Land and Water Conservation Fund Reauthorization

Dear Chairman Murkowski, Senator Cantwell, Chairman Bishop and Representative Grijalva,

The nation’s governors appreciate your leadership and interest in reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).  We are committed to working with Congress to advance states’ perspectives as part of this important legislation.  Our policy principles addressing LWCF reauthorization are attached.

Governors appreciate proposals in both the House and Senate that provide necessary funding certainty and stability for the LWCF State Assistance grant program.  This funding not only maintains the original intent of LWCF, but supports the execution of statewide conservation and recreation goals and increases public access to outdoor recreational opportunities.

Governors support proposals that retain existing federal tools and programs that are important to states, while providing increased flexibility for states to meet our long-term conservation and recreation goals. We believe the revisions to LWCF reauthorization should align with the original goals and scope of the program – helping states address conservation needs, increasing public access to outdoor recreational opportunities, giving states increased flexibility to meet their conservation and recreation goals and retaining existing programs important to states.

We look forward to working with you on a successful bipartisan LWCF reauthorization.

Sincerely,