September 29, 2015

Kilmer Joins Bipartisan Push for Reauthorization of Land and Water Conservation Fund

Washington D.C. – Representative Derek Kilmer joined a bipartisan call for Congress to reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Kilmer and 129 other House Democrats sent a letter to House leadership urging immediate action to keep the program up and running. A separate letter led by Chris Gibson (R-NY) and signed by House Republicans went to leadership as well.  

LWCF invests revenues paid by oil and gas companies drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in parks and outdoor spaces. In Washington state the fund has contributed to projects in places like Point Defiance Park in Tacoma, Port Gamble in Kitsap County, and Olympic National Park.

In the letter sent last week, the members wrote: “LWCF is our nation’s premier program to help local communities protect the places they love. It has conserved iconic landscapes in every state and is responsible for more than 40,000 state and local outdoor recreation projects such as playgrounds, parks, refuges, and baseball fields.”

Kilmer is a cosponsor of a bill that would permanently reauthorize the LWCF.

 

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