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Rep. Kaptur Praises Interior Secretary Jewell for Cleveland Visit

August 13, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) praised Department of Interior Secretary Sally Jewell for her visit to Rivergate Park in Cleveland today to announce new funding and celebrate 50 years of success of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Despite bipartisan support and a long record of successful environmental achievements, Congress has not passed legislation to sustain the program’s future operations. Rep. Kaptur is a co-sponsor of H.R. 1814, legislation that would permanently reauthorize the LWCF. Without Congressional action, the fund will expire in less than 50 days.

“The LWCF plays an important role in supporting healthy communities and a healthy ecosystem in our region,” said Rep. Kaptur. “This initiative broke new ground for environmental stewardship fifty years ago. In that time it has permanently protected some five million acres of public land throughout the country. Today’s visit by the Secretary of the Interior to Rivergate Park in Cleveland shows the Department of the Interior’s continued commitment to Northern Ohio. As we continue to push for more responsible stewardship of our precious land and water resources, I want to thank Secretary Jewell and the many local, state, and national leaders and advocates who are the lifeblood of this effort.”

Brian Zimmerman, Cleveland Metroparks Chief Executive Officer, added, "Cleveland Metroparks thanks U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur for recognizing the importance of the Cleveland Foundation Centennial Trail. Trails provide connectivity, promote health, wellness and economic growth for Cleveland's community. This 1.3 mile stretch of trail will ultimately connect residents to Cleveland's greatest natural asset, our lakefront."

Polling on the LWCF shows that the fund enjoys widespread support among the American people. An estimated 72 percent of Americans support funding for the initiative even in the context of federal budget problems, and an even greater number agree that the fund should continue to be supplied with fees from offshore oil and gas drilling.

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