[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 11001-11002]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            REAUTHORIZE THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Costello) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, this week the House will 
be considering the appropriations bill for the Department of the 
Interior for the upcoming fiscal year.
  I rise today to express my support for a robust and continued funding 
for and the permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water 
Conservation Fund.
  Over this past Independence Day weekend, I was particularly reminded 
of how so many of us enjoy the natural wonders of our hometowns and 
communities, from picnics at playgrounds, baseball games on municipal 
recreational fields, honoring our heritage and celebrating our 
independence with fireworks, music and parades at local historic sites 
and parks.
  That is part of why the Land and Water Conservation Fund is so 
important. It helps our communities protect critical lands by providing 
State and local governments with necessary funding and flexibility to 
develop and improve lands for public access and recreational enjoyment. 
It is part of highlighting the heritage and character in my district in 
southeastern Pennsylvania.
  My home State of Pennsylvania has received approximately $295 million 
in the past five decades from the Land and Conservation Water Fund. It 
has protected places with national significance, such as Gettysburg 
National Military Park, Valley Forge National Historical Park, and John 
Heinz Wildlife Refuge.
  In addition, in my congressional district, we can thank the Land and 
Water Conservation Fund for helping fund the building of the Birdsboro 
Waters Forest Legacy project, protecting critical woodlands at the East 
Coventry Wineberry Estates, expanding

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Shaw's Bridge in East Bradford Township, and enhancing Pottstown 
Borough Memorial Park with a new dog park, pavilions, restrooms, ball 
fields, and walking trails.
  Mr. Speaker, one thing that was apparent this past weekend was just 
how integral our public lands and outdoor recreation areas are to our 
heritage, civic identity, and local community.
  I believe the Land and Water Conservation Fund is one of our most 
important conservation programs and an excellent example of a 
bipartisan commitment to safeguarding natural resources, promoting our 
cultural heritage, and expanding recreational opportunities not just 
for a moment in time, but for future generations as well.
  I also believe it is a program that allows our local communities to 
dream big about how to best go about enhancing their communities for 
their residents.
  As an original cosponsor of H.R. 1814, which would permanently 
reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund, I am looking forward 
to working with my colleagues in an effort to help communities across 
this country create lasting legacies of public access to the cultural 
and recreational opportunities identified by officials in their local 
communities as being worthy of funding for future projects.

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