Lawler Leads Bipartisan Letter Urging Protection of the Land and Water Conservation Fund

Washington, D.C. - 7/7/26… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) led a bipartisan letter to House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman urging him to reject any effort to amend the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) as the Committee considers legislation to reauthorize the Legacy Restoration Fund.

Thanks to President Trump's leadership, Chairman Westerman's support, and strong bipartisan support in Congress, the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) permanently funded LWCF, fulfilling a 60-year promise by ensuring that $900 million in annual offshore oil and gas receipts are dedicated to conservation and outdoor recreation purposes. The lawmakers noted that LWCF has supported conservation and recreation projects in every state and nearly every county across the country for more than 60 years.

Joining Rep. Lawler in sending the letter were Reps. Jack Bergman (MI-01), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), Nick Langworthy (NY-23), Nick LaLota (NY-01), Kevin Kiley (CA-03), Rob Bresnahan Jr. (PA-08), Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Thomas Kean Jr. (NJ-07), Jefferson Van Drew (NJ-02), Michael Turner (OH-10), Chris Smith (NJ-04), Nancy Mace (SC-01), Don Bacon (NE-02), Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), Carol Miller (WV-01), Mike Simpson (ID-02), David Joyce (OH-14), Ryan Zinke (MT-01), and Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06).

The full letter can be found HERE.

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

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