This week, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) sent a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi calling for Congress to pass legislation to permanently authorize and allocate mandatory funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) before the end of the 115^th Congress.

“The Land and Water Conservation Fund is the cornerstone of environmental conservation which helps preserve Washington state’s public lands and waters. Over the last 50 years, Washington state has received more than $675 million from the LWCF to help protect and restore green spaces such as Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, Chuckanut Bay and the Wild Sky Wilderness in my district. A healthy environment is vital to Washingtonians’ way of life and the regional economy. Outdoor recreation is responsible for an estimated 7.6 million jobs in the United States and plays a significant role in the rural economies and for local businesses in the Second District,” Larsen wrote.

The Land and Water Conservation Authorization and Funding Act would permanently reauthorize and fully fund the LWCF.

“Securing annual, mandatory appropriations and permanent reauthorization for the LWCF will safeguard the nation’s environmental heritage and guarantee green spaces and pristine waters are available for the enjoyment of future generations.”

You can read the full letter below.

December 20, 2018

Dear Speaker Ryan and Leader Pelosi:

I write in strong support of the passage of the Land and Water Conservation Authorization and Funding Act (H.R. 6759). Congress must pass this bipartisan legislation to permanently reauthorize and allocate mandatory funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) before the end of the 115^th Congress.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund is the cornerstone of environmental conservation which helps preserve Washington state’s public lands and waters. Over the last 50 years, Washington state has received more than $675 million from the LWCF to help protect and restore green spaces such as Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, Chuckanut Bay and the Wild Sky Wilderness in my district. A healthy environment is vital to Washingtonians’ way of life and the regional economy. Outdoor recreation is responsible for an estimated 7.6 million jobs in the United States and plays a significant role in the rural economies and for local businesses in the Second District.

I am a proud cosponsor of H.R.6759, which would permanently reauthorize and fully fund the LWCF. Securing annual, mandatory appropriations and permanent reauthorization for the LWCF will safeguard the nation’s environmental heritage and guarantee green spaces and pristine waters are available for the enjoyment of future generations.

Congress cannot afford to hesitate to act on this issue any longer. I strongly support permanent reauthorization of the LWCF and the passage of the Land and Water Conservation Authorization and Funding Act (H.R. 6759) before the end of the 115^th Congress.

Sincerely,

Rick Larsen

Member of Congress

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