Press Releases

Congressman Richard E. Neal hailed House passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, one of Congress’ most significant investments in environmental conservation in a generation. This strong, bipartisan legislation, which passed the Senate last month, builds on the progress made by last year’s John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act.  The Great American Outdoors Act will now go to the President’s desk for signature, ensuring critical investments in our national parks, public lands and conservation efforts today and into the future.

The bill fully funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) at $900 million annually and creates the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund, which will provide funding to the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Indian Education to fix buildings, trails, roads and other public infrastructure in need of repair for the next five years.

The LWCF is America’s most successful conservation program and these resources will make sure that it continues to:

• Support enhanced park and recreational access for local communities throughout the country;
• Address environmental injustice by creating green spaces near low-income communities and communities of color across the country by preserving our natural heritage in an equitable manner;
• Strengthen the recreation economy, which is one of the fastest growing economic sectors and a key driver of jobs across the country; and
• Implement recommendations from the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis’ Solving the Climate Crisis action plan to support the goal of protecting at least 30 percent of all U.S. lands and ocean areas by 2030 while helping fragile ecosystems, wildlife populations and communities become more resilient to the impacts of the climate crisis.

“Protecting public lands and preserving natural wildlife habitats is now more important than ever,” said Congressman Neal. “With climate change advancing around the country, this couldn’t come at a better time. This is a win for the country and for Massachusetts, especially here in the western and central part of the state. This is truly an investment in our children, our environment and our quality of life.”

The First Congressional District of Massachusetts has seen the positive effects of LWCF funding in the past including such projects as:

• The Fannie Stebbins Wildlife Refuge (Longmeadow)- LWCF grants & funding allowed for the purchase of these lands in 1994 along with the continued trail restoration & construction of a boat landing along the CT River
• AMC - Berkshire Chapter (87 miles of continuous trail from Mt. Washington, MA to Williamston, MA)
• Mt. Tom Reservation (Holyoke)
• Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge - multiple land purchases, protecting grassland and river habitats, as well as creating fully accessible trails
• Manhan Rail Trail (Easthampton & Southampton)

In addition, to preserve our National Parks, the Great American Outdoors Act establishes the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund, providing federal land management agencies with critical resources to address the $22 billion deferred maintenance backlog on our public lands. 

More information about state-by-state LWCF impacts is available HERE.

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