MILTON, Del. – Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, visited the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge to highlight the Great American Outdoors Act, which would permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The Great American Outdoors Act would also provide funding to address deferred maintenance on our federal lands, including our national wildlife refuges. Al Rizzo, Project leader for the Delaware refuge complex, and Art Coppola, manager of the Refuge, joined Senator Carper during his visit.

 

Senator Carper emphasized the funding that the LWCF has provided to projects around the state, including both Prime Hook and Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuges, Cape Henlopen, Brandywine Creek and Fox Point State Parks, Killens Pond, and many more projects across the Delmarva. Our national wildlife refuges are also poised to benefit from the Great American Outdoors Act deferred maintenance funding.

 

“A few weeks ago, the Senate passed the Great American Outdoors Act, legislation that would permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund and provide much needed deferred maintenance funding for our nation’s public lands. Through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Delaware was able to expand both of our refuges, including Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge,” Senator Carper said.  This refuge spans more than 10,000 acres and serves as a sanctuary for millions of migratory birds traveling along the East Coast and across the globe. During the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Hook has become a sanctuary for people, too, as more Delawareans seek opportunities for safe outdoor recreational activities. This refuge is a national treasure, and yet another example of how the Great American Outdoors Act would benefit our state now and for generations to come.”

 

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