Action Alert: Tell your Representative and Senator to permanently fund land conservation

Sunday, September 05, 2010

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Tell your Representative and Senator to permanently fund land conservation You can take action on this alert by reading the information below and following the directions at the bottom. Please help pass the most important legislation for hunters and anglers this year! Call your Congressman and tell him we want the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) made permanent and we want it fully funded! Title IV of H.R. 3534, the Consolidated Land, Energy and Aquatic Resources Act (CLEAR Act), contains language that would fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund at its authorized level of $900 million dollars per year. The CLEAR Act was approved last week by the House Natural Resources Committee and is now moving toward consideration by the full House of Representatives and Senate. Please help pass the most important legislation for hunters and anglers this year! Call your Representative and Senator and tell him we want the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) made permanent and we want it fully funded! Have you heard of the Land and Water Conservation Fund? This federal fund is our nation’s premier land conservation program. It was created more than forty years ago as a mitigation measure against the very real threats of drilling for gas and oil along the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). OCS lease fees create a very big revenue stream (more than $9 billion per year) and the Land and Water Conservation Fund is part of these fees. LWCF is authorized to receive a very small percentage of OCS revenue, but it adds up to $900 million a year. All states can apply for these funds to conserve special land and water resources. The fund was intended to be used to help protect some of America's and Georgia’s most important natural lands, from Wildlife Refuges, National Parks, national forests, historic sites and battlefields, to state wildlife management areas and state and local parks. The problem is that the Congress of the United States and various Administrations have often diverted the funds to other purposes leaving us hunters and anglers and our outdoor allies with an empty promise of more fish and wildlife habitat protected. Now we have an opportunity to solve that problem. If this measure passes then NO MORE DIVERTING OUR LAND CONSERVATION MONEY! And no more interrupting an orderly process of conserving the best wildlife habitat, pristine waters, and special places across America worthy of our financial investment in the outdoors. LWCF is the only account that provides a specific conservation offset to federal energy development. Now is the time to ensure that LWCF becomes a true dedicated trust fund to protect these lands and waters from being diverted to other unrelated purposes. Outdoor recreation, much of which takes place on lands protected by LWCF, is vital to our nation's economy. Hunting, fishing, camping, climbing, hiking, paddling, backcountry skiing, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, and other activities contribute a total of $730 billion annually to the economy, supports 6.5 million jobs (1 of every 20 jobs in the U.S.) and stimulates 8% of all consumer spending according to the Outdoor Industry Foundation. A recent national bipartisan poll shows strong support for the continued use of oil and gas fees for land and water protection and for fully funding the LWCF at $900 million annually. An overwhelming majority of voters -- 86 percent -- support committing funds from offshore drilling fees to LWCF. We have an opportunity to weigh in on an issue that will help hunters and anglers enormously in Georgia and nationwide! Call your Representative and Senator ASAP! The vote may not even make it to the floor unless many members of Congress ask the Speaker to call the vote. Individual sportsmen and women can make it happen by letting your member of Congress know we are watching and demanding results. Please call today! Your message will be sent to each of the following targets: Your U.S. Representative Your U.S. Senator A sample message appears below, which you may edit before sending. Support the CLEAR Act . Permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund Dear Representative, Title IV of H.R. 3534, the Consolidated Land, Energy and Aquatic Resources Act (CLEAR Act), contains language that would fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund at its authorized level of $900 million dollars per year. The CLEAR Act was approved last week by the House Natural Resources Committee and is now moving toward consideration by the full House of Representatives and Senate. Please support the passage of the CLEAR Act! As a Georgia sportsman I strongly support the protection of wildlife habitat, of other special lands and waters, and more access to recreational lands across our great nation. Now is the time to ensure that the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) becomes a true dedicated trust fund to protect this funding for lands and waters from being diverted to other unrelated purposes. Outdoor recreation, much of which takes place on lands protected by LWCF, is vital to our nation's economy. Hunting, fishing, camping, climbing, hiking, paddling, backcountry skiing, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, and other activities contribute a total of $730 billion annually to the economy, supports 6.5 million jobs (1 of every 20 jobs in the U.S.) and stimulates 8% of all consumer spending according to the Outdoor Industry Foundation. A recent national bipartisan poll shows strong support for the continued use of oil and gas fees for land and water protection and for fully funding the LWCF at $900 million annually. An overwhelming majority of voters -- 86 percent -- support committing funds from offshore drilling fees to LWCF. As your constituent I ask that you push to get this important legislation to a vote by the full House and Senate, and that you will vote yes to pass it. Thank you for taking action to support the hunters and anglers of Georgia and of America. Sincerely, Your name and address here This Action Alert Campaign is Closed.