| The U.S. Senate debated the Great American Outdoors Act yesterday afternoon, and by the early evening, ended up voting to invoke cloture by a count of 80-17. This last procedural hurdle means that senators can vote to pass the bill as early as Thursday. This legislation would be a landmark achievement for conservation, and the goal line is now in sight. With a final vote imminent, you must contact your senators as soon as possible to urge them to support this legislation. The legislation would fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), as well as address the more than $20 billion backlog in deferred maintenance plaguing our national parks and public lands. It has been called a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and it is even more critical to help America recover from the pandemic's impacts. "This bill has unusually broad, bipartisan, and vocal support—because the issues at hand affect so many different communities so concretely," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). The bill was co-authored by U.S. Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Joe Manchin (D-WV). Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives introduced its version of the Great American Outdoors Act, where it also has a very favorable path to passage. The Republican co-sponsors of the House bill include U.S. Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Mike Simpson (R-ID), John Katko (R-NY), Lee Zeldin (R-NY), Steve Stivers (R-OH), and Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE). President Trump has said he will sign the Great American Outdoors Act into law if it comes to his desk. |
