This measure would urge the Congress of the United States to permanently reauthorize and fully fund the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund in order to maintain and preserve land and water resources.

This measure would urge the Congress of the United States to permanently reauthorize and fully fund the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund in order to maintain and preserve land and water resources.

This measure would urge the Congress of the United States to reauthorize and fully fund the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund in order to maintain and preserve land and water resources.

This measure would urge the Congress of the United States to reauthorize and fully fund the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund in order to maintain and preserve land and water resources.

WHEREAS, The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) was created by Congress in 1965 as a bipartisan commitment for protection of natural areas, water resources, cultural heritage, and outdoor recreational opportunities throughout the country; and

WHEREAS, Over the 50 years since the LWCF was created, billions of dollars in funding have been provided to protect valuable land and water resources, including, but not limited to, parks, forests, rivers, lakes, wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities. These investments have resulted in the permanent protection of nearly five million acres of public lands and working landscapes; and

WHEREAS, Despite being chronically underfunded, the LWCF has had several positive conservation and recreation impacts throughout the country, has protected lands in each state, and has supported over 41,000 state and local park projects; and

WHEREAS, Since its inception, the LWCF has delivered over $2 billion to California, and has provided hundreds of millions of dollars more for projects through its matching fund program; and

WHEREAS, The LWCF has helped conserve some of Californias most treasured and iconic natural resources in each region of the state, including, but not limited to, Lake Tahoe, the Mojave Desert, Point Reyes National Seashore, the Headwaters Forest Reserve, the San Diego and Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuges, working forests in the Sierra Nevada, and Central Valley wetlands; and

WHEREAS, The LWCF has provided funding for outdoor recreational and park programs benefitting underserved youth and others in urban and rural communities throughout the state, and has established a critical federal partnership with state and local parks and communities; and

WHEREAS, Forest Legacy Program grants are also funded through the LWCF to protect working forests, which support jobs and sustainable forest operations and enhance wildlife habitat, water quality, and recreation. The Forest Legacy Program grants have provided $12 million in federal funds, which along with matching funds have provided a total of $62 million in investments in California forests; and

WHEREAS, The LWCF is critical to the quality of life in California. The LWCF protects watersheds and drinking water supplies; provides sustainable jobs in urban and rural communities; protects the economic asset that federal, state, and local public lands represent; conserves natural areas, wildlife habitats, and open space from urban parks to large landscapes; improves access for sportsmen, sportswomen, and recreationists to natural lands; stimulates local economies and jobs that support tourism and outdoor recreation sectors; preserves wetlands, forests, and watersheds; and provides state and local grants to support healthy communities; and

WHEREAS, According to the Outdoor Industry Association, active outdoor recreation supports $85.4 billion of consumer spending and 723,000 jobs in California, which annually generates $27 billion in wages and salaries and $6.7 billion in state and local tax revenue; and

WHEREAS, The United States Census Bureau reports that each year 7.4 million people engage in outdoor recreation in California, which contributes over $8 billion of wildlife-related recreation spending to the state economy; and

WHEREAS, Despite the LWCFs successes, many more lands and resources remain vulnerable and in critical need of investment, and many urban and rural populations remain underserved; and

WHEREAS, The LWCF will expire if not reauthorized by Congress before September 30, 2015; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature urges Congress to permanently reauthorize and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States, and to the author for appropriate distribution.

WHEREAS, The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) was created by Congress in 1965 as a bipartisan commitment for protection of natural areas, water resources, cultural heritage, and outdoor recreational opportunities throughout the country; and

WHEREAS, Over the 50 years since the LWCF was created, billions of dollars in funding have been provided to protect valuable land and water resources, including, but not limited to, parks, forests, rivers, lakes, wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities. These investments have resulted in the permanent protection of nearly five million acres of public lands and working landscapes; and

WHEREAS, Despite being chronically underfunded, the LWCF has had several positive conservation and recreation impacts throughout the country, has protected lands in each state, and has supported over 41,000 state and local park projects; and

WHEREAS, Since its inception, the LWCF has delivered over $2 billion to California, and has provided hundreds of millions of dollars more for projects through its matching fund program; and

WHEREAS, The LWCF has helped conserve some of Californias most treasured and iconic natural resources in each region of the state, including, but not limited to, Lake Tahoe, the Mojave Desert, Point Reyes National Seashore, the Headwaters Forest Reserve, the San Diego and Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuges, working forests in the Sierra Nevada, and Central Valley wetlands; and

WHEREAS, The LWCF has provided funding for outdoor recreational and park programs benefitting underserved youth and others in urban and rural communities throughout the state, and has established a critical federal partnership with state and local parks and communities; and

WHEREAS, Forest Legacy Program grants are also funded through the LWCF to protect working forests, which support jobs and sustainable forest operations and enhance wildlife habitat, water quality, and recreation. The Forest Legacy Program grants have provided $12 million in federal funds, which along with matching funds have provided a total of $62 million in investments in California forests; and

WHEREAS, The LWCF is critical to the quality of life in California. The LWCF protects watersheds and drinking water supplies; provides sustainable jobs in urban and rural communities; protects the economic asset that federal, state, and local public lands represent; conserves natural areas, wildlife habitats, and open space from urban parks to large landscapes; improves access for sportsmen, sportswomen, and recreationists to natural lands; stimulates local economies and jobs that support tourism and outdoor recreation sectors; preserves wetlands, forests, and watersheds; and provides state and local grants to support healthy communities; and

WHEREAS, According to the Outdoor Industry Association, active outdoor recreation supports $85.4 billion of consumer spending and 723,000 jobs in California, which annually generates $27 billion in wages and salaries and $6.7 billion in state and local tax revenue; and

WHEREAS, The United States Census Bureau reports that each year 7.4 million people engage in outdoor recreation in California, which contributes over $8 billion of wildlife-related recreation spending to the state economy; and

WHEREAS, Despite the LWCFs successes, many more lands and resources remain vulnerable and in critical need of investment, and many urban and rural populations remain underserved; and

WHEREAS, The LWCF will expire if not reauthorized by Congress before September 30, 2015; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature urges Congress to permanently reauthorize and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States, and to the author for appropriate distribution.

WHEREAS, The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) was created by Congress in 1965 as a bipartisan commitment for protection of natural areas, water resources, cultural heritage, and outdoor recreational opportunities throughout the country; and

WHEREAS, Over the 50 years since the LWCF was created, billions of dollars in funding have been provided to protect valuable land and water resources, including, but not limited to, parks, forests, rivers, lakes, wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities. These investments have resulted in the permanent protection of nearly five million acres of public lands and working landscapes; and

WHEREAS, Despite being chronically underfunded, the LWCF has had several positive conservation and recreation impacts throughout the country, has protected lands in each state, and has supported over 41,000 state and local park projects; and

WHEREAS, Since its inception, the LWCF has delivered over $2 billion to California, and has provided hundreds of millions of dollars more for projects through its matching fund program; and

WHEREAS, The LWCF has helped conserve some of Californias most treasured and iconic natural resources in each region of the state, including, but not limited to, Lake Tahoe, the Mojave Desert, Point Reyes National Seashore, the Headwaters Forest Reserve, the San Diego and Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuges, working forests in the Sierra Nevada, and Central Valley wetlands; and

WHEREAS, The LWCF has provided funding for outdoor recreational and park programs benefitting underserved youth and others in urban and rural communities throughout the state, and has established a critical federal partnership with state and local parks and communities; and

WHEREAS, Forest Legacy Program grants are also funded through the LWCF to protect working forests, which support jobs and sustainable forest operations and enhance wildlife habitat, water quality, and recreation. The Forest Legacy Program grants have provided $12 million in federal funds, which along with matching funds have provided a total of $62 million in investments in California forests; and

WHEREAS, The LWCF is critical to the quality of life in California. The LWCF protects watersheds and drinking water supplies; provides sustainable jobs in urban and rural communities; protects the economic asset that federal, state, and local public lands represent; conserves natural areas, wildlife habitats, and open space from urban parks to large landscapes; improves access for sportsmen, sportswomen, and recreationists to natural lands; stimulates local economies and jobs that support tourism and outdoor recreation sectors; preserves wetlands, forests, and watersheds; and provides state and local grants to support healthy communities; and

WHEREAS, According to the Outdoor Industry Association, active outdoor recreation supports $85.4 billion of consumer spending and 723,000 jobs in California, which annually generates $27 billion in wages and salaries and $6.7 billion in state and local tax revenue; and

WHEREAS, The United States Census Bureau reports that each year 7.4 million people engage in outdoor recreation in California, which contributes over $8 billion of wildlife-related recreation spending to the state economy; and

WHEREAS, Despite the LWCFs successes, many more lands and resources remain vulnerable and in critical need of investment, and many urban and rural populations remain underserved; and

WHEREAS, The LWCF will expire if not reauthorized by Congress before September 30, 2015; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature urges Congress to permanently reauthorize and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States, and to the author for appropriate distribution.

WHEREAS, The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) was created by Congress in 1965 as a bipartisan commitment for protection of natural areas, water resources, cultural heritage, and outdoor recreational opportunities throughout the country; and

WHEREAS, Over the 50 years since the LWCF was created, billions of dollars in funding have been provided to protect valuable land and water resources, including, but not limited to, parks, forests, rivers, lakes, wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities. These investments have resulted in the permanent protection of nearly five million acres of public lands and working landscapes; and

WHEREAS, Despite being chronically underfunded, the LWCF has had several positive conservation and recreation impacts throughout the country, has protected lands in each state, and has supported over 41,000 state and local park projects; and

WHEREAS, Since its inception, the LWCF has delivered over $2 billion to California, and has provided hundreds of millions of dollars more for projects through its matching fund program; and

WHEREAS, The LWCF has helped conserve some of Californias most treasured and iconic natural resources in each region of the state, including, but not limited to, Lake Tahoe, the Mojave Desert, Point Reyes National Seashore, the Headwaters Forest Reserve, the San Diego and Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuges, working forests in the Sierra Nevada, and Central Valley wetlands; and

WHEREAS, The LWCF has provided funding for outdoor recreational and park programs benefitting underserved youth and others in urban and rural communities throughout the state, and has established a critical federal partnership with state and local parks and communities; and

WHEREAS, Forest Legacy Program grants are also funded through the LWCF to protect working forests, which support jobs and sustainable forest operations and enhance wildlife habitat, water quality, and recreation. The Forest Legacy Program grants have provided $12 million in federal funds, which along with matching funds have provided a total of $62 million in investments in California forests; and

WHEREAS, The LWCF is critical to the quality of life in California. The LWCF protects watersheds and drinking water supplies; provides sustainable jobs in urban and rural communities; protects the economic asset that federal, state, and local public lands represent; conserves natural areas, wildlife habitats, and open space from urban parks to large landscapes; improves access for sportsmen, sportswomen, and recreationists to natural lands; stimulates local economies and jobs that support tourism and outdoor recreation sectors; preserves wetlands, forests, and watersheds; and provides state and local grants to support healthy communities; and

WHEREAS, According to the Outdoor Industry Association, active outdoor recreation supports $85.4 billion of consumer spending and 723,000 jobs in California, which annually generates $27 billion in wages and salaries and $6.7 billion in state and local tax revenue; and

WHEREAS, The United States Census Bureau reports that each year 7.4 million people engage in outdoor recreation in California, which contributes over $8 billion of wildlife-related recreation spending to the state economy; and

WHEREAS, Despite the LWCFs successes, many more lands and resources remain vulnerable and in critical need of investment, and many urban and rural populations remain underserved; and

WHEREAS, The LWCF will expire if not reauthorized by Congress before September 30, 2015; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature urges Congress to permanently reauthorize and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States, and to the author for appropriate distribution.

 THIRD READING 

Bill No: AJR 27

Author: Levine (D), et al.

Amended: 9/2/15 in Assembly

Vote: 21

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 62-13, 9/2/15 - See last page for vote

SUBJECT: The Land and Water Conservation Fund

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST: This resolution urges the Congress of the United States to reauthorize and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) in order to maintain and protect land and water resources.

ANALYSIS: This resolution makes the following legislative findings:

1. The LWCF was created by Congress in 1965 as a bipartisan commitment for protection of natural areas, water resources, cultural heritage, and outdoor recreational opportunities throughout the country.

2. Over the 50 years since the LWCF was created, billions of dollars in funding have been provided to protect valuable land and water resources, including, but not limited to, parks, forests, rivers, lakes, wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities. These investments have resulted in the permanent protection of nearly five million acres of public lands and working landscapes.

3. Since its inception, the LWCF has delivered over $2 billion to California, and has provided hundreds of millions of dollars more for projects through its matching fund program. The LWCF has helped conserve some of California’s most treasured and iconic natural resources in each region of the state, including, but not limited to, Lake Tahoe, the Mojave Desert, Point Reyes National Seashore, the Headwaters Forest Reserve, the San Diego and Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuges, working forests in the Sierra Nevada, and Central Valley wetlands.

4. The LWCF is critical to the quality of life in California. The LWCF protects watersheds and drinking water supplies; provides sustainable jobs in urban and rural communities; protects the economic asset that federal, state, and local public lands represent; conserves natural areas, wildlife habitats, and open space from urban parks to large landscapes; improves access for sportsmen, sportswomen, and recreationists to natural lands; stimulates local economies and jobs that support tourism and outdoor recreation sectors; preserves wetlands, forests, and watersheds; and provides state and local grants to support healthy communities.

5. The LWCF will expire if not reauthorized by Congress before September 30, 2015

This resolution urges the Congress of the United States to reauthorize and fully fund the LWCF in order to maintain and protect land and water resources.

Background

According to the author,

The LWCF is the country's premiere land conservation program that provides funds for, among other things: recreational areas for hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, and wildlife watching; for national, state and local parks; for preservation of historic battlefields and other cultural resources; for protection of watersheds, wetlands, water supplies and water quality; for conservation of working landscapes, including forests, farms and ranches; for wildlife refuges and other wildlife conservation projects; and for support of local economies through increased outdoor recreation.

The LWCF is funded from a small percentage of federal offshore oil and gas drilling fees. While up to $900 million per year from offshore royalties is authorized for the LWCF, a considerably smaller percentage has actually been appropriated for the conservation and recreation purposes for which the LWCF was created. However, despite chronic underfunding, since its creation in 1965 the LWCF has protected lands in every state, and supported over 41,000 state and local land and water projects.

Of all states, California has been the biggest recipient of LWCF monies, receiving approximately $2.06 billion over the past 50 years. These funds have leveraged hundreds of millions of dollars in matching funds for California, and have protected such iconic places as Lake Tahoe, the California Desert, Point Reyes National Seashore, the Sonoma Coast, and Sierra Nevada forests. The Forest Legacy Program, which protects working forests, is also funded through the LWCF, and has leveraged approximately $12 million in federal LWCF funds for a total investment of $62 million in California's forests.

Studies have shown that every $1 of LWCF revenues invested, returns $4 in economic value in the form of jobs, wages, consumer spending, and tax revenues generated.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No

SUPPORT: (Verified 9/4/15)

Audubon California

California Council of Land Trusts

California State Park Foundation

California Trout

California Waterfowl Association

Ducks Unlimited

Eastern Sierra Land Trust

Northcoast Regional Land Trust

Pacific Forest Trust

Peninsula Open Space Trust

Save the Redwoods League

Sempervirens Fund

Sequoia Riverlands Trust

Solano Land Trust

The Nature Conservancy

The Trust for Public Land

Trout Unlimited

Wildlife Heritage Foundation

OPPOSITION: (Verified 9/4/15)

None received

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 62-13, 9/02/15

AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Baker, Bloom, Bonilla, Bonta, Brown, Burke, Calderon, Campos, Chau, Chávez, Chiu, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Dababneh, Daly, Dodd, Eggman, Frazier, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gatto, Gipson, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon, Gray, Hadley, Roger Hernández, Holden, Irwin, Jones-Sawyer, Kim, Lackey, Levine, Linder, Lopez, Low, Maienschein, Mathis, McCarty, Medina, Mullin, Nazarian, O'Donnell, Perea, Quirk, Rendon, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Weber, Williams, Wood, Atkins

NOES: Travis Allen, Brough, Dahle, Beth Gaines, Gallagher, Grove, Harper, Obernolte, Olsen, Patterson, Wagner, Waldron, Wilk

NO VOTE RECORDED: Bigelow, Chang, Jones, Mayes, Melendez

Prepared by: Jonas Austin / SFA / (916) 651-1520

9/4/15 14:34:16

**** END ****

ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:AJR 27

Author:(Levine)

As Introduced Ver:August 27, 2015

Majority vote

SUMMARY: Urges the Congress of the United States to reauthorize and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) in order to maintain and protect land and water resources. Specifically, this resolution:

1. Makes findings and declarations regarding:

   1. The history, purposes and benefits of the LWCF to California and the nation, including benefits for outdoor recreation, parks, forests and other working landscapes, wildlife habitat, water resources, and state and local economies;

   2. The economic benefits of active outdoor recreation which supports consumer spending and jobs in the state and local communities; and

   3. The need for further investments in land and water conservation programs, and that the LWCF will expire if not reauthorized by Congress before September 30, 2015.

2. Urges Congress to permanently reauthorize and fully fund the LWCF, and requests the Chief Clerk of the Assembly to transmit copies of this resolution to the President, Vice President, Congressional leaders, and to each member of the California Congressional delegation.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Under federal law, establishes the LWCF Act, the purposes of which are to assist in preserving, developing, and assuring United States citizens and visitors access to outdoor recreation resources, by providing funds for and authorizing federal assistance to states in planning, acquisition, and development of needed land and water areas and facilities, and providing funds for federal acquisition and development of certain lands and other areas.

2. Provides that until September 30, 2015, the following revenues shall be deposited into the LWCF in the Treasury of the United States:

   1. Proceeds from disposal of federal surplus real property;

   2. Motorboat fuels tax;

   3. Miscellaneous receipts under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.

3. Authorizes Congress to appropriate monies from offshore oil and gas royalties and other monies in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, in such amounts as are necessary to make the income of the LWCF fund not less than $900 million for each fiscal year through September 30, 2015.

4. Provides that 40% of appropriations from the LWCF shall be for federal purposes, including the national park system, national scenic trails, national wilderness, national wild and scenic rivers, and national recreation areas administered by the Secretary of Agriculture.

5. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to provide financial assistance to states from moneys in the LWCF available for state purposes for outdoor recreation planning, acquisition and development. Establishes requirements for allocation of funding among states, and provides that payments to states shall cover not more than 50% of the costs of projects. Requires states to prepare a comprehensive statewide outdoor recreation plan prior to funding.

FISCAL EFFECT: None. This bill is keyed non-fiscal by the Legislative Counsel.

COMMENTS: This resolution urges Congress to reauthorize and fully fund the LWCF. The author notes that the LWCF is the country's premiere land conservation program and has provided funds for: recreational areas for hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, and wildlife watching; for national, state and local parks; for preservation of historic and cultural resources; for protection of watersheds, wetlands, water supplies and water quality; for conservation of working landscapes, including forests, farms and ranches; for wildlife refuges and other wildlife habitat conservation; and for support of local economies through increased outdoor recreation. Virtually every county and district in the state has benefited from LWCF investments. The author also notes the significant economic benefits that the state and local economies have received from investments in land and water conservation and outdoor recreation. As the state with the most diverse natural environment in the nation, California has significant natural and economic resources at stake that stand to benefit from continuation of the federal/state partnership the LWCF provides.

Enacted in 1965, the LWCF was a bipartisan commitment to provide ongoing funding for land and water conservation, and to provide outdoor recreational opportunities for Americans. The Act was proposed by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, and ultimately signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. Since its inception, the LWCF has protected nearly five million acres of public lands, including some of the country's most iconic landscapes. Funding for the program comes primarily from a small percentage of offshore oil and gas royalties, with a smaller amount from sales of surplus federal properties and motorboat fuels tax. While the Act specifies that $900 million per year is to be deposited in the fund, significantly less than that has been appropriated annually for purposes of the Act. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2013, for example, $305 million from the LWCF was appropriated nationwide. The program sunsets on September 30, 2015, unless reauthorized by Congress.

The LWCF has contributed to a diverse array of land and water conservation programs and projects, including but not limited to: national, state and local parks; recreational areas, trails, and waterways; cultural and historical sites; and protection of watersheds, wetlands and forests that in turn help protect water supplies and water quality.

California has benefitted significantly from the LWCF over its 50 year history, and has received more LWCF monies than any other state. Approximately $2.06 billion in LWCF has gone to California, approximately $1.78 billion of which was for federal lands and projects, $288 million for state matching grants, and $23 million for the Forest Legacy Program, which aims to protect working forests and sustainable timber jobs, while also protecting air and water quality, wildlife habitat, and recreational access.

Examples of areas in California that have received LWCF investments include Lake Tahoe, the American River Parkway, Cache Creek, Central Valley Wetlands, Consumnes River Preserve, Point Reyes National Seashore, Pinnacles National Monument, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and hundreds of state and local park projects in counties throughout the state.

The LWCF has also provided federal matching funds for local park and recreational facility grants in California, administered by the Department of Parks and Recreation. Priority development projects include trails, campgrounds, picnic areas, natural areas and cultural areas for recreational use. Property acquired or developed under the program must be maintained in perpetuity for public outdoor recreation use.

This resolution also cites the economic benefits of LWCF investments, and the economic contributions of outdoor recreation generally to the state's economy. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, active outdoor recreation supports $85.4 billion in consumer spending and 723,000 jobs in California, generating $27 billion in wages and salaries, and $6.7 billion in state and local tax revenue. The United States Census Bureau similarly reports that 7.4 million people engage in outdoor recreation in California, which contributes over $8 billion in wildlife-related recreation spending to the state economy. The Trust for Public Land conducted a study that analyzed data on LWCF investments in federal land conservation from 1998 to 2009 and concluded that for every $1 in LWCF investment, a $4 return in economic value was realized.

This resolution acknowledges the many benefits of the LWCF, as well as the continuing unmet need for investment in California's land and water resources and outdoor recreation, and urges Congress to reauthorize and fully fund the LWCF Act.

Prior related legislation includes HR 32 (Brownley) of 2008, which was passed by the Assembly, expressed the Assembly's support for full appropriation of the LWCF to outdoor resources, but with specific emphasis on the National Park Service.

Supporters note that every region in the state has received funding from the LWCF, which has conserved such iconic areas as Lake Tahoe, the California Desert, Point Reyes National Seashore, San Diego and Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuges, the Sierra Nevada forests, and Central Valley Wetlands. The LWCF has also supported hundreds of state and local parks and forestry projects. Supporters also note that these investments have helped deliver jobs, local taxes and consumer spending in the billions to California.

There is no known opposition to this bill.

Analysis Prepared by: Diane Colborn / W., P., & W. / (916) 319-2096 FN: 0001941