Levi Kamolnick
Environment Nevada
Yesterday, President Trump proposed nearly removing all funding for the critical conservation funding program, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, in his 2021 proposed budget to Congress. Budget numbers from the White House propose a meager $14.75 million to support LWCF projects in 2021, a 97% cut from the previous year’s funding and only 1.6% of the way toward fully funding the program.
Although the President signed a bill in 2019 that ensures the fundamentals of LWCF will remain in place, proposed budgets from the White House have twice since recommended sweeping cuts to the program. That’s why bills currently in the House and Senate, both passed out of their respective committees with bipartisan support and co-sponsored by members of Nevada’s federal delegation, seek to fully and permanently fund LWCF.
Levi Kamolnick, Environment Nevada State Director, issued the following statement in response to the proposal:
“The Land and Water Conservation Fund is one of America’s oldest and most successful conservation programs. Since 1965, LWCF has sent grant funding to America’s most iconic national parks as well as green spaces throughout each county in the country. Wildlife, outdoor enthusiasts, and families alike have benefited from the more than $100 million the fund has sent to Nevada.
“There seems to be a disconnect in the Trump administration’s willingness to permanently reauthorize LWCF, while consistently recommending gutting the program. Thankfully, Nevada’s Senators. Cortez Masto and Rosen and Representatives Titus, Lee and Horsford agree that LWCF deserves to be adequately funded.
“This proposal is a wake-up call to all of us who care about this program that we need to advance the permanent funding legislation waiting for floor votes in the House and in the Senate. Congress should protect our public lands and parks from the Trump administration’s budget cuts and finally dedicate full funding to LWCF.”
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Environment Nevada is a statewide, membership-based environmental advocacy organization.