Senate Passes "Great American Outdoors Act;" House Consideration Next - New Mexico Wildlife Federation

For Immediate Release

ALBUQUERQUE — The U.S. Senate on Wednesday passed the Great American Outdoors Act — a landmark piece of legislation that includes permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

The Senate voted 73-to-25 to approve the bill. It now moves to the U.S. House, where U.S. House Rep Xochitl Torres Small, D-N.M., is a co-sponsor.

The New Mexico Wildlife Federation has pushed for years for full and permanent funding for the LWCF.

“The New Mexico Wildlife Federation is thrilled with the Senate approval,” Jesse Deubel, NMWF executive director, said Wednesday. “Our staff, board and membership all would like to thank Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich for their strong support.”

The LWCF collects revenue from offshore energy production and uses it to acquire important lands around the country. The legislation specifies that the $900 million a year earmarked for the fund not be diverted to other congressional programs as it often has been in recent years.

In New Mexico, LWCF has helped preserve the Valles Caldera, Ute Mountain, Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge and other areas.

“We’re looking forward to seeing continued bipartisan support for this critical legislation in the House,” Deubel said. “Outdoor recreation plays an important role in our state and national economies and enacting this bill into law will help our nation respond to the challenges of the ongoing pandemic.”

Nationwide, outdoor recreation pumps some $778 billion into the economy and supports 5 million jobs. It’s particularly important in New Mexico, which relies heavily on tourism.

Early this year, President Donald Trump called on Congress to send him a bill that would fully and permanently fund the LWCF and provide funding to restore the nation’s national parks. His call came after he earlier had suggested cutting the funding by as much as 97 percent.

In addition to addressing deferred maintenance at national park properties, the legislation will fund work on federal lands administered by the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, federal wildlife refuges and federal Bureau of Indian Education school construction.