Pappas Hikes Black Cap with AMC Following Passage of Landmark Conservation Legislation

NORTH CONWAY, NH - On Wednesday, August 12, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) joined Appalachian Mountain ClubPresident John Judge and Vice President for Conservation Susan Arnold for a hike up North Conway's Black Cap. They also discussed the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), landmark conservation legislation that passed the House in July, and was signed into law in August. GAOA provides permanent, full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and creates the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund.

"From the Mount Washington Valley to the Seacoast, New Hampshire's way of life and our economy are rooted in our natural surroundings. It is the responsibility of each and every one of us to ensure that future generations can enjoy the benefits of our natural environment," said Congressman Pappas. "I can't think of a better way to celebrate the passage and signing of the Great American Outdoors Act than by experiencing the great outdoors first-hand with the Appalachian Mountain Club. This historic, bipartisan bill was one of the most significant pieces of conservation legislation that Congress has approved in decades, and it could not have become law at a more critical time. I am committed to protecting New Hampshire's forests, lakes, rivers, and mountains, and doing my part to ensure that we leave our state better than how we found it."

"Now, perhaps more than ever, Americans are showing how essential it is to be able to access public land and water for both physical and mental health," said John Judge, President, and CEO of the Appalachian Mountain Club. "Thank you to Congressman Pappas for joining us on Black Cap yesterday, and for his support for fully funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund and addressing the backlog of maintenance on our public lands. The Great American Outdoors Act will help support our nation's vibrant recreation economy and local communities, as well as help to ensure that everyone will be able to reach a park, forest, or trail near them to enjoy time in the outdoors that is truly restorative."

The Great American Outdoors Act fully funded the LWCF at $900 million annually, well above its yearly average funding level. This fund is used each year to enhance and establish local, state, and national preservation areas including everything from local playgrounds to national park expansion. The legislation also creates the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund to provide funding to the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish, and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Indian Education to fix buildings, trails, roads and other public infrastructure in need of repair for the next five years.

New Hampshire's $8.7 billion outdoor recreation industry is an economic driver for the entire state – supporting 79,000 jobs, generating $2.6 billion in wages and salaries, and producing $528 million annually in state and local tax revenue. In New Hampshire, the LWCF has invested more than $163 million to protect forests, wildlife refuges, trails, and to increase recreation access. LWCF has protected places like White Mountain National Forest, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site, Connecticut Lakes, Moose Brook State Park, and Pisgah State Park.

Background:

The Land and Water Conservation Fund often referred to as LWCF, is used each year to enhance and establish local, state, and national preservation areas. LWCF funds everything from local playgrounds to national park expansions and is one of the country's most popular conservation programs.

Protecting public lands and preserving natural wildlife habitats is now more important than ever. Temperatures have increased about 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, and the United Nations recently found that human activities threaten 1 million plants and animals with extinction.

An expanded LWCF will, among other things, mean more opportunities to preserve green spaces in currently low income and park-poor communities. The Great American Outdoors Act advances the cause of environmental justice by giving community planners more resources to improve outdoor access for underserved children and families unaccustomed to outdoor activities.