Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) voted Wednesday in support of H.R. 1957, the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). This legislation will ensure permanent, full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and creates a new trust to make infrastructure and other improvements to buildings, trails and roads on national land. The bill now goes to the President’s desk.
“We are fortunate to live in a state full of natural beauty, with some of the best parks and recreation areas our country has to offer right in my district. My family treasures the time we spend hiking, biking, and fishing across our region,” said Rep. Schrier. “While many Washingtonians enjoy these public spaces today, we must do everything we can now to ensure that they are just as vibrant for generations to come. The investments included in the GAOA will get us much closer to this important goal.”
“We’re grateful for Congresswoman Schrier’s staunch support of the Great American Outdoors Act and for expanding access to nature and the health benefits that come with it,” said Mike Stevens, Washington state director for The Nature Conservancy. “The Congresswoman’s support for the Land and Water Conservation Fund has helped us work with the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest to protect 10,000 acres in the upper headwaters of the Yakima River – a project which protects public recreational access to the Central Cascades, preserves fish and wildlife habitat and safeguards the Yakima Basin’s water supply.”
In addition to providing up to $9.6 billion for deferred maintenance in our national parks and federal lands, the Great American Outdoors Act fully funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) at $900 million annually.
Since 1965, investments by the LWCF have protected and supported more than 41,000 state and local park projects and brought millions of dollars directly to our district. This successful model has preserved outdoor spaces, big and small, at no cost to taxpayers. In the 8th district, the Issaquah Creek headwaters, Mount Rainier National Park, the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, and the rivers that flow through the Cascades and into Wenatchee are all examples of public lands that the LWCF has helped to preserve.
The above is a press release from the office of Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-Issaquah, 8th-CD). The Auburn Examiner has not independently verified its contents and encourages our readers to personally verify any information they find may be overly biased or questionable. The publication of this press release does not indicate an endorsement of its contents.
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