Congressman Cleaver Announces $5.1 Million Awarded to Missouri to Support Local Conservation and Recreation Efforts
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) announced that the Department of Interior has awarded Missouri $5,152,442 from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to support local conservation and recreation projects across the state. At no cost to taxpayers, the LWCF, which is administered by the National Park Service, supports increased public access to and protection for federal public lands and waters—including national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and recreation areas—and provides matching grants to Tribal, state, and local governments to support the acquisition and development of land for public parks and other outdoor recreation sites.
“As a longtime and strongtime supporter of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, I’m proud to announce Missouri will receive more than $5 million to support conservation and recreation projects across the Show Me State,” said Congressman Cleaver. “God has blessed our great nation with some of the most majestic landscapes and waterways on the planet, and future generations of Americans deserve to enjoy these magnificent lands as we have been fortunate enough to do. With this funding, more Missourians will have the opportunity to relish all that the great outdoors have to offer for years to come. Moving forward, as we continue working to combat the climate crisis, I won’t stop working in Washington to ensure Congress is funding federal conservation efforts with the urgency our environment and communities deserve.”
“The Land and Water Conservation Fund helps further President Biden’s commitment to investing in America’s lands and waters, expanding access to the outdoors, and safeguarding the environment,” said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. “These grants, matched primarily by state and local governments, will inspire collaborative conservation and improves equitable access to the outdoors for all.”
Along with this year’s LWCF distribution, the National Park Service is releasing an update to the LWCF Manual that directs states to work more closely with Tribes and underserved communities during the development of their Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plans, a requirement for eligibility to receive LWCF funds. It also prioritizes the creation of parks in underserved communities.
In 2020, Congressman Cleaver joined a bipartisan cohort of lawmakers calling on Congress to make funding for the LWCF permanent, ensuring federal investments in conservation and recreation projects would not be at risk in annual spending negotiations. The LWCF was made permanent in a bill Congressman Cleaver supported later that year.
Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.