demonstrated that it understands the importance of parks, public lands, and trails for the well-being of American communities.
We are grateful that the final bill increases LWCF funding and moves us closer to fulfilling the longtime promise of substantial investments in conservation and outdoor recreation. Our public lands and access to the outdoors, including places funded by LWCF,
are one of the fastest growing economic drivers in this country and Congress has recognized this important piece of our economy’s puzzle.”
“At The Trust for Public Land, we’re working to make sure everyone in this country lives within a ten-minute walk of a quality park, while also working to increase access to public
lands and open spaces. LWCF is an important part of reaching these goals, and we applaud Congress for allocating higher funding levels to the program, even as the President proposes virtually wiping out the program.”
“The Land and Water Conservation Fund has been one of our nation’s most successful conservation programs for over 50 years, protecting places across the country and receiving broad
bipartisan support. In these increasingly polarized times, it is encouraging to see Congress come together in agreement on necessary funding for our parks and public lands.”
“Thank you to Senate and House appropriators, especially Senators Lisa Murkowski and Tom Udall, Representatives Ken Calvert and Betty McCollum, Senators Thad Cochran and Patrick
Leahy and Representatives Rodney Frelinghuysen and Nita Lowey, for supporting LWCF in the final omnibus negotiations. We urge Congress to take further action on this important program by permanently reauthorizing and fully funding LWCF before it expires in
September. “
If this proposed budget is enacted, with LWCF were funded at $425 million, thousands of acres of special places would be protected. There are numerous projects The Trust for Public
Land would be able to complete with these funding levels, including, but not limited to:
The Pacific Crest Trail in the Shasta Trinity National Forest, California: This project focuses on an area of the trail with compelling scenic and recreation resources off-trail
– especially where public access and protection had been limited to no more than the trail footprint itself – and where trail-adjacent lands might be subject to closure to the public and resource losses impacting the trail experience.
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Georgia: The Chattahoochee River NRA encompasses nearly 10,000 acres of land and provides more than 65 percent of the public greenspace
in the greater Atlanta area. Since its creation in 1978, the Chattahoochee River NRA has become a vital outdoor destination for the more than three million people who visit each year. The recreation area is widely used by runners, hikers, cyclist, birdwatchers,
anglers, tubers, kayaker and canoeists. This project would add 59 vital acres to an increasingly popular recreation area.
Whitefish Watershed Forest Legacy, Montana: This lies within the renowned Crown of the Continent, one of the largest remaining intact ecosystems in North America. The region is
known for its pristine forests, habitats, and water systems. Large portions of the Crown already enjoy protected status, including Glacier National Park, the Flathead and Kootenai national forests, as well as substantial private lands that have been permanently
protected through state, local, tribal, and private conservation efforts and partnerships. The project (13,398 acres total) is located in the heart of the Crown of the Continent ecosystem and is the sole remaining unprotected large-block of private ownership.
It includes productive forestland resources; some of the most beautiful and biologically significant glaciated wetlands in northwestern Montana; critical habitat for grizzly bear and Canada lynx; hunting, fishing, and other recreational opportunities for residents
and visitors.
From: cdp@groups.b-team.org [mailto:cdp@groups.b-team.org]
On Behalf Of Michael Reinemer
Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2018 3:08 PM
To: Julia Alschuler <Jalschuler@partnershipproject.org>; Combined Defense Project <cdp@groups.b-team.org>
Subject: [cdp] RE: [Reminder]: Please send your organizations FY18 omnibus statement to the CDP listserve
Statement from The Wilderness Society
Michael Reinemer, Deputy Director, Communications Strategy
The Wilderness Society
1615 M Street NW, Washington DC 20036
202-429-3949
Spending bill boosts key conservation funding and includes vital fix to wildfire budget
Congress heeds will of people and saves roadless forests from destruction
WASHINGTON, March 21, 2018 ----- Congress appears to be ready to pass its federal funding bill without previously proposed attacks on
essential protections for national forests and other public lands.
The Wilderness Society released the following statement from Drew McConville, Senior Managing Director, Government Relations:
“We are heartened that Congress has summarily rejected the devastating budget cuts proposed by the Trump Administration for
vital investments in conservation and our public lands.”
“We are pleased by the rejection of provisions
– pushed by Senator Murkowski – to undermine the National Roadless
Area Conservation Rule, which would have allowed unnecessary road building and logging of old-growth trees in the Tongass National Forest
in Alaska.
“We applaud Congress for including a long-overdue solution to the problem of how we budget and pay for wildfire suppression. However, while
many damaging proposals were averted, we are disappointed that congressional Republicans insisted on the inclusion of some harmful
forest management provisions as
the price for getting the fire funding fix across the finish line.
“We are disappointed at the inclusion of these and several other environmentally troublesome policy provisions that
unfortunately
could not be fended off, but heartened by the rejection of scores of others. Our public lands belong to all Americans and we will
continue to fight any efforts to further erode protections for these lands.”
Background
The funding bill:
Wilderness Society, founded in 1935, is the leading conservation organization working to protect wilderness and inspire Americans to care for our wild places. With more than one million members and supporters,
The Wilderness Society has led the effort to permanently protect 109 million acres of wilderness and to ensure sound management of our shared national lands. www.wilderness.org.
Contacts:
Michael Reinemer, Deputy Director, Communications Strategy, The Wilderness Society, 202-429-3949
Chris Rackens, Senior Representative, Government Relations, The Wilderness Society, 202-429-2643
From: cdp@groups.b-team.org <cdp@groups.b-team.org>
On Behalf Of Julia Alschuler
Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2018 2:25 PM
To: Combined Defense Project <cdp@groups.b-team.org>
Subject: [cdp] [Reminder]: Please send your organizations FY18 omnibus statement to the CDP listserve
We are collecting statements to circulate to Dem leadership.
Thanks!
Julia
Julia Alschuler
Combined Defense Project
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