[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10629]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  THE TIME TO REAUTHORIZE THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND IS NOW

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                          HON. DAVID E. PRICE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 25, 2015

  Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, last year, I spoke in 
celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Land and Water Conservation 
Fund (LWCF). There are now less than 100 days until the expiration of 
the program, and I rise today to urge timely reauthorization of this 
critical conservation program.
  LWCF, which is paid for entirely by royalties collected from oil and 
gas companies, has financed generations of projects, bringing parks and 
open spaces to the hearts of our urban areas and protecting our natural 
lands, outdoor recreation opportunities, and working forests at the 
local, state and federal levels. Since its creation, the LWCF program 
has conserved more than 5 million acres of parks, recreation, forests, 
and other lands through the federal program and more than 2.6 million 
acres in communities throughout every state in the nation.
  My home state of North Carolina has received more than $200 million 
in LWCF funding over the past five decades, which has helped protect 
some of our state's most treasured places, such as the Cape Hatteras 
National Seashore and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. 
LWCF funds have also helped conserve land to preserve viewsheds along 
the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail. I was particularly 
pleased that one such project included the Rocky Fork tract in the 
Cherokee National Forest in my native state of Tennessee.
  But LWCF does more than simply add to our public lands. Investing in 
LWCF is also an important way to grow our economy. In North Carolina 
alone, active outdoor recreation contributes more than $7.5 billion 
annually to the state's economy, supports 95,000 jobs, generates $430 
million in annual state tax revenue and produces $6.1 billion annually 
in retail sales and services. Overall, outdoor recreation contributes 
more than $1.06 trillion annually to the U.S. economy. Every $1 
invested in LWCF has been found to yield $4 in economic value. Without 
LWCF funding to stimulate matching investments from state, local and 
private entities, this crucial economic engine will be lost.
  These numbers prove the program's success, but I would note that the 
program is also extremely popular. In recent polls, more than 80% of 
voters expressed support for continuing to deposit fees from offshore 
oil and gas drilling into LWCF--this broad support extends from every 
geographic region of the country and every political persuasion. 
Supporters include governors, mayors, sportsmen, industry leaders, 
conservationists, Civil War enthusiasts, historians, recreationists, 
small businesses, forest owners, and the many Americans who see 
firsthand the tangible benefits this program has had on their 
communities and families. I know many of my colleagues represent states 
and communities that have benefitted greatly from LWCF funds.
  Although LWCF has a dedicated revenue stream from offshore drilling 
royalties and takes no taxpayer money from the general fund, large 
portions of this funding have been diverted over the years to non-
conservation purposes. Even at last year's appropriated level of $306 
million, we were a far cry from the $900 million that is annually 
authorized for conservation work.
  I am proud to be a cosponsor of the bipartisan legislation, H.R. 
1814, that would permanently reauthorize LWCF. I strongly believe 
Congress should uphold its decades long commitment to land and water 
conservation and reinvigorate LWCF, thereby expanding opportunities for 
all Americans to have access to parks and natural areas for outdoor 
recreation. With the expiration coming in September 2015, the time to 
reauthorize Land and Water Conservation Fund is now.

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