Senate committee advances bill saving conservation fund for national parks

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday approved legislation that would reauthorize the popular Land and Water Conservation Fund after Congress let it expire this past weekend.

The bipartisan bill, sponsored by Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, the committee’s top Democrat, would permanently authorize the fund and make the $900 million in funding for LWCF mandatory every year, so that it is not subject to the regular appropriations process. It passed with the support of 11 Democrats and five Republicans.