Last Thursday, a series of amendments to a bill approving the Keystone XL Pipeline were voted on by the Senate. Thankfully, Senators Wyden and Merkley voted against efforts to rollback access to public lands and conservation including S. Amdt 166 which would withdraw protections for tens of millions of acres of public lands across the country that are importing to fishing and hunting. If passed, these and other amendments would have undone decades of progress that has been made to protect our country’s prized open spaces and wild landscapes.
In addition to preventing roll backs, Senator Wyden, Senator Merkley, Senator Cantwell and Senator Murray led the charge to renew valuable conservation programs. We thank them for composing an amendment to the Keystone which would have permanently reauthorized the Land & Water Conservation Fund.
NSIA sent a letter of appreciation for the support to Senator King, Senator McCain, Senator Gardner, Senator Kirk, Senator Collins, Senator Blunt, Senator Burr, Senator Tillis, Senator Ayotte, Senator Portman, Senator Graham, Senator Thune, Senator Alexander, Senator Corker, and Senator Capito in voting in favor of The Burr Bennot Senate Amendment 92 to the Keystone XL Pipeline Act S.1. Losing by only one vote, this is a great sign that Congress may be able to come together this year in support to renew funding of LWCF.