To amend chapter 2003 of title 54, United States Code, to fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund and provide for the use of such funds, and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-hr-4151
Sponsor: Rep. Simpson, Michael K. [R-ID-2]
Introduced: 2015-12-01 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Appropriations
Endangered and threatened species
Energy revenues and royalties
Forests, forestry, trees
Government trust funds
Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Military history
Oil and gas
Outdoor recreation
Parks, recreation areas, trails
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-01
text: 
This bill makes permanent the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).
 
 Of the appropriations from the LWCF: (1) at least 40% shall be used collectively for federal purposes for certain land and water acquisitions (as currently); (2) at least 40% shall be used collectively to provide financial assistance to states for LWCF purposes and for outdoor recreation, for the Forest Legacy Program, for cooperative endangered species grants, and for the American Battlefield Protection Program; and (3) at least 1.5% or $10 million, whichever is greater, shall be used for projects that secure recreational public access to federal public land for hunting, fishing, or other recreational purposes.
 
The Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture shall consider the acquisition of conservation easements and other similar interests in land where it is appropriate and feasible, taking specified considerations into account.
 
The bill establishes a National Park Service Critical Maintenance and Revitalization Conservation Fund in the Treasury for the deposit of specified amounts from revenues due and payable to the United States under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.
 
Amounts deposited in the Fund shall: (1) be used only for the high priority deferred maintenance needs of the National Park Service that support critical infrastructure and visitor services, and (2) be available for expenditure only after amounts are appropriated for such purposes.
 
Amounts in the Fund shall not be used for acquiring land.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
action_date: 2015-12-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-12-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-12-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-12-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-12-01
text: Introduced in House