Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) and six cosponsors introduced a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which is set to expire in 2015. LWCF directs royalties from oil and gas exploration in the Outer Continental Shelf to support federal conservation projects and matching grants for state recreation and parks. LWCF is designed to receive $900 million each year from such federal royalties, but has been traditionally underfunded. According to the press release, the bill would permanently direct such funds to the LWCF program. The National Governors Association supported the LWCF reauthorization proposal in last year’s surface transportation bill negotiations, though the provision was dropped from the bill prior to its passage.

Link: Press Release; NGA 5/11/12 Letter