March 2020
The Senate recently introduced a major public lands funding bill, S.3422: the Great American Outdoors Act, through bipartisan support from Senators Gardner, R-Colo., Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Daines, R-Mont., Portman, R-Ohio, Warner, D-Va., King, I-Maine, Alexander, R-Tenn., Cantwell, D-Wash., Wyden, D-Ore., and Burr, R-N.C.
The Act combines two previous bills that would ensure that all $900 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (generated from oil and gas drilling revenues, not public tax dollars) goes towards public lands and conservation efforts every year. In addition, the Restore Our Parks Act will make nearly $2 billion available to address the over $20 billion in backlogged maintenance in our National Parks. The Great American Outdoors Act would benefit the paddling community by providing resources for greater access to paddling venues that pass through public lands.
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