Territory parity in lands package

Statement

The U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan sweeping conservation legislation by a 92-8 vote on Tuesday that includes long sought-after funding parity for the Marianas in the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The bill would protect more than 1.3 million acres of wilderness, add more than 367 miles to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and increase the size of national parks by more than 42,000 acres. The National Resources Management Act would also save taxpayers $9 million, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Closer to home, the 668-page legislation:

Permanently authorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund and provides funding parity for the five insular areas and the District of Columbia, which have been limited to a combined share of the funding equal to that of a single state. This is a change that we cosponsors of parity legislation had insisted upon in a letter to congressional leaderslast year. If enacted, the change will increase the $75,000 in funding annually allocated to the Marianas about tenfold - to upwards of $800,000! Land and Water Conservation Act funds are used for public parks, playgrounds, sports fields, and beach areas around our islands.
Makes permanent and expands the Every Kid in a Park Program which has provided $8,000 in funding for 800 fourth grade students in the Marianas to visit American Memorial Park.

Source