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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) voted for the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, one of Congress’ most significant investments in environmental conservation in a generation. This landmark legislation will provide permanent, full funding of $900 million annually for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and establish the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund to address the deferred maintenance backlog on our nation’s public lands. 

A fact sheet of the legislation can be found here and video of Dingell speaking in support of the legislation can be found here. 

Since its creation in 1964, which former Congressman John D. Dingell Jr. (D-MI) played a leading role in establishing, the LWCF has been used to enhance and establish local, state and national preservation areas. LWCF funds everything from local playgrounds to national park expansions and is one of the country’s most popular conservation programs. However, LWCF has only received full funding twice in its decades-long history.

More than twenty years ago, Congressman John D. Dingell, Jr. (D-MI) and Congressman Don Young (R-AK) introduced the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA), the first significant legislation to permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Act. With the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, the LWCF will realize on the vision of Dingell and Young and provide permanent funding to the LWCF for the first time in history. 

With the establishment of the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund, the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Indian Education will receive funding to address the public lands deferred maintenance backlog to fix buildings, trails, roads and other public lands infrastructure in need of repair for the next five years.

“John would be so proud to see today. With the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, his life work to protect our great outdoors, ecosystems and wildlife, and outdoor activities will soon be enshrined into law,” said Dingell. “The Great American Outdoors Act achieves the twin goals of protecting America’s crown jewels and repairing deteriorating infrastructure, thereby allowing more Americans to access public lands and enjoy all the beauty America has to offer. These critical investments will benefit future generations of children and ducklings alike.”

More information about state-by-state LWCF impacts is available at https://www.lwcfcoalition.com/map-of-lwcf

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