Statement on the House Appropriations Committee draft fiscal year 2020 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies funding bill
Release Date: 5/15/19
“We pleased to see that this draft funding bill proposes $3.39 billion for the National Park Service, which is $168 million above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level and $649 million above President Trump’s appalling budget request. This funding will help to strengthen park operations and further protect our irreplaceable natural and cultural resources.
We are also encouraged that the House Interior Appropriators recognized that LWCF is a vital program for our parks and wildlife and provided the fund with nearly $90 million more than last year, a 20% raise in the funding and the most in two decades.
LWCF needs to be fully funded in order to fulfill its promise of over fifty years ago. The consistent diversion of LWCF funds away from the ten accounts under the program’s umbrella has shortchanged America’s natural and cultural resources from our National Parks to local playgrounds, from working forests that protect drinking water for millions to critical outdoor recreation infrastructure, from historic treasures to essential wildlife habitat and access for all to hunt and fish.
We look forward to working with Congress to ensure that LWCF has full and permanent funding at its authorized level of $900 million.”
– Phil Francis, Chair, Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks
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The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks is a reliable, respected, and effective advocate for achievement of the mission and goals of the National Park Service. Recognized as the Voices of Experience, CPANP studies, educates, speaks, and acts for the preservation and protection of the National Park System, and mission-related programs of the National Park Service. CPANP represents over 1,700 current, former, and retired employees and volunteers of the National Park Service, with over 40,000 collective years of stewardship of America’s most precious natural and cultural resources.