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Legislation to fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) inched one step closer to the finish line on Monday evening by clearing a procedural vote in the U.S. Senate. The bill would deposit $900 million annually in the LWCF to support the acquisition and improvement of public lands. It will also create a $9.5 billion fund over five years to address the significant maintenance backlog in America's national parks.
There aren't many issues that can bridge a partisan divide in an election year, but the Great American Outdoors Act is a piece of legislation that members from both parties can get behind; the 80-17 vote in the Senate to consider the legislative package is indicative of the robust support backing this bill.
Interior faces legal scrutiny for acting appointments
Interior Secretary David Bernhardt is facing criticism for indefinitely extending the temporary appointment of officials, including acting Bureau of Land Management head William Perry Pendley and acting National Park Service chief David Vela. Legal experts say the department may be violating laws on filling vacancies.
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Protecting public lands is good policy and good politics.”
