I agree with the proponents of these bills that we have a responsibility to ourselves and future generations to preserve, protect, and enhance our natural environment and am pleased that these issues are being given the attention that they deserve. As we move forward in consideration of these measures, it is, however, important that we be mindful of all of the potential impacts that the proposed increase in funding and programs will have, especially on the autonomy of State and local governments. We must ensure that federal assistance through such legislation is structured so as to complement and support, but not direct or inhibit, local decisions and priorities. We must further emphasize that, while the federal government has a proper role in LWCF-assisted projects that are used to provide incentives, such as scenic or conservation easements, for private property owners to achieve recreation or environmental goals on their own land that benefit the public, increased federal land ownership and increased federal involvement in local planning decisions is not necessary to achieve recreation and conservation goals. As the debate continues as to how best to manage the LWCF, I will work for proposals that meet recreation and conservation goals by involving state and local governments and private landowners without unnecessarily increasing federal land holdings.
Most importantly, however, as we consider new projects and funding under the auspices of the LWCF, we must first honor existing commitment smade by the United States for the funding of conservation and scenic easements. In Public Law 92-4000, for example, Congress established the Sawtooth National Recreation Area "to assure the preservation and protection of the natural, scenic, historic, pastoral, and fish and wildlife values and to provide for the enhancement of the recreational values associated herewith," and authorized the purchase of scenic easements to achieve these goals. Unfortunately, for numerous years, willing sellers and landowners interested in signing easement agreements were stalled by lack of funding. I have fought in recent years for this funding to become available and have made some progress. I have also, however, discovered that land has since changed hands, or landowners have become tired of waiting, and the land is therefore no longer available. This situation is lamentable and I would hope that as we move forward in considering legislation to increase funding for the LWCF, we include recognition of existing outstanding commitments that should be honored before new projects are sought out.