Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released the following statement after the Biden Administration took steps to strengthen the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) by rescinding Trump administration policies that restricted the landmark conservation program.

“I’m glad to see the Biden Administration working to undo the previous administration’s efforts to undermine the Land and Water Conservation Fund. When Congress overwhelmingly passed my Great American Outdoors Act last year, it was an acknowledgment of our strong bipartisan commitment to better invest in the protection and preservation of our public lands so that future generations can enjoy them as we have. Following its enactment, I was disappointed that the development of an adequate project list was delayed and that former Secretary Bernhardt placed restrictions on the LWCF in violation of Congressional intent. I look forward to working with the Biden Administration to ensure that the Great American Outdoors Act is fully implemented as intended by Congress, and welcome this step towards that today,” Chairman Manchin said.

Senator Manchin has been a long-time advocate of the LWCF and, in February 2019, led the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act through the Senate, which permanently authorized the LWCF. Last year, Senator Manchin’s Great American Outdoors Act, which provided full and mandatory annual funding of $900 million for the Fund, was signed into law.

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