News

Each spring, the Land Trust Alliance mobilizes conservation leaders from across the country to gather in Washington, D.C., to ensure the voice of the land conservation community is heard in the halls of Congress. This year, I joined CLCC’s Executive Director, Amy Blaymore Paterson, and Board Member Bill Kraekel to represent Connecticut’s forests, farms, and watersheds on the national stage.

The stakes felt higher than ever. Set against a record-breaking heatwave in the capital—a tangible reminder of our changing climate—and public outcry over the proposed dismantling of the U.S. Forest Service, every step along the Capitol Mall felt like a vital pilgrimage for the future of our environment.

The CLCC team met with the staff of every member of Connecticut’s Congressional delegation: Senators Blumenthal and Murphy, and Representatives Larson, Courtney, DeLauro, Himes, and Hayes. Our advocacy focused on three critical priorities:

1. Passing the Farm Bill: With the current extension set to expire on September 30th, time is running out. We advocated for a Farm Bill with a strong conservation title, including mandatory funding for the Forest Conservation Easement Program. (Note that when we returned home, we learned of some concerning provisions in proposed riders to the House Farm Bill, including language that threatens to preempt all state and local pesticide restrictions as well as remove habitat protections from the Endangered Species Act. We have shared our concerns about those provisions with House members.)
2. Releasing Highlands Conservation Act Funds: We inquired into a nine-month Department of Interior delay in funding opportunities for the Highlands program. In Connecticut alone, 10 high-priority OSWA projects are currently at risk because they rely on these federal dollars to move forward.
3. Protecting the U.S. Forest Service (USFS): We voiced strong concerns regarding the proposed “reorganization” of the USFS, including dismantling regional offices, relocating the USFS workforce, and shuttering research facilities. CLCC’s new Climate-Smart Forestry grant program relies on USFS funding; without it, our ability to support future rounds of forest stewardship may be in jeopardy.

While the national political landscape can be challenging, we were heartened to find unwavering environmental champions in our Connecticut delegation. They listened to our stories and understood that federal policy has a direct, local impact on the ground in our state.

This experience in D.C. underscored what we know to be true in Connecticut: Constituent advocacy is vital. Our message was only impactful because it was backed by the real stories of Connecticut’s land trusts. CLCC is proud to be your voice at the U.S. Capitol, and we are grateful to the Land Trust Alliance for organizing this essential event. We hope you’ll join us on the Hill next year!