LAS VEGAS, NV – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) toured the Clark County Wetlands Park in Las Vegas. Following the tour, Senator Rosen participated in a roundtable discussion with representatives of Nevada environmental conservation groups to discuss the importance of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).
“Not only is the Land and Water Conservation Fund important for the protection of Nevada’s public lands, it’s also vital to our thriving outdoor recreation economy,” said Senator Rosen. “Each year, over tens of thousands of people hunt, fish, or enjoy wildlife-watching in Nevada, contributing over $900 million in wildlife recreation spending to the state economy. Despite the President’s continued attempts to gut the program in his annual budget proposals, I will continue fighting to make sure that LWCF is fully funded to protect the Silver State’s natural wonders for generations to come.
“The LWCF is vital to keeping Nevada’s public lands well-maintained and beautiful for families all over our state to experience for years to come,” said Annette Magnus, Executive Director of Battle Born Progress. “Having parks and trails that encourage outdoor recreation contributes both to the health and well-being of our community, as well as our outdoor recreation economy. We applaud Senator Jacky Rosen for supporting full and permanent funding for LWCF in order to bring millions in federal dollars home to be used to protect our public lands. The Trump administration and Secretary Bernhardt should listen to Congress and support this program, rather than cutting funding and jeopardizing our environment.”
“From Lake Tahoe to Lake Mead and Red Rock Canyon the Landand Water Conservation Fund has been one of the most successful conservation programs the United States has,” said Andy Maggi, Executive Director of the Nevada Conservation League. “At no cost to taxpayers, LWCF provides resources to communities for their local conservation priorities and helps protect some of our nation’s most iconic places. Every part of Nevada has benefited from these dollars. This is why it remains unacceptable that this administration and Congress have failed to permanently fund the program. Nevada’s Congressional leaders have been instrumental in supporting full funding and we call on President Trump, Secretary Bernhardt, and Congress to act to permanently fund this program.”
“The beauty of a place like the Wetlands Park speaks for itself, but it’s time for people across the country to start speaking up for public lands,” said Levi Kamolnick, State Director of Environment Nevada. “Anyone on the fence about LWCF should take a moment to look up just how many projects in their state have benefited. Our health and well-being are at stake when we play games with funding for such a critical conservation program, and it’s time Congressional leadership did the right thing.”
“This is an important program to put money into local parks and rec centers, as well as the public lands that offer families like mine a place to make memories, spend time together and enjoy our natural environment,” said Vic Rivera, with Chispa NV. “For the Latinx communities Chispa Nevada works with, access to the outdoors is vital. As a veteran, I’m proud that LWCF helps fund conservation projects at historic battlefields and military sites, and has even funded memorial parks for veterans in Nevada. LWCF deserves to be fully funded, and we thank Senator Rosen for her support.”
“I’m grateful to Senator Jacky Rosen and our entire delegation for supporting full funding for the Land & Water Conservation Fund, which has supported so many of our communities’ parks and trails,” said Mauricia Baca, Executive Director of the Nevada Outdoor Business Coalition. “These are the places we live, work and play. These are also places that support Nevada’s $12.6 billion outdoor recreation economy. We’re lucky to have a delegation that understands the importance of investing in our outdoors.”
BACKGROUND: Earlier this year, Senator Rosen voted in support of the Natural Resources Management Act (S. 47), a comprehensive federal lands bill that passed the Senate last month by a bipartisan vote of 92 to 8. Among other things, this bill permanently reauthorized the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Rosen is a co-sponsor of the bipartisan Land and Water Conservation Fund Permanent Funding Act (S. 1081), legislation to permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Rosen also penned an op-ed in the Las Vegas Sun last year voicing her support for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Rosen also helped introduce the ANTIQUITIES Act of 2019, reaffirming her commitment to protecting Nevada’s national monuments. This legislation, which Rosen also supported last Congress in the House, would protect and enhance national monuments by declaring Congress’ support for the 51 National Monuments established from 1996 to 2017, including Gold Butte and Basin and Range Monuments in Nevada .
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