Heinrich Applauds Biden Administration For Rescinding Policies That Undermined The Land And Water Conservation Fund

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, issued the following statement on the U.S. Department of the Interior taking steps to strengthen the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) by rescinding Trump administration policies that significantly undermined the landmark conservation program:

"I am grateful that President Biden sees the incredible value of the Land and Water Conservation Fund and will take the Great American Outdoors Act and implement it as it was written.

"The Land and Water Conservation Fund is one of America's most successful conservation programs and has helped preserve many treasured places in New Mexico—including the Valles Caldera, Ute Mountain, and Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge. LWCF also helps protect our drinking water, provide public land access, and ensure that every kid in America--no matter their zip code--can easily access outdoor spaces near their home.

"The Biden administration has $900 million annually to make those investments in our communities, and provide urgently needed stimulus to New Mexico’s outdoor recreation industry, one of the fastest growing parts of our economy before the onset of the pandemic.

"We must devote real resources to expanding opportunities for those in communities who have been historically excluded from the outdoors and ensure we are supporting the next generation of stewards of our air, land, water and wildlife. I look forward to working with the Biden administration to build on the recent historic victories for conservation and make our parks and public lands places everyone can enjoy."