The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources approved S. 1547, the America the Beautiful Act, by voice vote on June 17. The bipartisan legislation, introduced by Senators Steve Daines and Angus King, seeks to reauthorize the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund. The committee also adopted a bipartisan substitute amendment offered by Chairman Mike Lee and Ranking Member Martin Heinrich.
Chairman Mike Lee said, “America’s national parks and public lands are a source of national pride, and Congress has a responsibility to ensure they are maintained for future generations. This legislation preserves the core mission of addressing deferred maintenance while incorporating meaningful reforms to improve transparency, accountability, and project execution. The substitute amendment demonstrates what can be accomplished when members work through legitimate concerns and engage in good-faith negotiations.”
Senator Martin Heinrich said, “The bipartisan advancement of the America the Beautiful Act is a reminder that when we work together, we can deliver real results for the American people. Our public lands are where families make memories, support local economies, and connect with the outdoors — which is why reinvesting in them is so important. I’m grateful to Chairman Lee, Senators Daines and King, and our bipartisan cosponsors for helping reach this agreement and moving this long-overdue legislation forward to reauthorize the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund and continue investing in the parks, forests, and refuges that people rely on every day, while helping address longstanding needs in Tribal communities.”
Secretary Burgum said, “As we near our nation’s 250th anniversary, reauthorizing the Legacy Restoration Fund is a powerful opportunity to deliver lasting results for all Americans and our public lands. Grateful for the leadership of Chairman Lee, Ranking Member Heinrich, Sen. Daines and Sen. King for crafting targeted reforms that will strengthen the Fund’s impact and improve how projects are delivered. We encourage broad support as this effort advances in the Senate and look forward to partnering with Chairman Westerman and the House to move a final bill to President Trump.”
The act would reauthorize funding through fiscal year 2031 while introducing reforms aimed at improving project selection processes; increasing transparency; streamlining permitting; prioritizing safety risks; prohibiting use of funds for new land acquisition; expanding accountability standards across agencies such as National Park Service or Bureau of Indian Education; creating reporting requirements; expediting contracting procedures; establishing clearer definitions regarding deferred maintenance projects; maximizing reductions in maintenance backlogs; streamlining environmental reviews; as well as creating a surcharge on foreign visitors directed toward deferred maintenance.
According to committee leaders involved in negotiations with Administration officials over several months prior to passage out of committee on June 17, these measures reflect efforts both at strengthening program accountability as well as continuing investment into maintaining America’s public lands.