Policymakers and advocates urge investment in public lands to support hard-hit outdoor recreation communities

More than 850 outdoor recreation and conservation organizations, and more than 100 House Representatives from both sides of the aisle urged Congress to invest in public lands infrastructure and conservation as a way to support the outdoor recreation economy and communities that depend on it, many of which have been especially hard-hit by the economic downturn from the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, they called for the inclusion of full, permanent funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund and dedicated funding for the maintenance backlog on public lands in an upcoming stimulus package.

The Wilderness Society was one of the more than 850 groups who signed a letter asking Congress to include the "Great American Outdoors Act" (S. 3422) in the next stimulus bill.

Statement from Drew McConville, Senior Managing Director for Government Relations at The Wilderness Society:

“The past two months have spotlighted the crucial role public lands and outdoor recreation play in supporting the health of people, businesses and communities across the country. The Great American Outdoors Act was teed up for passage before the pandemic hit, and the need for Congress to act is even clearer now. Passing this ready-to-go legislation will promote economic growth and recovery by putting people to work on infrastructure projects and investing in gateway communities as well as recreation, travel and tourism businesses particularly hard-hit by the current economic crisis. In the months to come, investment in our beloved outdoor spaces will be integral to our collective emotional and economic recovery – as individuals and a nation.”

Representatives Joe Neguse (D-CO), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Joe Cunningham (D-SC) and Derek Kilmer (D-WA) led 114 of their colleagues in sending a letter to House and Senate leadership advocating that a future stimulus package include the "Land and Water Conservation Funding Act" (H.R. 1225) and the "Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act" (H.R. 3195), recognizing the role of outdoor recreation and public lands in the economies of many hard-hit communities in their states and across the country.

Statement from Jim Ramey, Colorado State Director at The Wilderness Society:

“The COVID-19 pandemic has shown a spotlight on the crucial role that investment in public lands and outdoor recreation infrastructure plays in communities across Colorado and the country. As we confront state and local budget challenges, Congress has a great opportunity to provide support for a strong reopening and long-term recovery by providing funding for our public lands. The bipartisan efforts to dedicate full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and address the parks maintenance backlog stand ready-to-be-passed and used as tools to put people to work and promote economic growth.”

These requests follow recent letters from the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable and a group of more than 100 local elected officials from ten Western states and the Tohono Oʼodham Nation with similar asks to Congress to include the "Great American Outdoors Act" and other public lands investments in upcoming stimulus legislation.

CONTACT:

• Kerry Leslie, Communications Manager, The Wilderness Society, (415) 398-1484, kerry_leslie@tws.org

The Wilderness Society is the leading conservation organization working to unite people to protect America's wild places. Founded in 1935, and now with more than one million members and supporters, The Wilderness Society has led the effort to permanently protect 111 million acres of wilderness and to ensure sound management of our shared national lands. www.wilderness.org