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LWCF Permanent Funding Legislation
H.R. 1957
H.R. 7092
S. 3422
H.R. 1957 is the legislative vehicle for the Great American Outdoors Act. On June 17, 2020 this landmark legislation passed the Senate with bipartisan support 73-25. On July 22nd, 2020, the Great American Outdoors Act passed the House 310-107, with bipartisan support. On August 4, 2020, President Donald J. Trump signed the Great American Outdoors Act – ensuring LWCF will be funded at $900 million annually.
On June 4, 2020, Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-SC), Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID), and 10 other Members of Congress from both parties, introduced companion legislation to the Great American Outdoors Act which would provide full, dedicated funding to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), as well as provide funding to the maintenance backlog on our federal public lands. This legislation would guarantee the full, authorized $900 million for LWCF is not raided by the annual appropriations process. H.R 7092 currently has 254 bipartisan cosponsors. Text and cosponsors can be found here.
Introduced by Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) on March 9, 2020, the Great American Outdoors Act would provide full, dedicated funding to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), as well as provide funding to the maintenance backlog on our federal public lands. This legislation would guarantee the full, authorized $900 million for LWCF is not raided by the annual appropriations process. S. 3422 currently has 56 bipartisan cosponsors. Text and cosponsors can be found here.
Introduced by Rep. Jeff Van Drew (D-NJ), Committee Chair Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) on June 11, 2019, the Land and Water Conservation Fund Permanent Funding Act would provide full, dedicated funding to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). This legislation is the companion to S. 1081 and would guarantee the full, authorized $900 million for LWCF is not raided by the annual appropriations process. H.R 3195 was introduced with a bipartisan group of 11 additional cosponsors. Text and cosponsors can be found here.
H.R. 3195
Introduced by Sen. Manchin (D-WV) and Sen. Gardner (R-CO) on April 9, 2019, the Land and Water Conservation Fund Permanent Funding Act would provide full, dedicated funding to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). This legislation would guarantee the full, authorized $900 million for LWCF is not raided by the annual appropriations process, ensuring the commitment to America’s communities, economy, and beautiful landscapes. S. 1081 was introduced with a bipartisan group of 12 additional cosponsors. Text and cosponsors can be found here.
S. 1081
Public Law No. 116-9 - S. 47
Introduced by Sen. Murkowski (R-AK) and Sen. Cantwell (D-WA), the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act approved permanent authorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). With broad bipartisan support, S. 47 passed the Senate 92-8 on February 12, 2019 and the House of Representatives 363-62 on February 26, 2019. On March 12, 2019, the President signed permanent authorization of LWCF into public law, culminating a major victory for public land and outdoor recreation opportunities. Text and cosponsors can be found here.
legislation in the 115th Congress addressing LWCF
S. 896
Introduced by Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), this bill would permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), as well as direct a very small amount of LWCF funding (1.5% or $10M annually) to opening up additional access to public lands for sportsmen and other recreational users. Text and cosponsors can be found here.
S. 569
Introduced by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), this bill not only would permanently reauthorize LWCF, but also provides for full, dedicated and permanent funding. This would stop LWCF’s funding from being siphoned off each year in the appropriations process for other, unknown and unaccountable purposes. In the 50-year history of LWCF, over $22 billion intended for LWCF has been lost to the General Treasury this way. Consistent, predictable funding at the level Congress deemed necessary in 1978 (not even indexed for inflation!) would finally fulfill LWCF’s true promise to the American people. Text and cosponsors can be found here.
H.R. 502
H.R. 6759
Introduced by Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) and Rep. Pat Meehan (R-PA), like S. 896 this bill would permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), as well as direct a very small amount of LWCF funding (1.5% or $10M annually) to opening up additional access to public lands for sportsmen and other recreational users. The same bill introduced in the last Congress drew more than 200 bipartisan cosponsors, and our goal is to surpass that level of support in the current term. Text and cosponsors can be found here.
Introduced by Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) and Rep. Ryan Costello (R-PA), this bill not only would permanently reauthorize LWCF, but also provides for full, dedicated and permanent funding. This would stop LWCF’s funding from being siphoned off each year in the appropriations process for other, unknown and unaccountable purposes. In the 50-year history of LWCF, over $22 billion intended for LWCF has been lost to the General Treasury this way. Consistent, predictable funding at the level Congress deemed necessary in 1978 (not even indexed for inflation!) would finally fulfill LWCF’s true promise to the American people. Text and cosponsors can be found here
Congressional action in the 114th congress
Energy bill
Co-sponsors
Other Support
On April 20, 2016 the Senate approved permanent reauthorization of LWCF for the first time ever as part of larger energy legislation. Passing with a vote of 85-12, it represented huge bipartisan support and a huge step forward for LWCF's long-term success. The Senate energy bill proceeded to conference with the House, but an agreement could not be reached before the end of the 114th Congress.
House of Representatives In the 114th Congress, there were 216 cosponsors of LWCF permanent reauthorization legislation (212 on H.R. 1814 and an additional 4 unique members on H.R. 4151)-- a near majority of the House.
Senate In the 114th Congress, there were 44 cosponsors of LWCF permanent reauthorization legislation (32 on S. 890 and an additional 12 unique members on S. 338) -- a near majority of the Senate.
More than 600 groups signed on to a letter urging Congress to pass permanent reauthorization before they adjourned.
Top photo credit: Beaverhead-Dearlodge NF via USFS