# Land and Water Conservation Fund Amendments Act of 2021

This bill makes changes to how the federal government funds the protection and development of public lands and water resources across the country. The Land and Water Conservation Fund is an existing program that uses money from oil and gas leases on federal lands to pay for things like buying new parkland, protecting forests, and building recreational facilities. Right now, the fund doesn't always receive the full amount of money that's supposed to go into it—Congress has to approve the spending each year. This bill would guarantee that the fund automatically receives a set amount of money every year without requiring Congress to vote on it each time.

The practical effect is that more money would reliably flow toward conservation projects. States, local governments, and conservation organizations would have better funding to acquire land for parks, trails, and wildlife habitats, and to maintain existing public spaces. Hunters and fishermen would benefit from improved wildlife management areas, and outdoor enthusiasts would see more investment in trails and recreation facilities. The bill also expands how the money can be used—allowing it to fund things like improving water access and addressing deferred maintenance on existing public lands that have fallen into disrepair.

For taxpayers and the general public, this means more consistent investment in America's natural spaces without requiring annual political battles over funding. However, it does tie this conservation spending to oil and gas revenues, so the amount available could fluctuate based on energy markets. The bill essentially makes conservation funding more stable and predictable, which allows land managers and local communities to plan long-term projects with confidence.

Land and Water Conservation Fund Amendments Act of 2021

Rubio, Marco

Land and Water Conservation Fund Water Amendments Act of 2021 This bill authorizes the Department of the Interior to provide financial assistance for water quality improvement projects from amounts made available under the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Interior shall only provide such financial assistance to projects that seek to improve water quality by improving, restoring, remediating, or developing natural hydrological systems, such as wetlands and living shorelines. To be eligible for assistance, a state's comprehensive statewide outdoor recreation plan shall identify <ul> <li>any body of water within the state for which a water quality control plan has been developed pursuant to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, and</li> <li>any proposed water quality project to be conducted with respect to such body of water.</li> </ul>