Yellowstone Times

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is getting renewed support from President Trump. He recently tweeted that he's asking Congress to "fully and permanently fund" the LWCF, a conservation program that, in the past, he has tried to reduce budget funding for.

According to the Missoulian, his tweet reads: "I am calling on Congress to send me a bill that fully and permanently funds the LWCF and restores our national parks," Trump tweeted. "When I sign it into law, it will be HISTORIC for our beautiful public lands. ALL thanks to @SenCoryGardner and @SteveDaines, two GREAT Conservative leaders!"

The Land and Water Conservation Fund uses offshore drilling revenue to protect important land, water, and recreation areas for Americans. In 2018, $1.2 million was allocated for Montana's state parks.

“The Land and Water Conservation Fund is a critical conservation program that protects public access to public lands and our Montana way of life,” Senator Steve Daines, chair of the Senate's National Parks Subcommittee, said in a statement. “We united a divided Congress last year when we got permanent authorization of the program signed into law.  Now, we must provide full, mandatory funding for this important, bipartisan program."

Senator John Tester also said he was in support of the President's call to action. “After years of trying to gut LWCF, I'm thrilled that President Trump reversed course and now wants to sign my bipartisan permanent full funding bill into law,” Tester said in a statement. “I'm hopeful (Senate Majority Leader) Mitch McConnell will drop his opposition to LWCF and let us protect our public lands and Montana's $7.1 billion outdoor recreation economy by fully funding this vital conservation tool."

In a responding statement, Sen. McConnell said that funding LWCF is a priority for him and the situation will be addressed in a timely manner.

The annual fully authorized level of funding for LWCF is $900 million. In fiscal year 2020, $495 million was budgeted. The proposed budget for fiscal year 2021 cuts that amount by 97%, allocating only $14.7 million to protect watersheds and drinking water supplies, and conserve natural areas and open space for wildlife and recreation.