skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, March 29, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Montana Coalition Pushes for Bipartisan LWCF Renewal

play audio
Play

Wednesday, November 25, 2015   

HELENA, Mont. – A broad coalition of conservationists, sportsmen and political leaders is speaking out against a move in Washington, D. C., to replace a long-standing program that uses oil and gas royalties to conserve land, with one that diverts much of the royalty money for other purposes.

Last week, the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources held a hearing on the proposed Protecting America's Recreation and Conservation (PARC) Act as a potential replacement for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The latter program expired in September when a small group of congressional Republicans blocked a vote.

Dave Chadwick, who heads the Montana Wildlife Federation, said the PARC Act would essentially gut the LWCF, a program that has been in place for 50 years.

"It has broad bipartisan support in Congress," said Chadwick of the LWCF. "It's really just being held up by a small fringe that has an ideological problem with public lands, despite the many benefits that public land provides for those of us who live in the West."

Just since 2005, Montana has received almost $240 million for projects through LWCF programs. Over the years, it has helped fund 800 local parks and sports fields, and has contributed funds to about 70 percent of Montana's fishing access sites.

The PARC Act would limit the government's ability to buy land, including isolated, private parcels surrounded by federal land. It also would set aside 20 percent of the royalty revenues to retrain oil and gas workers as the economy converts to clean energy.

To John Gale, conservation director for the group Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, conservation money should not be siphoned off for that purpose.

"We think the time is now to reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund as it exists now – and then, fully fund it," Gale said.

The entire Montana congressional delegation has indicated support for the LWCF.

Alan Rowsome, The Wilderness Society's senior director of government relations for lands, is optimistic that the LWCF will win out, and be permanently reauthorized.

"I think that there is a political will and momentum building, with bipartisan members of Congress who want to see this done," said Rowsome. "And that should hopefully be helpful and important to keeping this on the agenda, and having it be a part of the conversation for a legislative victory, moving forward."

If nothing is done, the monies that were once set aside for conservation will simply be returned to the U.S. Treasury's general fund.

The House Committee on Natural Resources is expected to hold another hearing, but has not yet set a date.



get more stories like this via email

more stories
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

play sound

Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

play sound

Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Social Issues

play sound

Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

play sound

New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Social Issues

play sound

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

play sound

Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021