With sweeping bipartisan support that included most – but not all – of Ohio’s U.S. Congressional House members, the so-named “Great American Outdoors Act” is set to deliver $9.5 billion over the next five years.
Among the Act’s dedicated entitlements the money is earmarked for the rehabilitation of the nation’s crumbling recreational and outdoors infrastructure.
On July 22nd, the House voted 310 to 107 – with 13 members not voting – for House Resolution 1957 to concur with all ready passed Senate amendments to the Act. All of Ohio’s four Democratic Party Congressional members voted “yea” as did six of the state’s 12 Republican House members.
The six Ohio Congressional representatives opposing the Act were Republicans Steve Chabot – R-1; Warren Davidson, R-8; Bill Johnson, R-6; Jim Jordan, R-4; Robert Latta, R-5; and Brad Wendstrub, R-2.
These six members joined a small but vocal chorus of largely Western-based agriculture-associated organizations in opposing the Act. Linked were the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the American Sheep Industry Association, and the Public Lands Council – a lobbying group comprised of Western-based ranchers.
Prior to the House vote, this cadre of opponents said the Act would “...sentence hundreds of millions of acres of American land and water to a poorly-managed future..”
However, voting “yea” among Ohio’s Congressional House delegation were Democrats Joyce Beatty, D-3; Marcia Fudge, D-11; Marcy Kaptur, D-9; and Tim Ryan, D-13. Ohio Republican Congressional House members who voted “yea” were Troy Balderson, R-12; Bob Gibbs, R-7; Anthony Gonzalez, R-16; David Joyce, R-14; Steve Stivers, R-15; and Michael Turner, R-10.
The passage of the Act pleases Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director Mary Mertz who says that “With record numbers of Ohioans choosing to enjoy and appreciate the great outdoors, I am grateful for Congress’ bold action to advance conservation and expand access to public lands.”
“Full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund will help protect important landscapes and increase access to outdoor recreation for everyone, and support the integrity of our natural legacy for generations to come. Ohio’s parks, forests, wildlife, natural wonders and citizens will all benefit from the Great American Outdoors Act,” Mertz said in remarks to “Ohio Outdoor News.”
Another government-backed or associated celebrator is The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, which represents North America’s U.S. federal, territorial, state, and Canadian provincial fish and wildlife agencies.
In an organization statement, Kelly Hepler, the Association’s president and also secretary of the Secretary of the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Department said, “This bipartisan legislation is historic for conservation, supporting state recreation and parks programs, increasing outdoor recreational access for the public, and rebuilding critical federal infrastructure for hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts.”
“The Land and Water Conservation Fund is one of the best funding tools for outdoor recreation, and this will create jobs by addressing the deferred maintenance backlog for federal recreation infrastructure, as well as through the State-side programs of the Land and Water Conservation Fund in the future.”
Likewise a plethora of non-governmental agencies (NGOs) support the Act – which awaits the signature or veto of President Donald Trump – and is similarly broad-based.
The Nature Conservancy’s Interim CEO Sally Jewell similarly noted in her prepared remarks how “..these are places of respite, and places that we can all go to celebrate our history, our culture, our challenges and our triumphs. “
“They are places I go with my grandchildren now to help them understand what a gift we have in our public lands, and I’m glad to see Congress act to preserve that gift for future generations,” said Jewell, who also served as Secretary of the Interior under President Barrack Obama.
Whit Fosburgh, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, was particularly enthusiastic regarding the bipartisan vote.
“Sportsmen and women who have spoken out for years in support of the (Land and Water Conservation Fund) and against the chronic under-funding of our conservation agencies should be very proud to be a part of this historic win for public lands, fish and wildlife habitat, and our hunting and fishing access,” Fosburgh said in his prepared remarks.
Even the recreational vehicle industry strongly endorsed the Act and expressed pleasure at its passage through both the Senate and the House.
RV Industry Association (RVIA) President Craig Kirby noted that “Twenty million RVers across the country depend on our iconic state and federal lands for recreation, conservation, enjoyment, and overnight camping.”
“If you’re an RVer or any kind of outdoor recreation enthusiast, the Great American Outdoors Act is the best thing to happen to our community in six decades,” Kirby said.
Specifically - and according to the Congressional office in charge of explaining the proposal - the Act will:
“(Establish) the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund to support deferred maintenance projects on federal lands.
“For (Fiscal Year 2021 through Fiscal Year 2025), there shall be deposited into the fund an amount equal to 50 (percent) of all federal revenues from the development of oil, gas, coal, or alternative or renewable energy on federal lands and waters. Deposited amounts must not exceed $1.9 billion for any fiscal year.
“The fund must be used for priority deferred maintenance projects in specified systems that are administered by The National Park Service, The (U.S.) Forest Service, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Bureau of Land Management, and The Bureau of Indian Education.
“The Government Accountability Office must report on the effect of the fund in reducing the backlog of priority deferred maintenance projects for the specified agencies.
“Additionally, the bill makes funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) permanent. The President shall annually report to Congress specified details regarding the allocation of funds to the LWCF. Congress may provide for alternate allocations using specified procedures.”
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischk@Ameritech.net
JFrischk4@gmail.com
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