Deb Haaland Secretary at U.S. Department of Interior | Official website
BOSTON — Acting Deputy Secretary of the Interior Laura Daniel-Davis traveled to Massachusetts this week to highlight investments from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). These investments are enabling the Interior Department to deploy unprecedented funding to address overdue maintenance and repairs and meet critical ecosystem resilience, restoration, and environmental planning needs.
Acting Deputy Secretary Daniel-Davis visited Plymouth County, Massachusetts, where she joined leaders from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MassWildlife, and local partners to tour projects funded by the America the Beautiful Challenge that are helping reconnect local habitats. MassWildlife was awarded nearly $5 million which, together with nearly $870,000 in matching funds, is helping restore a former cranberry bog site; expand aquatic connectivity; build resilience of pine barrens, woodlands, shrublands, and sandplain grasslands; and improve ecological function of coastal pond shores. This large-scale collaborative restoration effort is building capacity for future conservation throughout southeastern Massachusetts.
Launched in 2021, the America the Beautiful initiative set the nation’s first-ever goal to conserve 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030. The initiative lifts up efforts to conserve, connect and restore lands, waters, and wildlife. Through the America the Beautiful Challenge—a public-private partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) made possible with funding in part from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—the Biden-Harris administration has committed $1 billion towards this work.
Acting Deputy Secretary Daniel-Davis also traveled to Boston Harbor Islands with members of the Boston Harbor Islands Partnership, local leaders, and scientists to discuss challenges facing Boston including climate crisis impacts on the islands. The Boston Harbor Islands rely on partnerships for education, recreation, and solitude within an urban area. Eleven different agencies and organizations make up the Boston Harbor Islands Partnership which collectively govern and support its mission.
Today at Boston National Historical Park Acting Deputy Secretary Daniel-Davis toured various projects funded by GAOA including Hoosac Warehouse project and rehabilitation of Building 107. At USS Constitution—the oldest commissioned warship afloat—she joined park leaders to discuss a new visitor experience center that will enable better storytelling of national history. Later she attended a groundbreaking ceremony for Building 107 where an $81 million investment from GAOA will help build a modern National Parks of Boston headquarters.
The GAOA established the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF), a bipartisan investment improving visitor experiences while bolstering climate resilience through job creation in recreation areas among others. Since 2021 over $8 billion in GAOA funding has supported nearly 400 projects across all states generating approximately $1.8 billion annually for local economies while supporting around 17,000 jobs each year.
Infrastructure upgrades at Boston National Historical support NPS’ efforts commemorating America's 250th anniversary of independence in 2026 providing opportunities for enjoyment education inspiration now into future generations.
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