U.S. Senate passes measure to fully fund Land and Water Conservation Fund, tackle National Park maintenance

After years of stalled efforts, the Great American Outdoors Act gained traction thanks to Colorado’s U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner, who won backing from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and President Donald Trump

By
Jesse Paul, The Colorado Sun
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A view of the San Juan Mountains near Telluride.
A view of the San Juan Mountains near Telluride. (Photo Credit: Jesse Paul, The Colorado Sun)

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday approved a bipartisan bill that would achieve the long-held goal of fully funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund while also providing money to help tackle the $12 billion maintenance backlog at America’s national parks.

Colorado, with its vast public lands and numerous national parks, recreation areas, historic sites and monuments, is set to benefit from the measure, called the Great American Outdoors Act. Conservation and environmental groups in the state have long pushed for such legislation.

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