Congresswoman McCollum, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, and Federal Officials to Host Press Conference on America’s Great Outdoors Initiative
Contact: Maria Reppas, (202) 225-6631 / (202) 527-0149 maria.reppas@mail.house.gov
St. Paul, MN - Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04), EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, and federal and local government officials will host a press conference to discuss President Obama's America's Great Outdoors Initiative and showcase a model program that brings thousands of urban youth to experience the Mississippi River by canoe. The program has been highlighted by the First Lady's "Let's Move Outside Junior Ranger Program" campaign to introduce kids to a range of healthy outdoor activities.
Last April, President Obama announced the creation of the America's Great Outdoors Initiative, which aims to promote and support innovative community-level efforts to conserve outdoor spaces and to reconnect Americans to the outdoors. Listening sessions from across the country have brought Americans from all walks of life together to discuss how best to preserve our common natural heritage. America's Great Outdoors aims to support a 21st century conservation agenda that builds on successes in communities across the country. The initiative will hopefully start a national dialogue about conservation that supports the efforts of private citizens and local communities.
WHO: EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson
Congresswoman Betty McCollum
Congressman Keith Ellison
White House Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley
Department of the Interior Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Will Shafroth
Agriculture Undersecretary Harris Sherman
Representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
WHEN: 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, August 4
WHERE: Harriet Island, 200 Dr. Justus Ohage Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55107
Media outlets interested in attending this event are asked to RSVP to Maria Reppas at maria.reppas@mail.house.gov
Congresswoman Betty McCollum serves on the House Appropriations and Budget Committees.
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