FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 6, 2015
DENVER — In response to ongoing false claims from some members of Congress that the Land & Water Conservation Fund contains billions of unspent dollars in a reserve account, the Center for Western Priorities highlights the following quotes from Republican and Democratic officials:
Lynn Scarlett, former Interior Department Chief Operating Officer under President George W. Bush:
“There is no magic $20 billion, or even $1, waiting around for Congress to support the Land and Water Conservation Fund and its purposes.”
(Media conference call, October 1, 2015)
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA), Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman:
“There’s been money paid into that account, on paper. But that money’s been spent.”
(Environment & Energy Daily, October 5, 2015)
Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), ranking Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee:
“As an accounting matter, everything that’s authorized for LWCF but not spent on the program each year becomes an IOU that sits in the Fund.”
(Press release, September 29, 2015)
Jennifer Rokala, Executive Director at the Center for Western Priorities, added:
“It’s unfortunate that some members of Congress continue to mislead the public by claiming the Land & Water Conservation fund is just fine, even though Congress allowed the LWCF to expire after 50 years of protecting and building our neighborhood, state, and national parks. The LWCF has broad support from both parties in both chambers of Congress.
“Regrettably, Rep. Rob Bishop and a tiny handful of his obstinate allies are blocking the renewal of one of our country’s most successful conservation programs. Americans easily see through these excuses for inaction.”
The Center for Western Priorities debunks three more misleading statements about the Land & Water Conservation Fund in this post on its website, including:
- Nothing has changed and LWCF is still intact
- LWCF is about expanding the federal estate
- LWCF needs reform so states can get more money
For more information or interviews, contact Aaron Weiss at 720-279-0019 or aaron@westernpriorities.org.