Congressman Lowenthal Bill To Create BLM Foundation Passes House
July 8, 2016
Press Release
This week, the House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation authored by Congressman Alan Lowenthal (CA-47) and Congressman Jody Hice (GA-10) which would establish a charitable nonprofit foundation to assist the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in protecting fish and wildlife habitat, providing access to recreation resources, and cleaning up thousands of abandoned mine sites nationwide.
The Bureau of Land Management Foundation Act, H.R. 3844, would create a nonprofit foundation based on similar organizations that Congress has chartered in the past, such as the National Park Foundation, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the National Forest Foundation. The BLM Foundation—the creation of which is supported by BLM leadership—would solicit and take in donations that would be directed at supporting the diverse mission of the BLM. Unlike earlier attempts to create a BLM foundation, H.R. 3844 would allow donors to selectively direct their donations to specific BLM issue areas, such as mine reclamation.
"The establishment of a Bureau of Land Management Foundation is long overdue," Congressman Lowenthal said. "It would provide the BLM with an important partner, and allow private individuals and corporations to support the BLM's diverse mission, which includes activities such as managing wild horses, protecting cultural resources, and cleaning up abandoned hardrock mines. Importantly, H.R. 3844 was passed out of the House with bipartisan support, and I am proud to have worked cooperatively with Rep. Hice and the Natural Resources Committee to get this bill passed."
The legislation now heads to the U.S. Senate where it will be referred to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
The Bureau of Land Management Foundation Act, H.R. 3844, would create a nonprofit foundation based on similar organizations that Congress has chartered in the past, such as the National Park Foundation, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the National Forest Foundation. The BLM Foundation—the creation of which is supported by BLM leadership—would solicit and take in donations that would be directed at supporting the diverse mission of the BLM. Unlike earlier attempts to create a BLM foundation, H.R. 3844 would allow donors to selectively direct their donations to specific BLM issue areas, such as mine reclamation.
"The establishment of a Bureau of Land Management Foundation is long overdue," Congressman Lowenthal said. "It would provide the BLM with an important partner, and allow private individuals and corporations to support the BLM's diverse mission, which includes activities such as managing wild horses, protecting cultural resources, and cleaning up abandoned hardrock mines. Importantly, H.R. 3844 was passed out of the House with bipartisan support, and I am proud to have worked cooperatively with Rep. Hice and the Natural Resources Committee to get this bill passed."
The legislation now heads to the U.S. Senate where it will be referred to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.