Congress Must Reauthorize the Land & Water Conservation Fund Print
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Written by Wisconsin Conservation Voters, Ryan Billingham   
Thursday, 09 August 2018 16:33

door-county_bikingCommunities across Wisconsin rely on the Fund to preserve and enhance outdoor spaces from the smallest urban park to the sprawling Ice Age Trail and the popular Devil’s Lake State Park. Outdoor recreation supports 168,000 jobs and produces $1.1 billion annually in the state.


MADISON – As the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is scheduled to expire on Sep. 30, Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters launched a campaign this week calling on Congress to reauthorize and fully fund America’s best parks program.

The state’s conservation voters are urging Speaker Paul Ryan to be a leader, reauthorize the LWCF permanently, and protect the public places both he and his constituents enjoy.

The campaign includes videos, the first of which launched today. It highlights the Ice Age National Scenic Trail and the LWCF’s role in maintaining and expanding it.

It also includes a letter to Speaker Ryan that makes it easy to weigh in on this crucial conservation issue.

“From national wildlife refuges and national forests to ball fields and community parks, LWCF has protected places like Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Wolf Wild and Scenic River, Devil's Lake State Park, High Cliff State Park, and Central Sands Pine Forest,” the letter reads.

Executive director Kerry Schumann had this to say about the LWCF reauthorization and the campaign:

“Communities across Wisconsin rely on the Land and Water Conservation Fund to preserve and enhance the outdoor spaces that we all enjoy – from the smallest urban park to the sprawling Ice Age Trail to the popular Devil’s Lake State Park. Wisconsin's $17.9 billion outdoor recreation industry supports 168,000 jobs and produces $1.1 billion annually in state and local tax revenue. Speaker Paul Ryan has the opportunity to be a national leader and ensure the fund is reauthorized permanently.”

Find out more and watch the video at conservationvoters.org/lwcf.

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Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to electing conservation leaders, holding decision makers accountable, and encouraging lawmakers to champion conservation policies that effectively protect Wisconsin's public health and natural resources.