New Hampshire: CONSERVATION VOTERS PRAISE AGREEMENT ON LCHIP FUNDING

June 21, 2007                                                                                                    

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                     

Contact: Jim O’Brien - 603-228-1970

CONSERVATION VOTERS PRAISE AGREEMENT ON LCHIP FUNDING

Concord, NH… The Granite State Conservation Voters applauded House and Senate budget negotiators for their recommendation to provide $12 million over the biennium for the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP). The agreement reached this morning included a dedicated funding source for the program.

“We truly appreciate the hard work and commitment shown by the House and Senate,” said Jim O’Brien, Executive Director.  “Conferees have been meeting well into the night and in the early morning to negotiate this budget.  We praise them for their hard work, and for the priority they have placed on preserving New Hampshire’s environment and quality of life.”

“Providing LCHIP with the dedicated funding that the program needs to be successful over the long term will be the legacy of this legislature,” concluded O’Brien.  “The House and Senate should be very proud of the work they have done for the future of our state.”

At the beginning of this legislative session, a coalition of fourteen New Hampshire conservation organizations released their 2007 Priorities for New Hampshire’s Environment, calling on the Legislature to provide the program with $12 million over the biennium and establish a dedicated funding source.

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