Providing for Consideration of H.R. 2996, Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010

PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2996, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2010 -- (House of Representatives - June 25, 2009)

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Mr. McGOVERN. I want to thank the gentleman from Colorado, my colleague on the Rules Committee, for yielding me the time.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to stand here in support of this rule and of the underlying legislation. This Interior Appropriations bill is a bill that respects our environment. I'd especially like to thank Chairman Dicks for his leadership, and I want to thank him also for accepting my amendment to increase funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund Stateside Assistance program by $10 million and for including it in the manager's amendment.

The LWCF Stateside Assistance program is one of the most successful Federal-State-local partnerships in the history of the Department of the Interior. The LWCF Stateside Assistance program matches funds to assist communities in creating new public parks, creating open space, and developing public resources and creating jobs.

The States, cities, counties, and towns that apply for and accept Federal funding from the LWCF Stateside Assistance program agree to match the Federal investment on a dollar-for-dollar basis, and often match significantly more than the Federal share.

Since its inception, it has provided funding for over 41,000 State and local projects in 98 percent of all U.S. counties. There is not a congressional district that has not been impacted in a positive way by an LWCF stateside project.

Having said that, Madam Speaker, I also want to rise in strong opposition to an amendment that will be offered by my colleague from Utah, Mr. Chaffetz, later on today, which would eliminate, which would eliminate the LWCF Stateside Assistance program.

Madam Speaker, as I have already stated, the LWCF Stateside Assistance program has supported projects in 98 percent of all United States counties, including the counties that are included in the State of Utah that are in the district of my friend who's offering this amendment.

This program serves a vital, national need, which helps fulfill conservation efforts while promoting healthy living for all Americans. LWCF funding provides critical funding to protect and enhance our parks, protect our wildlife, and retain the quality of our conservation spaces.

Again, I want to thank Chairman Dicks for working with me on this issue, and I look forward to continuing efforts on behalf of the LWCF Stateside Assistance program.

I urge my colleagues to support the rule and to support the underlying bill.

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