Hoyer and Interior Secretary: Funding to Preserve More Sites like Douglas Point is in Danger
Wanted to be sure you saw today's Letter to the Editor in the Maryland Independent by Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell on the need to reauthorize and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Act, which expires in September. Rep. Hoyer and Secretary Jewell visited the historic Chiles Homesite on Douglas Point on Friday, May 22, 2015 to celebrate the success of the LWCF. To read the Letter to the Editor, click here or see below:
Funding to Preserve More Sites like Douglas Point is in Danger
By Congressman Steny H. Hoyer and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell
Overlooking the majestic Potomac River is Douglas Point, a site rich with heritage that provides Charles County residents and visitors alike the opportunity to enjoy the natural splendor of Southern Maryland and learn about its history. The site features the remains of the 19th century Chiles Homesite and more than 800 forested acres filled with unique native wildlife.
Though one of the last pristine stretches of Potomac shoreline in the state, the site was at risk of development in the late 1990s until legislation enabled the federal government, working with the state and nonprofit partners, to purchase and permanently protect the property for all to enjoy.
Now the law that is helping to protect Douglas Point, the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act, is itself in jeopardy. For more than 50 years, the act has enabled states and the federal government to use a small portion of revenue from oil and gas development in waters that belong to all Americans to purchase sites like Douglas Point. This funding helps offset development to support critical conservation efforts, preserve historic sites that tell America's story and create outdoor recreation opportunities.
From ballfields in Baltimore to battlefields in Antietam, the Land and Water Conservation Fund has contributed to projects across the state. Places like the Patuxent National Wildlife Refuge, Piscataway Park, Greenbelt Park, Assateague Island, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Catoctin Mountain Park, C&O Canal National Historic Park and Monocacy National Battlefield all have benefited from this critical conservation tool — as have over 40,000 projects across the country.
These conservation and recreation projects are a big boon to local economies, bolstering tourism and supporting local jobs. This is a great deal for Marylanders and all Americans, especially considering it does not require a single dime from taxpayers.
The law is due to expire later this year unless Congress takes action to reauthorize it.
President Obama is encouraging Congress not only to reauthorize the act, but also to fund it fully and permanently at the $900 million level established by the original law. Only once in the fund's history has Congress provided full funding. Each budget cycle, anglers, hunters, ballplayers, outdoor enthusiasts and city dwellers alike have all been shorted, as funds are siphoned off for other purposes.
Two weeks ago, we held an event at Douglas Point to highlight the importance of the Land and Water Conservation Fund ["Officials gather to support cooperation on preservation," Maryland Independent, May 29]. Our message is simple: A half-century ago, Congress made the historic commitment to the American people to offset the impact of development on our lands and waters with smart investments in their conservation and restoration. It is time for Congress to reaffirm this commitment and ensure that our natural and historic resources are protected for generations to come.