As part of the markup of S. 556, the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2015, The Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee passed permanent FLTFA reauthorization last week. HSC along with seventy-one other conservation groups signed a letter in support of FLTFA reauthorization, which was sent to Senate Leadership and the Senate ENR Committee.

Originally enacted in 2000 (P.L. 106-248), FLTFA is a western Federal lands program that facilitates strategic Federal land sales by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in order to provide funding for high-priority land conservation within or adjacent to Federal lands in the eleven contiguous western states and Alaska.  FLTFA provides funding for BLM, USFS, NPS, and USFWS land conservation projects that increase public access for outdoor recreation, hunting, fishing; conserve wildlife habitat; protect water quality; and preserve historic and cultural resources.  FLTFA expired in 2011, and reauthorization will enhance the lands and economy by allowing Federal land sales and conservation transactions to occur through the efficient and no-cost FLTFA program.

Read Full Letter HERE