The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday is expected to vote on the Great American Outdoors Act, a piece of bipartisan legislation applauded by the Southern Environmental Law Center – one of the federal government’s more vocal regional critics – for its funding of public lands maintenance and protections for years to come.
Despite Washington’s current tumultuous political climate, supporters of the act believe it could be a bipartisan shoo-in when the votes are tallied on what has been called the most important legislation for national parks in 50 years.
The bill makes permanent the $900 million per year already reserved for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. It also establishes the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Fund, directing up to $9.5 billion over five years to address priority repairs in national parks and other public lands, according to law center spokesman Scott Smallwood.
“One of the benefits the Great American Outdoors Act will extend to our region is important funding to public lands found in the Southern Appalachian Mountains,” Smallwood said. He said the region’s portion of the Appalachians is “a premier destination for escape, exploration and adventure for outdoor enthusiasts nationwide.”
The center’s federal legislative director in Washington, D.C., Anders Reynolds, said combining the two funds in the act makes sure future generations have the same special places to enjoy.