The funding allotment for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) included in the Omnibus spending bill marked a substantial increase over previous years.
Kirsten Holland picks up on an underreported factoid from the recent Congressional approval of the Omnibus spending bill: "lawmakers allocated a total of $450 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a 47 percent increase over the FY15 level, and reauthorized the program for three years."
The state assistance component of the LWCF, which provides funding assistance to states for "local and regional conservation and recreational development projects," also increased to 24 percent of the total allotment. " Over the last decade, average state assistance funding has been around only 12.5 percent of total annual LWCF allocations, so this represents a significant increase in funding available for state and local planners working on recreation and conservation projects," writes Holland.
The article concludes with a call to action on reforms for the LWCF, including additional funding.
FULL STORY: Congress Increases Parks Funding, Reauthorizes LWCF for 3 Years
Planning Programs to Watch in the Federal Omnibus Spending Bill
Congress is on pace to wrap up a major piece of federal legislation before leaving for recess.
Oil Export Ban Lifted—After 42 Years
Thanks to a 'must-pass' omnibus spending bill that President Obama indicated he would sign, the ban on crude oil exports, a relic of the 1973 Arab oil embargo, will be lifted. In exchange, energy credits will be extended for wind and solar products.
Congressional Spending Bill Includes First Ever Federal ‘YIMBY’ Grant Program
The $1.7 trillion spending bill approved by Congress earlier in December includes a significant first: $85 million in discretionary grant funding for local governments to remove obstacles to housing development.
Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
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Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
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