Office of the Secretary

For Immediate Release:Thursday, April 26, 2001

CONTACT: Mark Pfeifle or
Joan Moody (202) 208-6416

Web Site Lets Surfers See How Much the President's Budget
Invests in Their State's Land & Water Conservation Fund

"You're one click from seeing how much the President's budget invests in each state," says Norton

Washington, D.C. - Today Interior Secretary Gale Norton unveiled a colorful new web link --http://www.doi.gov/news/states - that lets Americans find out how much President Bush's budget proposal would invest in their states' special places, recreation, wildlife, and land and water conservation efforts.

"Web surfers are one click away from finding out exactly how much President Bush's budget proposal invests their state's Land and Water Conservation Fund," said Norton. "From national parks in Hawaii to playgrounds in Maine, and from wildlife refuges in the Florida Everglades to recreational areas in Alaska, our budget request brings good news for our special places and helps every state enhance recreation, conserve wildlife habitat and endangered species, and protect wetlands."

The web site features a state-by-state list of national parks, wildlife refuges, and other areas receiving federal LWCF money. By clicking on the photo on the opening page, visitors learn that under the President's Fiscal Year 2002 budget request, the Land & Water Conservation Fund will be funded at the fully authorized level of $900 million for the first time since the fund's inception almost four decades ago.

Even more groundbreaking news is that an unprecedented 50 percent of the funds - $450 million - will go directly to state officials to use as they determine best. By clicking on their state on a map of the United States, web surfers can find their state's proposed historic investment.

"This landmark budget fulfills President Bush's commitment to investing in America's natural resources and provides not only historic levels of funding, but also gives states unprecedented flexibility to use the funding," Norton said.

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