SENATE MEMORIAL 6

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2010

INTRODUCED BY

Eric G. Griego

A MEMORIAL

SUPPORTING EFFORTS BY UNITED STATES SENATOR JEFF BINGAMAN TO SECURE FULL FUNDING FOR THE FEDERAL LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND.

     WHEREAS, the land and water conservation fund is the principal source of federal dollars for protecting land in America's national parks, forests, refuges and other public landscapes and for ensuring recreational opportunities for Americans in every state in the nation; and

     WHEREAS, in establishing the fund, congress recognized the importance of protecting lands that have significant natural, recreational and scenic attributes and of developing lands and facilities for outdoor recreation at state and local levels; and

     WHEREAS, federal funding has protected critical areas across New Mexico's federal lands, including El Malpais, Petroglyph and Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks national monuments; Valles Caldera national preserve; El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro national historic trail; Orilla Verde recreation area; Chaco Culture national historical park; Sevilleta national wildlife refuge; the Cibola, Lincoln, Carson, Santa Fe and Gila national forests; and many others; and

     WHEREAS, over one thousand grants, spread across every New Mexico county and totaling nearly forty-one million dollars ($41,000,000), have been made through the federal fund's stateside program; and

     WHEREAS, these grants have been matched with state and local funds to plan, construct and enhance parks, playgrounds, recreational trails, ball fields, pools and other recreational facilities in communities across the state; and

     WHEREAS, funding for designation of and access to recreational lands and facilities is important to New Mexico's economy because these lands attract tourists from around the world; create jobs in retail, tourism, guiding, outfitting and other sectors; contribute to a quality of life that draws businesses and retirees to settle in New Mexico; and provide for the health and well-being of people who enjoy the recreational opportunities afforded by these lands and facilities; and

     WHEREAS, the land and water conservation fund is authorized at a level of nine hundred million dollars ($900,000,000) per year, which money is derived largely from treasury receipts stemming from federal Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas leases; and

     WHEREAS, the fund has been chronically shortchanged in the annual budget and appropriations process, with revenues collected for its funding regularly diverted to other purposes; and

     WHEREAS, full funding has been appropriated only once in the forty-five-year history of the fund, and while the past two years have seen an increase in funding, the three hundred five million dollars ($305,000,000) appropriated this year is still only one-third of the authorized level; and

     WHEREAS, this chronic diversion of revenues has resulted in a huge backlog of unmet funding needs for land protection and outdoor recreation across federal public lands and the state and local parks and recreational facilities; and

     WHEREAS, full and dedicated funding is needed to help New Mexico communities conserve their clean water, clean air, livable communities and high quality of life; to benefit local economies; to protect natural, cultural and scenic heritage; and to provide access to outdoor recreation today and for future generations; and

     WHEREAS, United States Senator Jeff Bingaman, on November 6, 2009, introduced the Land and Water Conservation Authorization and Funding Act of 2009 to provide for full and dedicated funding of the land and water conservation fund to ensure an adequate and permanent investment in America's natural, cultural and recreational heritage;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that it support efforts by Senator Jeff Bingaman to secure full funding for the federal land and water conservation fund and that it invite the rest of the New Mexico congressional delegation to join in this worthy effort; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the New Mexico congressional delegation.

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