Tuesday, October 13, 2020

DEMA Backs Great American Outdoors Act

 With backing from DEMA and other outdoor recreation associations, the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) was signed into law on August 4th by President Trump. The original bill was sponsored by Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Joe Manchin (D-WV), and co-sponsored by a bipartisan coalition of 59 other Senators, and it passed the Senate by a broad bipartisan vote of 73-25. The bill also passed in the House with another bipartisan vote of 310-107.

GAOA fully funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) at a level of $900 million annually and addresses the approximately $20 billion maintenance backlog on federal public lands through a new "National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund.” The bill helps address priority repairs in national parks and on other public lands by directing up to $9.5 billion over five years to address maintenance needs within the National Park System, other public land agencies, and Bureau of Indian Education schools. It will also fully and permanently commit $900 million per year to the Land and Water Conservation Fund to ensure protection of, and access to, irreplaceable lands, waters and local recreation opportunities.

GAOA helps fund maintenance and conservation for diving areas in national parks such as: