PA Federation Of Sportsmen & Conservationists: Protect Dedicated State Funds Critical To Improve Habitat, Protect Wildlife In PA

On November 18, the PA Federation of Sportsmen and Conservation wrote to members of the Senate and House urging them to protect dedicated state funds used to improve habitat and ensuring access to wild places in Pennsylvania as they finish the FY 2020-21 state budget.

"I write to you today to express our support for the Keystone Recreation Park & Conservation Fund, the Environmental Stewardship Fund, and all other conservation-focused funds held by the State Treasury.

"The PFSC views these funds as critical to the continued protection and promotion of cleaner environments, improved habitat and ensuring user access to our wild places in Pennsylvania, benefitting all wildlife and citizens of Pennsylvania and providing vital tourism interest from neighboring states.

"The financial benefit of combining the dollars raised privately and matching governmental funding sources results in a force multiplier that often exceeds $3 for every $1 contributed by the general fund to the various conservation funds.

“Defunding our conservation funds will put Pennsylvanians out of work and impact our citizens’ ability to enjoy the outdoors.."

The test of the letter follows--

Honorable Pennsylvania Senators and Representatives:

On behalf of the affiliated state organizations, sportsmen/conservation clubs, and individual members comprising the over 60,000 Pennsylvania conservationists represented by the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen & Conservationists, I write to you today to express our support for the Keystone Recreation Park & Conservation Fund, the Environmental Stewardship Fund, and all other conservation-focused funds held by the State Treasury.

The PFSC views these funds as critical to the continued protection and promotion of cleaner environments, improved habitat and ensuring user access to our wild places in Pennsylvania, benefitting all wildlife and citizens of Pennsylvania and providing vital tourism interest from neighboring states.

The financial benefit of combining the dollars raised privately and matching governmental funding sources results in a force multiplier that often exceeds $3 for every $1 contributed by the general fund to the various conservation funds. 

As you work through a difficult budget, we ask that you please refrain from cutting or removing any monies from established conservation funds.

PFSC also reminds you of the benefits the funding of the hundreds of “shovel ready” projects provides by employing Pennsylvanians and Pennsylvania’s small businesses and contractors throughout the Commonwealth. 

Defunding our conservation funds will put Pennsylvanians out of work and impact our citizens’ ability to enjoy the outdoors.

The Pennsylvania Constitution. Article I, Section 27 clearly states: “The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic, and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania’s public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come.”

Funding of the Environmental Stewardship Fund, Keystone Recreation Park & Conservation Fund and other conservation funds provide for delivering on this constitutional right. 

We ask you to please ensure they continue to be supported and fully funded in all future Pennsylvania budgets.

Sincerely,

Harold Daub

Executive Director

PA Federation of Sportsmen & Conservationists

Click Here for a copy of the letter.

For more information on programs, initiatives, upcoming events and how you can get involved, visit the PA Federation of Sportsmen and Conservation website.

Contact Your Legislator

Click Here to find your House and Senate member and let them know how you feel.

NewsClip:

How To Survive COVID Winter?  Parks Are Open Year-Round.  Get Out And Enjoy Nature

Related Articles This Week:

-- Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership: 3 Reasons PA Officials Should Not Drain Conservation Funds To Balance The Budget - Act Now

-- Growing Greener Coalition: 93% Of Pennsylvanians Say We Have A Moral Obligation To Care For Our Environment - Don’t Cut Dedicated Funding

-- Growing Greener Coalition Urges General Assembly, Governor To Reject Any Budget Proposal That Undermines Dedicated Funding For Community-Driven Conservation Projects

-- PA Environmental Council: Protect Investment In Outdoor Recreation And Public Lands

-- CBF: Raiding Dedicated Conservation Funds To Plug The State's Budget Gap Would Further Damage PA's Environment

-- -- PA Parks & Forests Foundation Opposes Any Effort To Cut Dedicated Funds To Support State Park, Forest, Recreation Projects

-- WeConservePA: State Conservation Funding Commitments Deliver Economic Benefits

Related Articles - Budget:

-- New Poll Shows 90% Of PA Voters Want Senate, House Members To Address Environmental, Conservation Priorities, Provide More Funding For Critical Programs

-- PA Farm Bureau, 45 Other Hunting, Angler, Business, Environmental, Watershed Groups Urge Senate, House To Pass On-Farm Conservation Funding Bill This Year

-- PA Conservation Districts Ask Lawmakers To Keep Same Funding For Their Vital Services As They Finalize FY 2020-21 State Budget

-- State Parks Continue To Break Visitor Records In September: 4.7 Million Visitors, Up 31 percent Over Last Year

-- State, Regional, Local Outdoor Recreation ‘Through The Roof’ Across Pennsylvania

-- Op-Ed: Now Is The Time To Invest In Parks, Not Cut Them

-- Analysis: 2020 Is A Make Or Break Year For Environmental Funding

-- House Speaker Cutler: Republicans Will First Raid Dedicated Funds To Balance Budget In November

-- House Republicans Pass Bill To Freeze Funding For County Conservation Districts, Local Parks, Farm Conservation, Watershed Restoration Projects; Will Hurt Local Economies

-- House Republicans Moving Bill To Reallocate Keystone Fund, Damage Vitality Of PA’s Outdoor Economy

-- Analysis: Why Republican Freeze On Funding For Local Parks, Trails, Farm Conservation, Mine Reclamation, Recycling Is Bad For The Economy, Communities, The Environment

-- Senate Environmental Committee Puts Spotlight On Funding Needed To Implement PA Clean Water Plan At Chesapeake Bay Briefing

[Posted: November 18, 2020]  PA Environment Digest