U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-ME) reached out to House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop this week, urging him to take steps immediately to reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Poliquin explained in a letter the need for reauthorizing the fund.
“Maine is home to some of our nation’s most breathtaking landscapes, diverse wildlife, and pristine environments,” he wrote. “These irreplaceable features truly make our home unique, and it is important that they are preserved.”
The Land and Water Conservation Fund is set to expire in September.
“I believe that an extension to the LWCF is important to protecting Maine’s outdoors,” he continued. “For years, it has provided our State with the resources needed to facilitate and maintain our outdoor parks and recreation sites, and to incentivize land owners to have proper land management plans. It is also critical that these conservation efforts, which have served Mainers interests for decades, do not negatively affect our families, communities and businesses.”
The Congressman reiterated that he an avid outdoorsman and a strong supporter of private property rights that allow citizens to responsibly snowmobile, hunt, fish, camp and hike, while also protecting jobs supported by their land. He states, however, that “it is vital that these conservation policies do not infringe on private citizens and small business owners.”
“I hope that you and our colleagues on the House Natural Resources Committee make sure this important program is reauthorized,” Poliquin concluded. “I ask that you bear in mind both the need to protect our environment and the need to ensure that our businesses, families and communities have the opportunity to grow without unnecessary and burdensome federal policies.”