Ayotte Welcomes President's Call to Permanently Fund Conservation Program

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte welcomed the President's announcement that he would request full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) in his Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Budget Request. Specifically, the President's budget calls on LWCF to be funded at the program's fully-funded $900 million level. Ayotte has called for a permanent funding solution for LWCF, and recently worked to pass a three-year extension of the program. She previously helped introduce bipartisan legislation to permanently reauthorize the fund.

"I applaud the president for prioritizing LWCF in his budget request. Preserving New Hampshire's pristine outdoor spaces is important to our state's economy and way of life, and this program has helped protect thousands of acres across our state - without using taxpayer dollars," said Senator Ayotte. "Going forward, I will continue my efforts to permanently reauthorize this critical program, which has made a real difference in our state and nation."

LWCF is an account in the U.S. Treasury that collects a small percentage of offshore oil and gas leasing receipts, specifically intended to be used for conservation projects. At the local, state, and federal levels, LWCF provides grants to help conserve our natural resources and protect outdoor recreation opportunities, working forests, and wildlife areas - without using taxpayer dollars.

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