WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Members of Congress were left wanting yesterday, November 2, after the Department of the Interior failed to produce a list of projects by a deadline stipulated in the recently passed Great American Outdoors Act. The law, which was signed into law in August, requires Interior Secretary David Bernhardt to submit lists of priority projects, including one for projects to be funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The deadline lapsed without the Department producing the list.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, October 28, the Department of the Interior announced plans to extend the 2019-2020 Every Kid Outdoors pass into 2021. The move comes after environmental and youth recreation groups launched a campaign for the department to extend the pass for fourth graders and families that could not visit public lands and waters due to closings instigated by the novel coronavirus pandemic.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Last week, reports emerged that the new acting director of the National Park Service, Margaret Everson, told regional directors that staff shortages related to the COVID-19 pandemic should not limit public access to national parks. The Trump administration has repeatedly encouraged Americans to travel to national parks during the pandemic.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act. The historic bill permanently funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund, guaranteeing $900 million annually for the improvement of our parks. It also provides $9.5 billion over five years to address the nearly $12 billion backlog of maintenance projects across national parks and public lands.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, July 21, the House of Representatives voted to approve the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, this year’s $740 billion annual military spending bill. A provision within this year’s NDAA requires the Pentagon to change the names of ten military installations currently named after Confederate military leaders within three years. It would also remove Confederate likenesses, symbols and paraphernalia from defense facilities nationwide within the same timeframe.
WASHINGTON, D.C.-- The House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands held a hearing on the Outdoors for All Act, sponsored by Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44) today, February 27, 2020. The important bipartisan bill would help communities around the country construct and improve parks and other outdoor recreational spaces, particularly in underserved communities that lack access to outdoor recreation areas. Witnesses included Allegra “Happy” Haynes, Executive Director of the Denver Department of Parks and Recreation and Denver Deputy Mayor.
Washington, D.C.– The U.S. Senate voted to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) as part of the Natural Resources Management Act (S. 47). The bill now moves on to the House of Representatives.
Washington, D.C.– Yesterday, the U.S. Senate passed the Every Kid Outdoors Act as part of the Natural Resources Management Act (S. 47). The bill now moves on to the House of Representative for House consideration.
Washington, D.C. -- Today, Senator Kamala Harris introduced the Outdoors for All Act, which is the Senate version of the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership bill introduced last year by Representative Nanette Diaz Barragan (CA-44) and Representative Mike Turner (OH-10). Outdoors for All would create a dedicated funding source for the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP), which was established by Congress in 2014 and provides competitive grants to communities that lack outdoor recreation spaces to build parks and outdoor recreation facilities.
Washington, D.C.– Today, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids and other organizations sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke asking him to protect a program called Every Kid in a Park. Reports indicate that the program is in jeopardy, so organizations are speaking out. Every Kid in a Park allows every fourth grader in the U.S.