WASHINGTON, D.C. - Recently, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) introduced the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act 250 (GAOA 250). More than 140 organizations have expressed their support for the legislation that will make a historic investment in our national parks, public lands and Bureau of Indian Education facilities over the next five years. Here’s what industry leaders and trade organizations are saying:
“America’s public lands are not only national treasures but also economic assets. Well-maintained parks and related facilities and infrastructure help drive local commerce across the country. They support small businesses and the broader travel and tourism economy. When infrastructure is modernized, rural economies gain jobs, investment and long-term opportunities. The Great American Outdoors Act 250 would help address high-priority deferred maintenance across federal land management agencies, improve access to recreation and modernize infrastructure in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. By targeting needed repairs and improvements, the bill would enhance visitor experiences, expand outdoor recreation opportunities and help ensure that public lands remain accessible, safe and economically productive.” – Hon. Rodney Davis, head of government affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
“American Conservation Coalition Action, and our thousands of members across the country, are proud to endorse the Great American Outdoors Act 250. The updates made to the Legacy Restoration Fund provide much-needed reforms to how projects are permitted and constructed, and they modernize the priority list for deferred maintenance to ensure that high-impact projects are finished first. These changes are crucial in ensuring that our National Parks and other public lands remain beautiful and accessible. Lastly, we strongly commend Chairman Westerman for constructing a bill that does all of this while remaining fiscally responsible.” – Chris Barnard, president, ACC Action
“The American Forest Resource Council supports the Great American Outdoors Act 250. Public land infrastructure is essential to active forest management, wildfire response and public access. Addressing deferred maintenance helps ensure federal agencies can implement restoration projects, reduce hazardous fuels, improve forest conditions and better protect nearby communities. This legislation also supports rural economies and recreational opportunities that depend on healthy, accessible public lands. We appreciate the bipartisan effort to strengthen the infrastructure and capacity needed to care for America's forests and public lands for future generations.” – Travis Joseph, president and CEO, American Forest Resource Council
“GAOA 250 ensures funds can be used to enhance roads, bridges, tunnels and parking facilities and would address deferred maintenance backlogs by allowing a new categorical exclusion for these projects. The bill also includes common-sense project delivery and permitting improvements while maintaining compliance with environmental laws. These measures include streamlining administrative requirements, improving transparency and providing greater certainty for stakeholders involved in these projects. Investing in the infrastructure that supports access to America's public lands requires both sustained investment and efficient project delivery. The Great American Outdoors Act 250 advances both objectives.” – David C. Bauer, president and CEO, American Road and Transportation Builders Association
“As America celebrates its 250th anniversary this summer, American families from across the country will be visiting historic and national sites of importance that tell the American story of heroism, perseverance, and significance. Chairman Westerman, and the Natural Resources Committee dais, have presented an opportunity for Congress to ensure that legacy can continue through The Great American Outdoors Act 250. With 37 state chapters in the United States, and impact in all 50 states, Americans for Prosperity applauds efforts to ensure the preservation of the American landscape and the story of our nation, so often told at sites across the country during this historic time. For the next 250 years, untold stories and experiences await this country and future generations to tell.” – Brent Gardner, chief government affairs officer, Americans for Prosperity
“We applaud Chair Westerman (R-Ark.) and Ranking Member Huffman (D-Calif.) for introducing the Great American Outdoors Act 250. This bipartisan legislation will reauthorize the Great American Outdoors Act signed by President Trump in 2020 and further the progress made to address the maintenance backlog so that more Americans can enjoy the splendor of our national parks and public lands. It provides critical funding from an array of revenue sources, including energy development on federal lands, which is a commonsense investment. This generates job opportunities, especially in rural communities, encourages outdoor recreation and protects our cherished national treasures for generations to come.” – Heather Reams, president and CEO, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions
“ConservAmerica welcomes the bipartisan GAOA 250 Act. Following the tradition of President Theodore Roosevelt, we believe conservation and stewardship are core American values and that we have a responsibility to preserve our natural heritage for future generations. As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, this commonsense legislation will help ensure that America's most treasured places remain accessible, well-maintained and economically beneficial to surrounding communities.” – Jeff Kupfer, president, ConservAmerica
“The Land and Water Conservation Fund is one of America's most important tools for protecting the land that sustains us. I applaud Chairman Westerman and Ranking Member Huffman for introducing legislation to reauthorize the Legacy Restoration Fund while maintaining the funding for LWCF. These two funds address critical needs across our national parks, forests, wildlife refuges and other public lands to fuel our recreation economy and protect fish and wildlife habitat.” – Larry Selzer, president and CEO, The Conservation Fund
“While this legislation focuses on our nation's public lands, its investments in outdoor recreation infrastructure, access, and rural gateway communities will deliver meaningful economic benefits across rural America. Strong rural economies are essential to the future of our working forests. Smart policies that support jobs, recreation and community development help ensure that rural communities remain vibrant places to live, work and raise families. When rural America thrives, working forests are better positioned to remain healthy, productive and resilient for generations to come.” – Scott Jones, CEO, Forest Landowners Association
“The Great American Outdoors Act of 2020 was the most seminal conservation bill passed into law in half a century. H.R. 9250 will build on the successes of the GAOA to help address outstanding maintenance backlog issues on our public lands and improve infrastructure for hunting, fishing, camping, hiking and related outdoor activities, for instance. This bill won’t come at the expense of taxpayer money, as it’s funded by private donations, new foreign visitor fees and monies generated by onshore energy activities.” – Gabriella Hoffman, director of the Center for Energy and Conservation, Independent Women’s Forum
“At the outset, we want to emphasize that IITA strongly supports the bill’s efforts to address the deferred maintenance backlog across America's National Parks and public lands. America's public lands are among our nation's greatest assets and are a primary driver of international travel to the United States. Maintaining and modernizing these treasured places is a goal shared by our industry, our members and our visitors.” – Lisa Simon, executive director and CEO, International Inbound Travel Association
“On behalf of the 90 tribes across 23 states who are members of the InterTribal Buffalo Council (ITBC), I wish to express my appreciation and support to Chairman Westerman and Ranking Member Huffman of the House Committee on Natural Resources Committee for their introduction of the GAOA 250. Indian people appreciate and utilize our national parks as do all Americans but the members of the ITBC also have a particular interest in those Parks that have buffalo herds. When those herd sizes exceed the carrying capacity of the Park, it is more often than not the ITBC who is contacted to help with the surplus buffalo, which we transport to our member tribes who are starting herds on their lands.” – Ervin Carlson, president, InterTribal Buffalo Council
“The Great American Outdoors Act 250 is a bipartisan win for America's public lands and our rural communities. This bill will restore and maintain our trails, campgrounds and hunting and fishing sites while supporting over 72,000 jobs for gateway communities. Investing in maintaining and protecting our public lands is also an investment in wildfire resilience and we applaud Chairman Westerman and Ranking Member Huffman for their work on this bill.” – Matt Weiner, founder and CEO, Megafire Action
“The Great American Outdoors Act 250 represents a critical next step to address long-standing maintenance and habitat restoration needs across our national parks and monuments, wildlife refuges and waters, and improve the places that support birds, wildlife, outdoor recreation and communities across America. We appreciate Chair Westerman and Ranking Member Huffman’s leadership in advancing a bill that builds on the success of the Legacy Restoration Fund and creates new opportunities to invest in wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation. These efforts are a key move towards ensuring our wildlife refuges, parks and forests remain healthy and accessible, and ecologically resilient for the next 250 years.” – Felice Stadler, vice president of government affairs, National Audubon Society
“We appreciate the bipartisan leadership of Chairman Westerman, Ranking Member Huffman and members of Congress who continue to champion America's public lands. The Great American Outdoors Act demonstrated what is possible when leaders come together around a shared commitment to conservation, recreation and rural communities, and the Great American Outdoors Act 250 builds on that legacy. By investing in critical infrastructure and addressing deferred maintenance, this legislation will help ensure our National Forests and public lands remain accessible, resilient and welcoming for future generations. As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, this bill reflects a simple but powerful idea: caring for the public lands that belong to all Americans is one of the best investments we can make in our future.” – Dieter Fenkart-Froeschl, president and CEO, National Forest Foundation
“The Great American Outdoors Act was a landmark bipartisan achievement, and NOIA is proud to support efforts to strengthen and build on it. Offshore oil and gas revenues have long funded the conservation and public lands programs that keep America's national parks, trails, and treasured landscapes accessible to every citizen. That is a legacy worth protecting and expanding.” – Erik Milito, president, National Ocean Industries Association
“The Nature Conservancy appreciates Chair Westerman’s leadership to maintain and restore our nation’s public lands through the reauthorization of the Legacy Restoration Fund. Addressing deferred maintenance is critical to ensure these places remain accessible and support local economies and outdoor traditions.” – Tom Cors, senior director of legislative affairs, The Nature Conservancy
“Protecting America's public lands has never had to be a partisan issue. With the Great American Outdoors Act 250, Chairman Westerman and Ranking Member Huffman have brought both parties together to invest $1.9 billion in restoring our national parks, refuges, forests and public lands. As the country approaches its 250th anniversary, Nature Is Nonpartisan is proud to support the leadership of Chairman Westerman and Ranking Member Huffman on public lands.” – Benji Backer, founder and CEO, Nature Is Nonpartisan
“We applaud Chairman Westerman and Ranking Member Huffman for their bipartisan leadership on this legislation. Building on the success of the Great American Outdoors Act, the bill would continue a proven investment in our national parks and public lands— supporting jobs, restoring aging infrastructure and protecting access to hunting and outdoor recreation for the hundreds of millions of Americans who visit these places each year.” – Marcia Argust, director, U.S. Conservation, Pew Charitable Trusts
“State of Washington Tourism fully supports the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act 250. Washington is home to three national parks and over 45 million acres of public land. The unique outdoor experiences found in Washington are what attract visitors to the beaches, trails, lakes and vistas across our beautiful state. Visitors to Washington’s national parks and public lands provide an enormous benefit to residents. As its fourth largest industry, tourism continues to support over 152,000 jobs and $3.5 billion in direct state and local tax revenue. This legislation will fund critical maintenance infrastructure and provide our national parks with the support needed to continue to efficiently serve visitors and residents of Washington State.” – State of Washington Tourism
“Investing in America's public lands is crucial to making it easier for hunters and anglers to access our shared natural resources. As we celebrate America's 250th birthday, TRCP applauds the bipartisan introduction of the Great American Outdoors Act 250 and the continued commitment to manage and increase access to our public lands to benefit all Americans.” – Joel Webster, chief conservation officer, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
“America's Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) fulfills the balanced use of public lands that’s shaped our land management for over a century. As energy producers that operate on multiple-use public lands in the West, and subsequently contribute significantly toward funding conservation under LRF, we're invested in supporting the Great America Outdoors Act 250. Chairman Westerman deserves a lot of praise for crafting a bipartisan bill that restores our nation's public lands for years to come.” – Melissa Simpson, president, Western Energy Alliance
“The Western States Tourism Policy Council is proud to support the Great American Outdoors Act 250 introduced by Representatives Bruce Westerman and Jared Huffman. Together with the America the Beautiful Act previously introduced in the Senate, this legislation reflects a bipartisan commitment to addressing deferred maintenance needs across our national parks and public lands.” – Jim Hagen, secretary of tourism, State of South Dakota; chair, Western States Tourism Policy Council
For more information about GAOA 250, click here.
