[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 171 (Thursday, November 19, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H8366]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        LOCAL PRIORITIZATION OF LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND

  (Mr. LaMALFA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Committee on Natural 
Resources considered a bill that restores the original intent of the 
Land and Water Conservation Fund: support of State and local projects.
  The LWCF State program has supported many recreation facilities 
across the country, including in my district, such as a municipal pool 
in Susanville, boat launches on the Sacramento River, and city parks 
and playgrounds in Chico, California.
  However, for every worthwhile local investment of $20,000 or $30,000, 
this administration now disproportionately spends millions on land 
acquisition for the Forest Service, which already can't manage what it 
owns.
  Sixty-one percent so far of the program during its existence has gone 
for this sort of land acquisition. That is not local. The result is 
catastrophic fires across the West each year with nonmanaged forest 
lands.
  Mr. Speaker, Chairman Bishop's bill will rectify this problem and 
send more funding to the State and local projects that need it and help 
end the destructive cycle of the Federal Government purchasing and 
owning land it doesn't manage, only to have it burn.
  I urge all my colleagues to support this measure when it comes up.

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