Joe Straus TWA

Speaker Straus: Hero of Conservation

Congratulations to House Speaker Joe Straus for being honored as the Hero of Conservation 2016 by the Texas Wildlife Association (TWA).

Straus is a friend to the land, water and wildlife conservation community. In his keynote speech at the July 2016 TWA Convention in San Antonio, he said, “…providing water is not all about pipes and pumps. It’s also about protecting our aquifers and rivers, and we need private stewardship to do so. Almost every drop of water in this state falls first on private property.”

Straus understands the land water connection. In 2015, under his leadership, the Texas Legislature appropriated $2 million to the Texas Farm & Ranch Lands Program (TFRLCP) for purchased conservation easements. In addition, thanks to the efforts of Representative Charlie Geren, Senator Lois Kolkhorst and Senator Charles Perry, TFRLCP moved to a new home at the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Straus said, “Last year, many of you supported us as we made the state’s first real financial contribution to the conservation of working lands in Texas… Protection of these lands ties directly to protection of the water that lies under them, or flows over them.”

Joe Straus TWA SpeakerStraus reported that since the program has been moved to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and received its appropriation it has, “helped protect and retain private ownership of almost 16 thousand acres of working lands in Texas.”

Looking ahead to the next legislative session, Straus said, “Every dollar will be scarce. That’s why it’s so important that you stay involved in the process. Our system is about who speaks up and makes their case.”

With decreasing tax revenue and increasing population, Straus drove home the importance of the land, water and wildlife conservation communities working together with the legislature to keep our issues front-and-center. “We all know that with our rapid growth comes change,” he said. He continued, “I don’t mind change. But I don’t want Texas to become just a land of concrete and endless construction, and I know you don’t, either. That’s why I’m glad you are working to preserve what makes this state unique.”

We are grateful to have such a strong ally in Straus, and appreciate his deep understanding of how the conservation of working lands translates to critical public benefits for all Texans like clean water and air, good food and wildlife habitat.

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