The Great American Outdoors Act – a landmark piece of legislation that is one of the greatest conservation efforts in a generation – has been signed into law. It fully and permanently funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a program that invests in national parks, public lands, and communities across the country by expanding trails and services, and creating new parks and outdoor greenspaces at no cost to US taxpayers. The Great American Outdoors Act will also provide billions of dollars to help address the backlog of deferred maintenance in America’s national parks and public lands.
Conservation groups, including the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, have been longstanding and vocal advocates for both components of this new law. We have spoken up on the need to permanently reauthorize and fully fund LWCF, and we have pushed hard for funding to address the maintenance backlog that has crippled our parks.
Passage of the Great American Outdoors Act is a momentous victory for all of us. After decades of advocacy and hard work, we have achieved an incredible win for our parks and public lands. Thank you for your dedication, passion, and support. Let’s celebrate.