Protecting Maine’s outdoor heritage

By U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin

(R-Maine)

Maine is home to some of our Nation’s most breathtaking landscapes, diverse wildlife, and pristine environments.  These irreplaceable features truly make our home unique, and it is important that they are preserved.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is a program that provides important funding to Maine, contributing to the preservation and exhibition of some of our Nation’s most unique natural beauties and resources.  However, the LWCF is due to expire at the end of September.

As an outdoorsman, a member of the Congressional Sportsmen Caucus, and the representative of thousands of adventurous constituents in our Second District, one of my priorities is to protect our outdoors and to ensure that it can be enjoyed by Mainers and the millions of people who visit or Great State annually.

That’s why I recently wrote a letter to the Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee urging him to reauthorize the LWCF.

I believe that an extension to the LWCF is important to protecting Maine’s outdoors. For years, it has provided our State with the resources needed to facilitate and maintain our outdoor parks and recreation sites, such as Acadia National Park, and to incentivize landowners to be good stewards of the land.

It is also critical that these conservation efforts, which have served Mainers’ interests for decades, do not negatively affect our families, communities and businesses.  You can rest assured that I am a strong supporter of private property rights and the ability of our citizens to responsibly snowmobile, hunt, fish, camp, and hike, while also protecting jobs supported by this land.  It is vital that these conservation policies do not infringe on private citizens and small business owners.

As Maine’s Second District Congressman, I will be sure to voice Mainers’ strong opinion on re-authorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund.