Alan Lowenthal: “As I begin, I and many others have been outraged by the President's zero-tolerance policy, so it is so therapeutic for…”

“As I begin, I and many others have been outraged by the President's zero-tolerance policy, so it is so therapeutic for me to stand before you today and talk about a program that brings us together rather than divides us. Today I rise to celebrate the successes of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The LWCF is a highly successful conservation program, and it enjoys great bipartisan support. It was created in 1964. It was a bipartisan commitment to safeguard our natural areas, to safeguard our water resources, and to protect and enhance our cultural heritage. We also wanted to be able to provide for recreational opportunities for all Americans. It was a simple idea. It said: Use the resources from the depletion of one resource, which was offshore oil and gas, to support the conservation of another precious resource, our land and water. Over its 50-year history, with no cost to taxpayers, it has provided critical access to public lands for hunting, fishing, biking, hiking, climbing, paddling, and many other outdoor activities that Americans enjoy. It has protected critical watersheds, ecosystems that provide for clean, safe drinking water, and has protected the habitat for our wildlife. Finally, it has provided protection and access for cultural and historic sites across our Nation. Fifty percent of it goes to local and State grants, which help to build and preserve local and State parks, trails, and wildlife areas.…”