Daines' bill seeks reauthorization of fund to address NPS maintenance backlog

News and Adventure from Glacier National Park

U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Angus King (I-Maine), along with Senators Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.), have recently introduced the “America the Beautiful Act.” The bill would reauthorize the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) and increase funding for public land management.

“People travel from every corner of the world to connect with America’s incredible natural beauty and to make memories that last a lifetime,” said King. “However, deferred repairs on aging infrastructure like roads and trails can become unsafe for visitors and diminish the quality of our public lands and National Parks. The bipartisan America the Beautiful Act protects our lands and the visitor experience — by addressing maintenance backlogs and reauthorizing the historic Legacy Restoration Fund. This legislation is an important step forward in establishing lasting protections for our public lands, and serves as a proud reminder that stewardship is not a partisan issue.”

“The Great American Outdoors Act brought real results to North Dakota’s outdoor recreation opportunities,” said Cramer. “Visitors to Theodore Roosevelt National Park will be able to travel the South Loop road, which washed out several years ago, and recreationists can enjoy the updated trails and campsites in the nearby grasslands. Let’s keep this momentum going by passing the America the Beautiful Act, so we maintain our national treasures.”

Background:

Senator Daines introduced the “The Great American Outdoors Act,” in the 116th Congress which was signed into law by President Trump in 2020 and authorized the LRF for five years to address the maintenance backlog on public lands and national parks. The “America the Beautiful Act” reauthorizes and strengthens the LRF for 8 years (through 2033) and also does the following:

* Increases funding from $1.9 billion to $2 billion per year
* Prioritizes projects that have a 15 percent match from stakeholders
* Requires agencies to have a two-year running list of projects
* Allows the agencies to move forward with next year’s projects under a Continuing Resolution
* Ensures that all lands administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service are eligible
* Bolsters the ability for public donations to the fund by requiring agencies to run public awareness campaigns and make known the ability to donate
* Requires the agencies to assess and dispose of unneeded constructed assets
* Requires additional reporting to Congress on actions taken by the agency to reduce their Deferred Maintenance backlogs.
* Read the text of the bill HERE.

The National Park Foundation, National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), Montana Outfitters and Guides Association, Friends of Acadia, Boone and Crockett, and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation are among many groups supporting the legislation.