CONTACTS:

Paul Spitler, (202) 360-1912, paul_spitler@tws.org    

Emily Diamond-Falk, (202) 429-2608, emily_diamond-falk@tws.org

WASHINGTON (July 5, 2012) – Representative Nan Hayworth, M.D. was honored as one of America’s Great Outdoors Congressional Champions during Great Outdoors America Week or GO America Week (June 26-June 28, 2012 in Washington DC).

The Wilderness Society and participating organizations honored Representative Hayworth for working to protect America’s wild places and green spaces that are critical in reconnecting people to the great outdoors.

New York Representative Nan Hayworth (R-NY-19) was honored for her support for protecting America’s public lands, and efforts to help gain consistent and permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). 

"Our Hudson Valley is blessed with a magnificent river, glorious scenery, and beautiful parks and wildlife areas that we have taken care to preserve. In my role as a federal legislator, I’ve pursued both environmental and fiscal responsibility and sustainability,” said Representative Nan Hayworth.  “I’m honored to be named a Champion of the Great Outdoors, and I thank The Wilderness Society President Jamie Williams and TWS's partner organizations for the important work they do to protect our environment."

Congresswoman Hayworth has been an outspoken voice for conservation, regularly voting to protect America’s wilderness areas, and ensure that the President has the ability to protect America’s natural landmarks. Most recently, Congresswoman Hayworth voted against legislation that would cede “operational control” of millions of acres of America’s public land—including parks and wilderness areas—to the border patrol.

Representative Hayworth has also been an integral leader in supporting LWCF.  She has backed conservation efforts in her community including Hudson River clean-ups, enhanced recreation and tourist-based economic initiatives in the Hudson Valley, and has actively secured funding for the Highlands Conservation Act through the LWCF.

In the heart of Great Outdoors Month, GO America Week brought outdoor enthusiasts from all walks of life -- high school students and adults, active members of the military and veterans, conservationists and business leaders, hunters and anglers, bikers and boaters -- together to celebrate America’s great outdoors, and ask their elected officials to protect our natural heritage.

“The Wilderness Society recognizes and thanks Representative Hayworth for her commitment to protecting the lands that belong to all Americans, and advocating for the full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund,” said Alan Rowsome, director of conservation funding at The Wilderness Society. “Rep. Hayworth -- along with the other great outdoor champions recognized -- is fighting to make sure that our public lands and waters are passed on to future generations.”  

Great Outdoors America Week offered an opportunity for advocates to take direct action on a number of conservation issues, ranging from wilderness and national monument protection to reconnecting inner-city kids to the great outdoors. Great Outdoors America Week serves as another example of the long-standing, bipartisan tradition of conservation in the United States.

To see the pictures from the week, including Rep. Hayworth’s award, please visit GO America Week’s Flickr stream: http://bit.ly/MGfgw7

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The Wilderness Society is the leading public-lands conservation organization working to protect wilderness and inspire Americans to care for our wild places. Founded in 1935, and now with more than 500,000 members and supporters, TWS has led the effort to permanently protect 110 million acres of wilderness and to ensure sound management of our shared national lands.www.wilderness.org