Udall Applauds Committee Passage of Legislation to Provide Full, Mandatory Funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund

Statement

Strong bipartisan vote builds momentum to fulfill original promise of America's most successful conservation program.

Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) released the following statement applauding the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for its bipartisan action approving legislation to provide permanent, dedicated funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF):

"It's clear that there is bipartisan momentum in Congress behind fully and permanently funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund, our nation's most successful conservation program," Udall said. "LWCF is critical for improving recreational access to our public lands, protecting iconic landscapes, and creating urban parks like Valle de Oro and Petroglyph National Monument in New Mexico. As the ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee responsible for LWCF funding, I have been proud to secure major funding for this essential program. But without permanent funding, states like New Mexico face yearly uncertainty about funding that is critical in preserving the wild places that drive our thriving outdoor recreation economy. The strong bipartisan vote brings us one big step closer to fulfilling the original promise of LWCF -- and what my father, Stewart Udall, envisioned: reliable, ongoing protection for America's most treasured open spaces for future generations. Now, I urge the full Senate to come together and pass this bill so that all Americans can continue to enjoy the beauty and recreational opportunities that our collective backyard provides."

In September, Udall joined Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) ranking member of the Senator Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) in calling on the leaders of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives to enact full, permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) into law this Congress.

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