As an American evangelical Christian leader and a strong advocate of our public lands, I am pleased to see our Congress taking charge of the environmental and conservation challenges we are facing and acting to protect our sacred public lands.

The Por La Creación: Faith-Based Alliance is a bipartisan partnership of Hispanic pastors who believe in a common-sense approach to managing our natural resources. In February, 20 of us from Arizona gathered together in the Grand Canyon to talk about the Colorado River and the need for us to take action to protect this precious resource provided by God. This river provides water for one-third of Latinos in the United States. Latinos make up the bulk of agricultural workers harvesting the produce this river waters. We boat, fish, swim and recreate along its banks.

On Tuesday, May 14, the House Appropriations Committee released the draft fiscal year 2020 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies funding bill. The legislation includes funding for programs within the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other related agencies. The draft bill provides $523.9 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), including $244 million for the federal program and $280 million for state programs.

U.S. Rep. Diane DeGette of Colorado has introduced a bill to reinstate Obama-era controls on the venting and burning of methane gas on federal land. The gas is a byproduct of oil and gas extraction. The Methane Waste Prevention Act of 2019 would reinstate rules that the Trump administration rolled back saying they were a burden on industry.

On Tuesday, May 14, U.S. Sen. Kamala D. Harris and Rep. Nanette Barragán reintroduced the Outdoors for All Act, which aims to help communities around the country construct and improve parks and other outdoor recreational spaces, particularly in underserved communities that lack access to outdoor recreation areas.

WASHINGTON – While the Land and Water Conservation Fund is now permanently reauthorized, President Donald Trump’s proposed budget for 2020 cuts federal funding for LWCF by more than 100 percent, not only zeroing out the program but rolling back funds previously appropriated by Congress last year — jeopardizing the future of one of America’s most effective conservation programs.

REDLANDS – Yesterday, the U.S. House passed the Senate’s public lands bill, which creates one of the largest wilderness expansions in a decade including additions to Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks and the San Bernardino National Forest, as well as the permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. To highlight the diverse benefits of our public lands and explore what the legislation means for California, Hispanic Access Foundation and Por La Creación Faith-based Alliance held a community roundtable with expert panelists representing health professionals, veterans, business interests, educational leaders, energy companies, parks and environmental justice groups.

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. House passed Senate Bill 47, the Natural Resources Management Act, protecting millions of acres of land and hundreds of miles of wild rivers across the country, establishing four new national monuments and permanently reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Maite Arce, President and CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation, released the following statement:

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on the decade’s largest public lands package, which protects millions of acres of land and hundreds of miles of wild rivers across the country, as well as establishes four new national monuments and permanently reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Senate Bill 47, otherwise known as The Natural Resource Management Act, passed out of the Senate on Feb. 12 by a vote of 92 to 8 and would finally secure the future for the expired LWCF, which has been one of the most effective tools in conservation and in establishing access to the outdoors without a cost to taxpayers.

WASHINGTON – In response to the Senate’s passage of its Lands Package, which includes the permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Maite Arce, president and CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation, released the following statement: