On June 17, the U.S. Senate voted 73 to 25 to pass the Great American Outdoors Act, a bill that permanently and fully funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund and provides money for the growing maintenance backlog on public lands.

Upon its passage, Trout Unlimited issued the following statement:

“We know LWCF is incredibly important to hunters and anglers as one of the most enduring and vital funds for securing access to our public lands at no cost to the taxpayer,” said Chris Wood, president and CEO at Trout Unlimited.

“We’re thrilled and grateful to see the Senate pass this pivotal piece of legislation. In addition to LWCF, we can’t overstate the importance of the funding provided for the maintenance backlog, which will help fix the thousands of miles of roads bleeding sediment into our rivers and streams and replace undersized culverts that block fish migration. This upkeep, while not flashy, is a critical part of the stewardship of our public lands.

“We ask that the House move swiftly to pass companion legislation and get this bill to the President’s desk,” continued Wood. “The sooner this legislation gets enacted, the better off our outdoor traditions will be, now and for future generations.” 

The House of Representatives version of the bill, H.R. 7092, was introduced by Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-SC) on June 4 with strong bipartisan support. The legislation currently has nearly fifty cosponsors from around the country.

For more information on national issues, visit the Trout Unlimited website.  For more on Pennsylvania issues and how you can get involved, visit the PA Council Of Trout Unlimited website.

NewsClips:

Bay Journal: U.S. Senate Passes Great American Outdoors Act

The Hill: U.S. Senate Passes Major Land & Water Conservation Fund Bill

NYT: U.S. Senate Passes Major Public Lands Bill

Editorial: Major Win For Conservation, Parks In U.S. Senate Vote

[Posted: June 18, 2020]

6/22/2020