In the News

Washington, D.C. – 1/13/26… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) announced key provisions included in the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations process to protect the integrity of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and ensure Hudson Valley taxpayer dollars are spent transparently and as Congress intended under the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA).

The GAOA permanently authorized $900 million annually for LWCF to support conservation, outdoor recreation, and land protection nationwide, including across New York. In July 2025, Congressman Lawler led a bipartisan letter to House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Chair Mike Simpson, urging the full LWCF funding guaranteed under GAOA be preserved in the FY26 appropriations bill and allocated exclusively to the program’s authorized conservation and recreation purposes.

“I was proud to help lead this effort to ensure the Land and Water Conservation Fund remains fully funded as Congress intended under the Great American Outdoors Act. This language safeguards the integrity of the program and ensures these dollars are used transparently and responsibly. I appreciate the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies’ partnership and commitment to protecting this critical conservation investment,” said Congressman Lawler. 

“We applaud Rep. Lawler’s leadership and the House for passing a bipartisan bill that delivers on the promise of full, permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. This is a major win for protecting critical watersheds, expanding outdoor access, and supporting local communities, hunters, anglers, and every American who enjoys the outdoors. We urge the Senate to quickly pass this bill and send it to the President’s desk,” said Lesley Kane Szynal, Chair of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).

LWCF investments have supported parks, forests, wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation access in New York State and the Hudson Valley, strengthening local economies and preserving open space for future generations. 

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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