U.S. House pursues renewal of Great American Outdoors Act

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are pursuing a bipartisan effort to renew the Great American Outdoors Act. The original legislation, signed into law in 2020, aimed to address a multi-billion-dollar backlog in deferred maintenance for national parks and historic sites by providing up to $1.9 billion annually through fiscal 2025.

New legislation introduced by Representative Bruce Westerman seeks to extend this $1.9 billion annual funding for an additional five years. The proposed bill includes new funding mechanisms, such as lease sales and a foreign visitor fee. The initiative aims to support infrastructure repairs for roads, water systems, and trails managed by the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Bureau of Indian Education.

The legislation previously advanced in June after receiving approval from the House Committee on Natural Resources. Proponents emphasize the broad bipartisan support for protecting national parks and investing in public lands.