New Hampshire’s US Senators continue to call for reauthorizing the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Republican Kelly Ayotte and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen were among those last week who unsuccessfully tried to pass a 60 day extension of the fund.
Speaking on the Senate floor last week, Shaheen said there was a perception the program was primarily used to acquire federal land. She said most of the funding for federal projects was instead used on existing parks, refuges and conservation areas:
“Consolidating these lands helps reduce federal maintenance and management costs, saves taxpayer dollars, and enhances the experience visitors have to these areas,” Shaheen said.
Ayotte said the lapse of the fund was "unacceptable" and called for its permanent reauthorization.
The LWCF uses a percentage of revenue from offshore oil and gas leases to provide grants for federal, state and local conservation projects.
