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Trump will name more conservative judges. He may even pick a majority of the Supreme Court; Both sides react as Missouri reverses near-total abortion ban Literacy initiative to implement 250 new early-education activations in PA.

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President Biden asks Americans to turn down the temperature, House Speaker Mike Johnson promises an aggressive first 100 day agenda and Democratic governors vow to push back on Trump's plan for mass deportations.

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Texas women travel some of the longest distances for abortion care, Californians the shortest, rural living comes with mixed blessings for veterans, an ancient technique could curtail climate-change wildfires, and escape divisive politics on World Kindness Day.

Virginia’s national parks highlighted in Congressional votes as election nears

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Monday, October 28, 2024   

With Election Day around the corner, Virginians and others nationwide have a clear view of where their representatives stand on critical issues affecting national parks, thanks to the National Parks Action Fund's 2024 Congressional Scorecard.

This year, members of Congress were graded based on votes affecting public lands, such as proposals to cut park funding by 13%, a move some local advocates said would have serious repercussions for Virginia's natural and historic resources.

Bill Hafker, a local environmentalist and volunteer for the Park Service at the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, who has visited 390 national park units, believes the issue transcends political divides.

"Americans in general are totally supportive of public lands and appreciate their value," Hafker asserted. "I think it's kind of one of the most significant, perhaps the last biggest significant clear bipartisan area of support."

The scorecard highlighted the voting records of Virginia's congressional delegation on conservation issues, emphasizing the importance of elected officials' support for preserving public lands.

Kristen Brengel, executive director of the National Parks Action, underscored the broader implications of the votes.

"If you want to judge how a member of Congress has voted on national parks, it's sort of similar to making sure the values of this member of Congress line up with your own and your family's," Brengel explained.

Brengel emphasized the scorecard serves as a guide for those who value conservation efforts. For Hafker, the value of parks such as Shenandoah and Assateague is immeasurable. He worries allowing the spaces to fall into disrepair due to insufficient funding would send "a potentially disheartening signal to America and to the world."

Disclosure: The National Parks Action Fund contributes to our fund for reporting on Climate Change/Air Quality, Cultural Resources, Environment, and Public Lands/Wilderness. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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