Concord Monitor - Senate Votes Prove Conservation is Bipartisan

News Article

By Chris Wood and Paul Doscher

The conservation of our nation's lands and waters is a concept that unites nearly all Americans - certainly those of us who like to hike, watch wildlife, fish and hunt.

In our state, 90 percent of people asked by a University of New Hampshire poll agreed that it's important to conserve and protect our most important wildlife habitat, drinking water supply lands and scenic landscapes. That's why it is so perplexing when Congress creates partisan battle lines and finds ways to fight over such a basic and fundamental American value.

Thankfully, New Hampshire's senators refuse to fall into that trap, and continue to work on behalf of our nation's natural heritage. In a series of very important steps that received little attention outside the Beltway, the Senate in the past few months has passed legislation to protect some of our greatest places to hike, fish and hunt, and has rejected proposals that would have done away with protections for some of our most vital backcountry lands.

Each time, Sens. Ayotte and Shaheen have risen above partisanship to stand on the side of sportsmen and women, and all those who value our great outdoors. Just last month, Ayotte led an amendment that would have reauthorized the Land and Water Conservation Fund, one of the most successful conservation programs we have. The Land and Water Conservation Fund is in large part responsible for the establishment of such iconic conservation areas as the Connecticut Lakes Headwaters, numerous state parks and all of the more recent additions to the White Mountain National Forest. It has provided grants to numerous New Hampshire communities to create parks and outdoor recreation facilities all over the state.

Initially 62 senators voted in favor of the amendment, giving it the necessary number of votes to pass and - for a moment - securing a victory for conservation. But then politics intervened and some senators were persuaded to change their votes, and the final tally was reduced to 59 votes. The amendment failed by a single vote.

If only the rest of the U.S. Congress would follow the example set by New Hampshire's senators, whose actions over the last few months have shown that bipartisanship is possible - and it works. It is the only way we will be able to leave the next generation with healthier land and waters. And more fish and wildlife to watch, catch and hunt.

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