Officials Call on Speaker Ryan to Protect Public Lands Print
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Written by Wisconsin Conservation Voters, Ryan Billingham   
Tuesday, 06 March 2018 17:16

fishing-on-lakeTrump Administration’s newest budget proposes a 90 percent reduction in the Land and Water Conservation Fund that Wisconsin relies heavily.


MADISON – As threats to public lands continue to mount, more than 300 local elected officials throughout Wisconsin signed a letter asking Speaker Paul Ryan to protect public lands here and nationally.

donald-trumpThe Trump Administration’s newest budget proposes a 90 percent reduction in the Land and Water Conservation Fund – a fund that Wisconsin relies heavily upon to maintain its public lands.

“Eliminating the LWCF would be a direct attack on local communities throughout Wisconsin and the state’s outdoor recreation industry,” Kerry Schumann, executive director, said. “Local elected officials understand the value of healthy parks and public lands. Speaker Paul Ryan must stand up against these attacks and work for Wisconsinites – not special interests.”

In Wisconsin, the LWCF has provided approximately $212 million to protect places like the Ice Age Trail, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, St. Croix National Scenic River, and Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

The letter urges Speaker Paul Ryan to lead Congress in a pro-parks and public lands agenda, reauthorize the LWCF before it expires this year, and to protect and preserve national monuments.

The letter was sent to Speaker Ryan’s office in Janesville and hand delivered to his Washington D.C. office.

Click here for the letter and the list of its signers.

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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.