Congressman Alan Lowenthal (CA-47) issued the following statement on the signing of S.47, the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act:
“S.47 being signed into law is a win for conservation, recreation, historic preservation, and cultural resource protection across our nation. Comprised of over 100 individual bills, it is the culmination of many months of bipartisan and bicameral negotiations, and I am proud to have had a hand in drafting some of the language.
“The legislation permanently reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation fund, which Congress allowed to expire at the end of las year. The LWCF has been the nation’s most successful conservation program for over 50 years, funding conservation and recreation projects in nearly every county in the country.
“The new law also designates over 1 million acres of wilderness on federal land in states across the West. California alone will see the addition of five new recreation areas, over 300,000 acres of new Wilderness, and the expansion of Joshua Tree and Death Valley National Parks and Mojave National Preserve.
“Lastly, this legislation designates four new national monuments, adds over 600 miles to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and even provides a seven-year authorization of the Every Kid Outdoors Act, which gives 4th graders across the country access to our nation’s public lands free of charge.
“Included in the S.47 package is the WILD Act, a bill that I introduced in the House of Representatives with Congressman Don Young (R-AK). The WILD Act reauthorizes several important programs including in the Multinational Species Conservation Fund (MSCF), which includes dedicated funds for rhinos, tigers, great apes, marine turtles, as well as African and Asian elephants. The WILD Act also expands the Marine Turtle Conservation Fund to include tortoises and freshwater turtles, establishing a new source of funding for these priority species. The WILD Act also creates the Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize, a concept that will encourage innovation in wildlife conservation, combating wildlife trafficking and poaching, and other areas.
“I will continue fighting to preserve and protect our environment, not only for the health of our planet today, but so that we can live up to our duty to leave this world better for our children and their children.”
This article was released by the Office of Congressman Alan Lowenthal.