The Great American Outdoors Act, S. 3422, led by 54 Senate co-sponsors, proposes to put up to $95 million each year over the next five years towards the maintenance backlog for the National Wildlife Refuge System. It would also fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) at $900 million.
The Refuge System currently needs $1.4 billion to eliminate its maintenance backlog of infrastructure projects, so this infusion of $475 million would cut the backlog in a third. Funds would go towards infrastructure needs such as visitor center repairs, damaged fences, broken boardwalks, trail repairs, and many other projects. Repair of our refuge crumbling infrastructure is essential to the use and enjoyment of these public lands by visitors.
LWCF was permanently reauthorized last year, but funding was not included. This program has been critical to Refuge System land acquisition since its creation in 1965, and full funding has only been reached twice in its history. Permanent, dedicated full funding of LWCF will ensure that refuges will be able to count on this funding for the long term, and they can start to plan for land acquisitions and work with landowners to facilitate sales of appropriate lands. Royalties from oil and gas receipts are used to fund the LWCF, so no taxpayer money goes into this fund.
We expect the Senate to hold a vote on this bill in June. The House has not passed a similar bill, but the President has stated his support for it.