** Great American Outdoors Act to fund LWCF clears procedural hurdle
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Tuesday, June 9, 2020
A land acquisition near the rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison in Colorado was made possible with LWCF funds. @BlackCanyonNPS ([link removed])
Legislation to fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) inched one step closer to the finish line on Monday evening by clearing a procedural vote ([link removed]) in the U.S. Senate. The bill would deposit $900 million annually in the LWCF ([link removed]) to support the acquisition and improvement of public lands. It will also create a $9.5 billion fund ([link removed]) over five years to address the significant maintenance backlog in America's national parks.
There aren't many issues that can bridge a partisan divide in an election year, but the Great American Outdoors Act is a piece of legislation that members from both parties ([link removed]) can get behind; the 80-17 vote ([link removed]) in the Senate to consider the legislative package is indicative of the robust support backing this bill.
** Interior faces legal scrutiny for acting appointments
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Interior Secretary David Bernhardt is facing criticism for indefinitely extending the temporary appointment of officials, including acting Bureau of Land Management head William Perry Pendley and acting National Park Service chief David Vela. Legal experts say the department may be violating laws on filling vacancies ([link removed]) .
Quick hits
** Trump's border wall threatens to derail decades of collaborative binational conservation efforts
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High Country News ([link removed])
** Trump's environmental rollbacks particularly threaten minority communities
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The Hill ([link removed])
** Bernhardt responds to lawmakers' concerns about U.S. Park Police's aggressive tactics to clear protesters
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E&E News ([link removed])
** The Great American Outdoors Act to fully and permanently fund LWCF inches closer toward final passage
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New York Times ([link removed]) | Billings Gazette ([link removed]) | Idaho State Journal ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])
** Trump administration clears the way for Alaska hunters to trap and kill bear cubs and wolf pups in their dens
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Washington Post ([link removed])
** Interior Department faces legal, ethical scrutiny for extending temporary appointments indefinitely
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The Hill ([link removed]) | Associated Press ([link removed])
** Montana tribal nations adhere to strict coronavirus prevention protocols to preserve their culture
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Montana Free Press ([link removed])
** New data shows that 500 species are likely to become extinct in the next two decades
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New York Times ([link removed])
Quote of the day
Protecting public lands is good policy and good politics.”
—Tiernan Sittenfeld ([link removed]) , senior vice president for government affairs at the League of Conservation Voters
Picture this
** @ ([link removed]) BLMWyoming ([link removed])
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All aboard for National Fishing and Boating Week! Release stress and enjoy time in nature by visiting your favorite fishing hole or wherever you like to float your boat. Photo by Tim Wilson #NationalFishingAndBoatingWeek ([link removed]) #TheWaterIsOpen ([link removed]) #GetYourFishOn ([link removed]) #GetOnBoard ([link removed])
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