(Washington—June 10, 2026) Audubon applauds the introduction right this moment of bipartisan laws to increase and construct upon the success of the Nationwide Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund. The Nice American Open air Act 250, by Home Pure Sources Committee Chair Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Rating Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), would make investments $1.9 billion over 5 years to proceed restoring and bettering public land infrastructure whereas supporting the long-term stewardship of America’s public lands and waters.
“The Nice American Open air Act 250 represents a vital subsequent step to deal with long-standing upkeep and habitat restoration wants throughout our nationwide parks and monuments, wildlife refuges and waters, and enhance the locations that assist birds, wildlife, outside recreation, and communities throughout America,” mentioned Felice Stadler, vp of presidency affairs on the Nationwide Audubon Society. “We respect Chair Westerman and Rating Member Huffman’s management in advancing a invoice that builds on the success of the Legacy Restoration Fund and creates new alternatives to spend money on wildlife habitat and outside recreation. These efforts are a key transfer in the direction of making certain our wildlife refuges, parks, and forests stay wholesome and accessible, and ecologically resilient for the following 250 years.”
Along with addressing deferred upkeep wants, the laws provides vital new provisions that prioritize investments in non-transportation-related initiatives that may profit habitat, ecosystems, and pure assets, enhance outside recreation experiences, and assist wildlife habitat enhancements for looking and fishing. The invoice additionally and reinforces the vital function of public-private partnerships to ship significant on-the-ground conservation outcomes that this laws guarantees.
“Our nation’s public lands are ecological treasures that maintain wildlife, assist wholesome watersheds and forests, present locations of respite and connection to the outside, and function important financial engines for communities throughout the nation. Greater than 96 million Individuals take part in birdwatching, contributing over $107 billion yearly to the economic system. Investing within the stewardship of the general public lands and habitats that birds and folks rely upon is crucial, and Audubon seems ahead to working with Congress to advance this vital laws,” mentioned Stadler.
Established by way of the Nice American Open air Act of 2020, the Legacy Restoration Fund helps tackle deferred upkeep wants throughout nationwide parks and different federal public lands. Whereas Legacy Restoration Fund investments primarily assist campgrounds, trails, customer amenities, and different outside recreation infrastructure, this system has additionally supported habitat restoration and conservation efforts. The proposed adjustments to this system purpose to unlock larger investments for wildlife habitat and stewardship of America’s pure assets.
The laws is anticipated to be the subject of a Home Pure Sources Committee area listening to in Scorching Springs, Arkansas, on June 12.
Press contact: Jason Howe, jason.howe@audubon.org
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