WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) announced her original co-sponsorship of the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act (S. 3422), landmark legislation to preserve and protect our country’s public lands. The bipartisan legislation provides permanent and full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and addresses the nearly $12 billion maintenance backlog in our national parks and land management agencies.
“I’m excited to help introduce the Great American Outdoors Act, landmark legislation that takes important steps to protect our public lands for future generations,” said Senator Rosen. “Our public lands and parks are a source of natural wonder and the foundation of a growing outdoor recreation economy in Nevada. I am thrilled to come together with my colleagues from across the aisle to deliver on full funding for LWCF and provide conservation funding to address the maintenance backlogs in our national parks, forests, refuges, recreation areas and conservation areas. I will continue to be a fierce defender of Nevada public lands in Congress and support legislation that allows our state to be better protected.”
BACKGROUND: This legislation builds upon previously introduced legislation that Rosen co-sponsored: the Land Water Conservation Fund Permanent Funding Act (S. 1081), which would permanently fund LWCF, and the Restore Our Parks Act (S. 500), which would provide mandatory funding for National Park Service (NPS) deferred maintenance. In addition to NPS maintenance, S. 3422 includes funding for deferred maintenance projects at the Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Bureau of Indian Education schools.
Last year, Senator Rosen voted in support of the Natural Resources Management Act (S. 47), a comprehensive federal lands bill that would work to improve access to outdoor recreation, such as increasing public land access for hunters and fishers. That legislation also permanently reauthorized the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Last year, Rosen also helped introduce the ANTIQUITIES Act of 2019, reaffirming her commitment to protecting Nevada’s national monuments. This legislation would protect and enhance national monuments by declaring Congress’ support for the 51 National Monuments established from 1996 to 2017.
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