Bill Text: NJ SR106 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges U.S. Department of the Interior and Congress to permanently reauthorize "Land and Water Conservation Fund."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-10-15 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee [SR106 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-SR106-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Urges U.S. Department of the Interior and Congress to permanently reauthorize "Land and Water Conservation Fund."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution urging the United States Department of the Interior and Congress to permanently reauthorize the "Land and Water Conservation Fund."
Whereas, The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is a federal program, created in 1965, which supports the acquisition of land and conservation easements to protect our national parks, wildlife, refuges, forests, trails, and Bureau of Land Management sites; and
Whereas, The LWCF grants funds to the states for local and state park needs; protects critical wildlife habitat, watersheds, and recreational access; and conserves working farms, ranches, and forestlands that enhance local economies; and
Whereas, The LWCF has been one of our nation's most successful conservation programs, creating outdoor recreation opportunities in every state and virtually every county, with projects ranging from the creation of small urban parks to preserving Civil War battlefields to building new trails in Rocky Mountain National Park; and
Whereas, The LWCF does not use taxpayer dollars--instead it is funded by existing offshore oil and gas drilling fees; and
Whereas, Since 1965, the LWCF has spent over $18 billion protecting and restoring outdoor areas; and
Whereas, According to the Trust for Public Land, each dollar invested in public land returns four dollars in economic value to communities surrounding the land; and
Whereas, Funding from the LWCF has contributed to the acquisition or maintenance of many of New Jersey's most treasured public lands, including the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, the Morristown National Historical Park, the Pinelands National Reserve, Jesse Allen Park in Newark, and the Salem River Wildlife Management Area; and
Whereas, New Jersey has received over $122 million in funding from the LWCF since its inception, supporting over 300 projects in the State; and
Whereas, The U.S. Census Bureau has found that 2.4 million people hike, fish, or hunt in New Jersey each year, and the Outdoor Industry Association has found that outdoor recreation annually generates $18.9 billion in consumer spending, supports 143,000 jobs, generates $5.9 billion in wages and salaries, and contributes $1.2 billion to State and local tax revenue in New Jersey; and
Whereas, A recent national bipartisan poll revealed that 82 percent of voters are in favor of continuing to fund the LWCF; and
Whereas, The LWCF expired on September 30, 2018, because it was not reauthorized by Congress; and
Whereas, There are currently bills in Congress that would permanently reauthorize the LWCF, including H.R.502, which currently has more than 230 bipartisan cosponsors, more than a majority of the chamber; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully urges the United States Department of the Interior and Congress to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund, due to the fund's long running record of being a successful, effective, and highly popular program to create state and local parks, conserve farms, ranches, and forests, and enhance access to the outdoors for people all across the country.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the President and Vice President of the United States, the United States Secretary of the Interior, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and every member of the congressional delegation from the State of New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the U.S. Department of the Interior and Congress to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The LWCF expired September 30, 2018 because it was not reauthorized by Congress
The LWCF is a federal program that supports the acquisition of land and conservation easements to protect our national parks, wildlife, refuges, forests, trails, and BLM sites. The LWCF also grants funds to the states to create local and state parks, to preserve historic sites and farms, and to protect critical wildlife habitat, watersheds, and recreational access.
Funding from the LWCF has contributed to the acquisition or maintenance of many of New Jersey's most treasured public lands, including the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, the Morristown National Historical Park, the Pinelands National Reserve, Jesse Allen Park in Newark, and the Salem River Wildlife Management Area.
It is therefore fitting and proper for this House to urge the Department of the Interior and Congress to enact legislation that permanently reauthorizes and fully funds this highly successful program, which has funded many of New Jersey's most valued open spaces.
