Page 26 - WCA July Ketch Pen 2020

Despite Opposition... Senate Passes GAO
By Dan McCarty, NCBA
The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) was established by Congress in 1965 as a long-term safeguard for American recre- ational opportunities by conserving natural resources. Funding is split in two categories: state-side and federal-side. State-side funding provides grants to States and local governments to build facilities like baseball fields and fairgrounds. The Federal funding is solely limited to buy land and water. Since 1965, Congress has exercised their over- sight by determining how much money would be allocated to LWCF through the annual appropriations process. Additionally, they also reviewed the proposed land acquisitions.
When Congress permanently extended the LWCF in 2019, it re- quired Congress to annually appropriate funding, ensuring that members of Congress remained engaged in the decisions and con- tinuing their oversight responsibilities.
The Great American Outdoors Act, passed by the Senate on June 17th, permanently removes Congressional oversight of the LWCF by making the fund mandatory spending level of $900 million per year - in perpetuity - and removing Congress’ ability to review and approve land acquisitions. It is also important to point out that under current statute, federal agencies would be allowed to use 40%, or $360 mil- lion, each year solely to acquire new land.
Additionally, the GAO Act creates a $9.5 billion bailout for federal land management agencies who have a sizeable deferred maintenance backlog. Federal agencies like the BLM, Forest Service, National Park Service, and others have nearly $20 billion in deferred maintenance – to put it simply, they cannot currently afford the maintenance on the assets they already hold. The GAO act does not even address half the current total of the deferred maintenance backlog.
The bill creates at least $17 bil-
lion in new, mandatory spending
and gives federal agencies free rein
to acquire land without Congres-
sional oversight. In addition to
the maintenance costs on current
assets, these new additions to the
federal estate will also require
management and maintenance
over time. These maintenance and
management costs will be balanced
on the back of the American public
through the annual appropriations
process since LWCF does not allow
any of the $900 million to be used
for maintenance. Additionally,
federal management removes these
lands from inclusion in property
tax rolls, and in some cases, significantly limits the tools available to manage these lands.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Public Lands Council were disappointed that the Senate passed the Great Ameri- can Outdoors Act. The organizations have continually urged Con- gress to retain its role in safeguarding public lands by opposing the Act. Attention now turns to the House of Representatives, who will consider the bill. We urge you to contact your Representative and urge them to oppose the Great American Outdoors Act.
Dan McCarty, NCBA Director of Industry and Affiliate Outreach
26 KETCH PEN - July 2020