U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) today joined a bipartisan group of Senators in introducing legislation to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which would fully realize LWCF’s promise to conserve parks, open spaces, and wildlife habitat for the benefit of hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation.
“LWCF is a critical tool that helps expand access to our public lands and preserves our Montana way of life,” Daines stated. “By permanently reauthorizing LWCF we can remove uncertainty and protect access to public lands for future generations.”
U.S. Senators Richard Burr (R-NC), Michael Bennet (D-CO) Susan Collins (R-ME), Cory Gardner (R-CO), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) co-sponsored the legislation.
Read the legislation here.
Daines has consistently championed LWCF both in the House and the Senate.
In the 114th Congress, Daines helped pass S.2012, the Energy Policy Modernization Act which would help expand Montana energy production and at Daines’ request will permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).
On March 18, 2016, Daines sent a letter to the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations urging strong funding for the FY2017 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.
Daines also co-sponsored S.338 bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) to secure a permanent solution for LWCF.
Daines successfully included an amendment in the FY2016 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act to increase LWCF programs by nearly $14 million, bringing the overall total funding for LWCF to the FY2015 enacted level of roughly $400 million.
In 2015, Daines also sent a letter to Interior Appropriations leaders urging for robust funding for LWCF. Daines’ letter is available here.
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