Landmark legislation proposed by U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) to preserve and protect the nation’s public lands this week received support from more than 800 conservation groups.
“Congress should hear their call and pass the Great American Outdoors Act to create immediate job opportunities, further allow the outdoor recreation community to contribute to the economy, and protect our public lands for future generations to cherish,” the senator said on Monday.
Sen. Gardner on March 9 sponsored the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act, S. 3422, with cosponsors including U.S. Sens. Steve Daines (R-MT), Rob Portman (R-OH), Richard Burr (R-NC), and Joe Manchin (D-WV), to provide full and permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and to address the approximately $20 billion maintenance backlog for U.S. public lands.
“Conservationists in Colorado and all across our country know the Great American Outdoors Act is a historic opportunity to protect the public lands we all cherish,” Sen. Gardner said. “We’ve worked hard to secure broad, bipartisan support for this bill, which is reflected in the letter of support from more than 800 conservation groups.”
Conservation leaders wrote in a May 11 letter sent to congressional leaders that their national, state, regional, and local organizations and the members they represent “strongly support passage and subsequent enactment” of S. 3422 as quickly as possible.
“This bill is necessary to support the public lands we all rely upon by achieving the twin goals of protecting America’s special places and repairing deteriorating infrastructure,” they wrote. “It is consistent with legislation supported by a surpassing bipartisan majority in the House, and the president has specifically requested this bill for his signature, creating an unprecedented opportunity for a historic win for the American public and the places they care about.”
If enacted, the conservation leaders wrote that S. 3422 would help address priority repairs in U.S. national parks and on other public lands by directing up to $9.5 billion over five years to address maintenance needs within the National Park System, other public land agencies, and the U.S. Bureau of Indian Education schools.
Additionally, the bill would fully and permanently dedicate $900 million per year already being deposited into the LWCF to ensure protection of and access to lands and local recreation opportunities, according to their letter.
“We urge you to vote in favor of this crucial legislation and to oppose any amendments to it,” the conservation leaders wrote.