Bipartisan effort permanently funds Land and Water Conservation Fund, addresses maintenance backlog at ailing parks
For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, July 22, 2020
Contact:
Lee Francis | Deputy Director
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
(804) 225-1902 | lfrancis@valcv.org
RICHMOND – Today, the House of Representatives passed the Great American Outdoors Act, a once-in-a-generation conservation package that fully and permanently funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund while also steering billions of dollars to fund needed repairs across our nation’s parks and public lands.
Early estimates predict passage of this legislation will lead to the creation of more than 10,000 jobs in the Commonwealth by addressing the $1.1 billion maintenance backlog at national parks in Virginia alone.
In response to today’s vote, Lee Francis, deputy director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, issued the following statement:
“Investment in public lands and outdoors access is an investment in our health, our wellbeing, and our economy, and is coming at a time when we desperately need it. The Great American Outdoors Act will bring jobs and investment to Virginia to help us build a parks system we can be proud of and one that will help ensure increased access to the outdoors in communities across the Commonwealth. We are incredibly grateful for the leadership of Virginia’s congressional delegation, especially Senator Mark Warner, who has long been committed to protecting our parks system for future generations.”
About us:
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters serves as the political voice of the state’s conservation community, working to make sure Virginia’s elected officials recognize that our natural heritage is an environmental and economic treasure for all. Virginia LCV works with conservation leaders across Virginia and strives for a conservation majority in state government. We secure good public policies on the state level and hold public officials accountable for their positions on environmental issues. For more information, visit www.valcv.org.
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