“The National Park Foundation applauds the introduction of legislation to reauthorize the Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) of the Great American Outdoors Act. This bipartisan legislation marks a significant step forward in our collective effort to continue preserving and protecting our nation’s invaluable natural and cultural heritage. Building upon the extraordinary success of the LRF, which has invested more than $4 billion in critical projects to date, this reauthorization will empower our national parks to address long-standing maintenance needs and directly improve the visitor experience. We express our sincere gratitude to Senators King and Daines for their leadership and commitment to the stewardship of our national parks,”– Will Shafroth, President and CEO, National Park Foundation
“Senators Steve Daines, Angus King, Kevin Cramer and Mark Warner clearly understand that when we invest in our national parks, we all benefit. And thanks to their leadership, national parks, park staff and local communities across the country are one step closer to getting the additional support they so desperately need and deserve. National parks in every state are benefiting from the Great American Outdoors Act’s park maintenance funding, as are local businesses and economies. It’s clear that this funding is working, and with this bill, we can fix even more parks,”– Theresa Pierno, President and CEO for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA)
“The Montana Outfitters and Guides Association (MOGA) is pleased to express our strong support for the draft bill aimed at reauthorizing the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund. This fund, established by the Great American Outdoors Act, has been instrumental in maintaining and enhancing the infrastructure of our cherished public lands, which are vital to our industry and the cultural heritage of Montana,”- Will Isreal, Executive Director, Montana Outfitters and Guides Association.
“The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is grateful for the leadership of Senators King and Daines for the Legacy Restoration Fund Extension Act. For the 2,197-mile long Appalachian National Scenic Trail and its approximately 375,000-acre protected corridor that we cooperatively manage, the infusion of LRF dollars in recent years has made an incredible impact. As ATC approaches its 100th year, the long-term care needs for the A.T. and its connected national parks and forests are present in every moment of our work. This legislation will increase the monetary support, public awareness, and the impact of partners like the ATC in addressing critical deferred maintenance needs for our public lands. We are proud to strongly endorse this legislation and will work diligently for its enactment,”– Sandra Marra, President and CEO of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy
“The Boone and Crockett Club applauds Senators Daines and King for their leadership in reauthorizing the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund. This thoughtful, bipartisan approach has paid dividends for all public land users since it was first authorized in the Great American Outdoors Act in 2020. We look forward to continuing our work with the federal land management agencies to address the deferred maintenance backlog on our parks and public lands,” –Tony Schoonen, CEO of the Boone and Crockett Club.
“The National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund is a critical effort towards bolstering the accessibility and enjoyment of our nation’s public lands, which are critical to America’s sportsmen and women. The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) was a top priority for CSF, and we are proud to support this legislation to build upon the investments of GAOA. We thank Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Member Senator Daines and CSC Vice Chair Sen. King for leading this bipartisan effort,”- Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) President and CEO Jeff Crane.
“Our nation’s public lands, wildlife, and the sportsmen and women who rely on them, stand to benefit immensely from the reauthorization of the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund. We thank Sen. Daines and Sen. King for their leadership in building on the historic success of the Great American Outdoors Act. By increasing funding up to $2 billion annually for the next eight years, and by allowing our public land management agencies to advance projects should Congress be unable to pass a budget, we can ensure continued on-the-ground progress to reduce deferred maintenance of our public lands,”–Kaden McArthur government relations manager for Backcountry Hunters & Anglers
“Record numbers of Americans are visiting our public lands each year, and we have a duty to the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts to ensure we leave these places better than we found them. OIA and its members applaud this bipartisan effort by Senators King, Daines, Cramer, and Warner to reauthorize the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund and take care of the infrastructure backlog across our public lands. There is no better return on investment than protecting these places that Americans have treasured for generations,”–Kent Ebersole, President of Outdoor Industry Association
“The National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund that Congress passed as part of the Great American Outdoors Act has helped to restore, maintain, and improve parks and public lands that are valued by millions of Americans across the country. Outdoor Alliance and the human-powered outdoor recreation community are grateful for the work of Senators Daines and King to renew the Legacy Restoration Fund, which expires next year. With outdoor recreation growing in popularity, extending this critical funding for park and public land maintenance is needed to provide a high quality visitor experience and protect our country’s incredible natural resources,”- Louis Geltman, Vice President for Policy & Government Relations, Outdoor Alliance.
“The Great American Outdoors Act has been essential to restoring greater access to the recreational, educational, and inspirational opportunities offered by our national parks, forests, wildlife refuges and other public lands. The Public Lands Alliance (PLA) applauds Senators Daines and King for leading this bipartisan effort to reauthorize the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund and create new pathways for the American people to contribute to this critical effort. PLA is excited to work with Congress to pass this legislation and help deliver safer, more accessible public lands to the hundreds of millions of Americans who visit them annually,”– Dan Puskar, President and CEO, Public Lands Alliance, Washington, DC
”The Legacy Restoration Fund has helped to polish our crown jewels, from replacing failing wastewater systems and repairing eroded trails to rebuilding visitor centers in our national parks. With surging visitation and growing maintenance needs, PERC commends Senators Daines and King for their leadership on this important issue. Re-authorizing this innovative funding mechanism will support long-term solutions for our national parks’ maintenance challenges and ensure they are well taken care of for generations to come. PERC looks forward to working with Congress to support projects that benefit visitation, safety, and park management,”- Brian Yablonski, CEO, Property and Environment Research Center (PERC)
“It is critically important that we reauthorize the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund and continue to invest in outdoor recreation. In the last four years, our organization has worked to maintain cherished trails by partnering with the U.S. Forest Service and leveraging dollars from the Legacy Restoration Fund with private donations and more than 75,000 hours of volunteer labor on associated projects. Important work remains to ensure the public can safely access and enjoy the more than 10,000 miles of trails on federal lands in our state. Reauthorizing the Legacy Restoration Fund will help ensure there are trails for everyone to enjoy,”- Kindra Ramos, Chief Programs Officer, Washington Trails Association
“We appreciate Senator Daines leading on the reauthorization of the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund. This funding is essential for the ongoing stewardship of our public lands, and we look forward to working with the Senator and Congress to ensure this program is reauthorized and appropriately funded,”- Barb Cestero, Montana State Director, The Wilderness Society.
“Across the West, the pressures and demands on our public lands and watersheds continue to mount. Thankfully, Senator Daines knows how important Montana’s public lands are for our outdoor heritage, which he demonstrated by stewarding the landmark Great American Outdoors Act through Congress in 2020, establishing the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF). MTU commends his steadfast leadership today in introducing this effort to reauthorize the LRF for the next eight years at $2 billion per year. The LRF is a critical tool to meaningfully address the chronic deferred maintenance on our public land estate that impedes public access while simultaneously moving the needle on collaborative restoration efforts for our wild fish and their habitats,”– Clayton Elliott; Conservation and Government Relations Director; Montana Trout Unlimited; Butte, MT.
“The Student Conservation Association applauds Senators Daines and King for their continued support of the Great American Outdoors Act. We fully support their efforts to reauthorize the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund. As the largest provider of hands-on conservation programs for youth and young adults, the SCA has a legacy of protecting and restoring our nation’s precious natural resources. Over the last four years, SCA program participants have restored 262 miles of deferred trail maintenance and preserved 60 historic buildings and structures through National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund projects made possible by the Great American Outdoors Act. The National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund has also provided much-needed training opportunities nationwide while also improving conditions and visitor experiences across our public lands,”- Lidia Soto-Harmon, CEO, The Student Conservation Association
“Friends of Acadia commends U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Angus King (I-ME), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Mark Warner (D-VA) for their leadership in introducing legislation to extend maintenance funding for our national parks/reauthorize the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund, which was created as part of the historic Great American Outdoors Act. Building on the successes of the LRF, and by raising the annual funding cap to $2 billion, extending funding through 2033, and improving project flexibility, this legislation ensures critical support for addressing deferred maintenance across our national parks. Furthermore, prioritizing projects with matching contributions will foster a greater role for public-private partnerships, elevating the work of park partners and other donors. At Acadia National Park in Maine, federal funds dedicated to tackling aging infrastructure have already facilitated essential upgrades, including an $8.6 million overhaul of potable water and wastewater systems on the Schoodic Peninsula and an ongoing $37.2 million effort to stand-up a new maintenance operations complex. This legislation represents a renewed investment in our beloved parks, one which will help preserve their natural beauty, improve visitor experiences, and reduce infrastructure backlogs for future generations,” – Eric Stiles, President & CEO, Friends of Acadia
“Montana Conservation Corps applauds the leadership of Senators Daines and King to extend this historic investment in America’s great public lands. Across America, our corps members serving on Legacy Restoration Fund supported projects are increasing access and safety of trails and campgrounds, and chipping away at the billions of dollars of deferred maintenance in parks and other public lands, all while developing work skills and grit, gaining interpersonal and leadership skills, and growing as citizens and stewards of America’s best idea – our national parks. The Legacy Restoration Fund is a win for all Americans – those who may better enjoy these great American treasures, and those who are rolling up their sleeves to get the work done,”– Jono McKinney, President and CEO, Montana Conservation Corps.
“The National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund is a cornerstone of our nation’s commitment to preserving access to the great outdoors. By continuing to invest in maintenance and infrastructure improvements, we help ensure that future generations can experience and enjoy the beauty of our public lands. We were proud to work in 2020 with former Senator Gardner (R-CO) and Senator Daines (R-MT) on the Great American Outdoors Act and we support updating and reauthorizing one of its key features – the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund,”– ConservAmerica
“Millions of families and visitors from across America and the world come our national parks and public lands each year to experience the beauty of God’s creation firsthand. The restoration and repair of hundreds of campsites, trails, roads, bridges, and other facilities by the Great American Outdoors Act’s Legacy Restoration Fund has made experiencing these natural and cultural treasures more accessible and enjoyable for all. The Evangelical Environmental Network thanks Senators Daines (R-MT) and King (I-ME) for their leadership and vision to extend the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund for another eight years. This is a generational investment that will allow generations to come to experience the majestic wonder of our national parks and public lands,”– Rev. Dr. Jessica Moerman, President/CEO of the Evangelical Environmental Network.
“Federal public land management agency deferred maintenance and repair backlogs create barriers for hunters, anglers, and outdoor recreationists to access and enjoy our Nation’s public lands. The TRCP appreciates the leadership of Senator Daines and Senator King to ensure that the Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund is maintained to support the responsible stewardship of our public lands.”- Joel Pedersen, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.
“We are all familiar with the important role our nation’s public lands play in an ever-growing outdoor recreation economy, in fact the Bureau of Economic Analysis calculates the economic impact of outdoor recreation to be $1.2 trillion in 2023. Outdoor recreation and trail-based recreation contribute to enhancing communities where people live, work, and play. This legislation will continue the investment made through the Great American Outdoors Act and will continue to address public land agencies maintenance backlog allowing for healthy public lands that benefit all Americans. For these reasons, we commend Senator Daines from Montana, and Senator King from Maine for introducing the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund legislation,”- Todd Keller, Director of Government Affairs ,International Mountain Bicycling Association