Young Op-Ed: Three Big Wins for Indiana Public Lands
WASHINGTON – In an op-ed for the Northwest Indiana Times and the Jeffersonville News and Tribune, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) highlights three recent public lands wins for Indiana – designation of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore as a national park, the authorized extension of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail across Southern Indiana, and protection for fishing and hunting rights within the Hoosier National Forest.
From the Northwest Indiana Times:
“The designation of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore as America’s 61st national park verifies what we Hoosiers have known all along — this is not just a state treasure, but a national treasure as well. The new designation should drive additional visitors to this Hoosier wonder and in turn spur northwest Indiana’s economy. It rightfully commemorates the important ecological diversity of the Indiana Dunes. I commend my colleague in the House, Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Gary, for his perseverance on this important Hoosier priority. Without his tireless advocacy, this goal would not have been accomplished. I look forward to continuing to work with Visclosky to ensure Northwest Indiana is not ignored.”
“Both houses of Congress also recently passed a bipartisan lands package that includes two important provisions for Indiana.
“The first is my Eastern Legacy Extension Act, which would extend the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail from St. Louis, Missouri, to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, including all of Indiana’s southern border along the Ohio River. The proposed extension travels through seven states: Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. This extension would honor the important legacy of the Lewis and Clark journey through Indiana.
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“The comprehensive lands package that recently passed the Senate also ensures that federal lands like the Hoosier National Forest in the hills of south-central Indiana will continue to remain open for hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation activities. Reinforcing that federal lands shall remain open for these recreation activities ensures that future administrations and federal lands managers cannot unilaterally close these public assets. This is welcome news for our state’s many sportsmen and women, who rely on access to our public lands.”