** Great American Outdoors Act signed into law
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Wednesday, August 5, 2020
Moraine Park in Rocky Mountain National Park ([link removed])

Yesterday, President Trump signed the Great American Outdoors Act into law, a major win for the future of our parks and public lands. The law ensures that $900 million in offshore oil and gas revenue will be permanently allocated to the Land and Water Conservation Fund and dedicates $9.5 billion to address the maintenance backlog in national parks. However, President Trump's attempt to greenwash his presidency with this popular bipartisan bill did not go unnoticed. "Make no mistake, this bill is great news for the future of our parks and public lands, but no thanks to President Trump. He tried for years to eviscerate the Land and Water Conservation Fund before finally flip-flopping. Now he is signing a landmark conservation bill thanks only to public demand and strong congressional leadership that resulted in veto-proof bipartisan majorities," stated ([link removed]) Center for Western Priorities Policy Director Jesse Prentice-Dunn.

Analysis shows that Trump is the most anti-conservation president ([link removed]) in history, rolling back over 100 ([link removed]) environmental regulations with more ([link removed]) in the pipeline. Notably, Trump has attempted to zero ([link removed]) out
([link removed]) the Land and Water Conservation Fund each year only to be blocked by Congress. In addition, the Trump administration has removed protection from 1,000 times ([link removed]) more acres than it has protected, and granted the wishes ([link removed]) of the oil and gas industry whenever possible. Matt Lee-Ashley, a senior fellow at Center for American Progress, said ([link removed]) , “if President Trump deserves any credit for this bill, it is that his awful environmental record has reignited a powerful grassroots movement to save nature for
the benefit of every person in America.”
Quick hits


** New bill would permanently protect Montana’s Badger-Two Medicine
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High Country News ([link removed])


** Great American Outdoors Act signed into law
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New York Times ([link removed]) | HuffPost ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed]) | The Hill ([link removed]) | Colorado Sun ([link removed]) | Great Falls Tribune ([link removed]) | Flathead Beacon ([link removed]) | Colorado Public Radio ([link removed])


** Donald Trump Jr. calls for blocking Alaska mine in sensitive fishing area
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Washington Post ([link removed]) | The Hill ([link removed]) | Alaska Public Media ([link removed]) | Washington Examiner ([link removed])


** How a public institute in Oregon became a de facto lobbying arm of the timber industry
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Oregon Public Broadcasting ([link removed])


** Nominee to head the BLM has 50 conflicts of interest
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CREW ([link removed])


** Rare Nevada wildflower could jeopardize lithium mine
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Associated Press ([link removed])


** Bill to protect traditional land uses in New Mexico advances in the House
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New Mexico Political Report ([link removed])


** Opinion: Borderlands groups oppose Pendley’s nomination to head Bureau of Land Management
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High Country News ([link removed])
Quote of the day
This is the first time in 40 years that we have been out from under the threat of industrial leases... The cultural heritage area plan is the first proposal to be written with Blackfeet involvement, and with Blackfeet values included.”
—Terry Tatsey, a member of the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council, High Country News ([link removed])
Picture this


** @USFWS ([link removed])
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To commemorate the Great American Outdoors Act’s unparalleled investment in our nation’s public lands for years to come,@Interior ([link removed]) lands are fee-free on August 5, 2020: [link removed] ([link removed]) Find your closest wildlife refuge: [link removed] ([link removed]) Photo: USFWS

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