John,
Wednesday would have been The Trust for Public Land’s Lobby Day, where volunteers around the country planned to meet with elected officials in Washington, D.C. to share the importance of public lands and ask members of Congress to support funding for conservation and National Parks.
During these difficult times, our Federal Affairs team is working hard to urge members of Congress to protect our National Parks and public lands through the Great American Outdoors Act. But with so many competing priorities and the immediate need for Congress to address the ongoing public health crisis — some legislators are starting to shift their interest away from public lands and toward other items on their agenda.
We need to show our legislators that public lands are essential, and that we want to see eco-friendly legislation passed through Congress. So we’re putting together a Virtual Lobby Day, where we’re working to demonstrate the importance of parks and public land conservation by generating 10,000 “visits” to the Hill in the next 48 hours. And we need 200 public land advocates from DC.
Will you virtually visit Capitol Hill with us by sending a message to your members of Congress in support of parks and public lands?
Here’s what’s at stake:
- Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF): This critical source of federal funding for public lands will help us recover from this crisis through funding rural gateway communities and providing green jobs and access to nature in areas where it’s needed now more than ever.
- National Parks: More than $11 billion in maintenance projects within our National Park system have been on the backburner due to lack of funds. We want to restore our National Parks to their full glory!
- Close-to-Home Parks: Neighborhood park funding will produce jobs, reduce inequity, and bring more open space to the people and places that need them the most.
- Parks Departments: In the 2008 economic crisis, parks departments were the first to experience significant budget cuts. We’re supporting legislation that would provide direct funds to municipalities with fewer than 500,000 residents that could help these pressed local agencies.
- Trails: Pedestrian and bike trails, safe routes to school, and other green infrastructure would benefit public health and increase public access for everyone. We’re working to ensure Transportation Alternative funds are included in transportation infrastructure legislation.
Our parks and natural spaces are crucial to our physical, mental, and emotional health. Take action now and urge your representatives to support these legislative efforts to protect public lands so we can keep these special places safe and accessible.
Thank you, John. Even though we can’t physically meet in Washington, D.C. this Wednesday, your voice along with thousands of advocates from The Trust for Public Land will add strength to our virtual meetings with legislators as we hold our first Virtual Lobby Day.
Yours in conservation,
Jordan Schreiber
Director of Advocacy
The Trust for Public Land
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