As Californians, we are fortunate to enjoy some of the most breathtaking landscapes and pristine wilderness in the country, from Muir Woods in the north of our state to the Santa Monica Mountains in the south. The continued preservation of these and many other sites of great natural beauty across California and the United States is thanks to wise investments made through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).
Funded by royalties paid by energy companies drilling for oil and gas on federal lands, the LWCF provides matching grants to states and local governments for the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation areas and facilities without using a penny of tax dollars. These grants are also an investment in our economy. Outdoor recreation contributed $46 billion, including $28.1 million in retail sales and services, to California's economy this year, and this economic activity supports approximately 408,000 jobs throughout the state.
Given California's and our nation's unemployment rate, it's all the more disturbing that Republicans in the House of Representatives are attempting to gut the Land and Water Conservation Fund this year. If successful, their actions will not be without consequences; cuts to the LWCF risk further damage to our state's fragile economy and the communities that depend on revenue generated by outdoor recreation. Many of these communities already suffer from high unemployment, and cutting off funding for projects that help create jobs is unconscionable.
The debate around conservation funding will soon become critical as Congress gears up for the final steps in the Fiscal Year 2012 appropriations process. In the Senate, a draft version of the bill that funds the Interior Department, including the LWCF, was recently released and established the Senate's priorities for the agency. We recently sent a letter with 30 of our colleagues to Senators Feinstein and Boxer letting them know that California House Democrats stand with them against attempts to undermine these essential investments in our natural heritage.
We have entered a dangerous period for the future of public lands in California and across the nation. Congressional Republicans are intent on undermining our ability to safeguard irreplaceable landscapes and advancing legislation that will result in paving wilderness with development, polluting our clean air and water, and cutting funding for ball fields, playgrounds and national parks statewide.
In the days and weeks ahead, we will keep fighting to preserve California's natural heritage. Protecting the great outdoors is good for our economy, helps create jobs, and ensures that the scenic landscapes that millions of people enjoy in California each year will be here for generations to come.
Rep. Honda represents California's 15th district, and Rep. Roybal-Allard serves California's 34th district. Follow Rep. Honda on Facebook and Twitter. This Op-Ed first appeared THE HILL's Congress Blog on 10/28/11.
Follow Rep. Mike Honda on Twitter: www.twitter.com/repmikehonda
The economy and the planet and the people all need the built environment to be Ground Zero in the renewables revolution, but instead a mantra of "KILL WILDERNESS FIRST" has prevailed because Big Energy lobbyists have bought the process. We need representatives like you two to stand tall and honor your constituents and the beautiful open spaces in our state by protecting them Big Energy monopolies in an era when sunshine and efficiency harnessed in our built environment can save our economy and our planet.
PACE loans and German style feed in tarriffs, please. We can't wait any longer.
The Wall St. cabal must be indicted, competently prosecuted, to reestablish justice, sanity, and the stabilization of the United States.
US statecraft demands the termination of the monetary financial system, the termination of the Super Congress: The immediate implementation of the Glass-Steagall standard in US banking is crucial, separating the legitimate debt from the illegitimate, cancelling all obligations to the Inter Alpha Group of Banks, the Wall St cabal. Stop the bailouts, put the Fed into bankruptcy protection, recover the bailout trillions. Create the US National Bank, the repository of the national credit system, that funds the necessary economy platform, NAWAPA, and its ancillary facilities that enhance the population's standard of living. Stop Perpetual War, that is war conducted against the US, leaving us weaker and bankrupt, making economic recovery impossible. NO OTHER OPTIONS EXIST AND TIME IS RUNNING OUT.
There should never be a question that people have a right to the basics they need to survive. We are the only species on the planet that denies this right. It should be the birthright of every American to a share of the land and resources they need to be self sustaining. We can live in harmony with the land and resources and provide for the survival of ALL Americans, not just those with money.
Populations continue to grow and needs more-n-more land space.
Keeping growing populations stuffed in major cities makes crime rates and homicide skyrocket.
Laying down infrastructure, starting with roads and hi speed rail, will bring new cities and towns and physical economic growth and teach us how to build a great standard of living in challenging places.
Then we can take that knowledge and build beautiful cities on other planets for future generations.
We humans need to develop an holistic system of living on this earth before we go off polluting and destroying other planets! Truly.
Economy formation measures must be implemented now, or this great nation is doomed. The representatives of the people in government should be announcing the indictment of the Wall St. cabal, the immediate implementation of the Glass-Steagall standard in US banking.
Please tell us you are going to terminate the monetary financial, debt based, system. Put the Fed into bankruptcy protection, recover the bailout trillions. Create the US National Bank, the repository of the national credit system, that funds the 50 states, then fund the necessary power dynamic, economy platform, NAWAPA, and its ancillary facilities that enhance the population's physical economy, our standard of living. Stop Perpetual War, that is war against the United States, leaving us weaker and bankrupt, making economic recovery impossible. No other options exist and time is running out.
Thank you Congresspersons.