National Park Trust to Honor Senator Richard Burr (NC) with 2019 Bruce F. Vento Public Service Award
MEDIA STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rebecca Hansell, rebecca@parktrust.org, 301-279-7275 x12
Washington, DC (March 18, 2019) – National Park Trust is pleased to announce that Senator Richard Burr (NC) will receive the 19th Bruce F. Vento Public Service Award. The award will be presented to Senator Burr on Wednesday, June 12th at a reception at the Newseum in Washington, DC.
Senator Burr will be recognized for his outstanding efforts to support and advocate for the protection of our national parks, public lands and waters in his role as a member of the Senate Finance Committee and the Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure. He also chairs the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and serves on the Senate Committee of Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and the Senate Aging Committee.
Senator Burr has been a leader in seeking permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund – a vision he shared with the award’s namesake, Congressman Bruce Vento. His sponsorship of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Reauthorization Act demonstrates his continued commitment to protecting some of America’s most valuable ecological and historical resources.
“It’s an honor to be recognized by National Park Trust, and I want to thank them for their support. I strongly believe it’s our responsibility to preserve America’s natural landscapes and parks, so our children and grandchildren can enjoy them as much as we have. North Carolina has over 19 million visitors to its National Park Service units each year, and organizations like National Park Trust work diligently with their federal partners to help make those lands accessible. I will continue fighting for common-sense conservation efforts as long as I serve in the Senate.”
Senator Richard Burr (NC)
“We are delighted to be able to honor Senator Richard Burr for his service in Washington, DC and at home in North Carolina to support bi-partisan legislation and programs that will not only preserve America’s national parks and public lands today but also ensure that they will be treasured forever.”
Bill Brownell, National Park Trust Board Chair
The Park Trust established the Vento Award in 2001 to honor the memory and legacy of Bruce F. Vento, a twelve-term Congressman from Minnesota, dedicated environmentalist and a champion of legislation for America’s parks. The award honors a public servant for his or her commitment to the environment, and their service, skill, and innovation in support of our public lands. Past recipients include Senator Martin Heinrich (NM), Senator Lamar Alexander (TN), Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN), Senator Rob Portman (OH), Senator Ron Wyden (OR), Congressman Mike Simpson (ID), Senator Mark Udall (CO), Senator Susan Collins (ME), Senator Jeff Bingaman (NM), Senator John McCain (AZ), Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (CA), Congressman George Miller (CA), and Senator Harry Reid (NV).
ABOUT NATIONAL PARK TRUST
National Park Trust is a non-profit dedicated to preserving parks today and creating park stewards for tomorrow. The Park Trust is the only land trust with a comprehensive mission of protecting national parks through land acquisition and creating a pipeline of future park stewards by getting kids to parks. Since 1983, the Park Trust has completed 70 land projects in 31 states, 1 US Territory, and Washington, DC. This school year, the Park Trust will provide an estimated 25,000 under-served kids with park trips through their nationally recognized Buddy Bison Programs and Kids to Parks Day National School Contest, both of which support Title I schools. Find out more at www.parktrust.org.
All proceeds from the Vento Award event benefit the Park Trust’s mission and programs.
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