Vern Buchanan is calling on Congress to move quickly on reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund that expired at the end of the summer.

Commenting on the matter, Buchanan’s office noted that “This important government program provides states, counties and local governments with critical funding to protect and preserve national parks, water resources, wildlife habitats and historic sites. In Florida alone, the LWCF has invested more than $1 billion to protect the Everglades, Biscayne National Park, Osceola National Forest, the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge and Caspersen Beach right here in Sarasota County. The Florida National Scenic Trail, one of only eleven National Scenic Trails throughout the U.S., also benefits from this successful program and is currently relying on new LWCF funding to protect shorelines.”

Buchanan is one of the co-chairs of the state delegation, and he also sits on the U.S. House Ways and Means and the Budget Committees.

This week, Buchanan stressed why Congress needs to approve the Land and Water Conservation Fund, noting its importance to the state of Florida and saying that time is running out until Congress adjourns.

Buchanan explained that “This important conservation program will help preserve Florida’s iconic environmental resources for future generations. It’s regrettable that despite broad bipartisan support Congress allowed this vital fund to expire.”

The 115^th Congress is on its way to conclude as Democrats prepare to take control of the House in January as a result of the 2018 midterm elections.

And, before the 115^th Congress comes to an end, Buchanan asserts that they should focus on reauthorization of the Fund because the sunshine state benefitted from it.

His office added that “Florida’s economy is dependent on this important conservation program, which greatly benefits the state’s $60 billion outdoor recreation industry, supporting nearly half a million jobs and producing roughly $3.5 billion in state and local tax revenue.”