Conservatives have long understood that conservation is not about locking away America’s natural treasures, but stewarding them through responsible use so future generations can enjoy the same public lands that earlier generations worked hard to secure.
Just six years ago, President Donald Trump paid tribute to that legacy when he signed the original “Great American Outdoors Act” into law. That bill established the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF), which budgeted for countless infrastructure projects within our most precious landscapes. But that program expired last year, threatening the future of Americas natural inheritance.
As our country celebrates its 250th birthday, Congress should reauthorize the LRF, one of the most successful conservation achievements of Trump’s first term, by passing the Great American Outdoors Act 250 (GAOA 250). At a time when Americans are visiting their national parks in record numbers and the deferred maintenance backlog has grown to more than $40 billion, renewing the fund is an essential component of responsible stewardship.
Setting an important precedent, President Theodore Roosevelt was vocal about this kind of stewardship of public lands and conserving what he called Americas “glorious heritage.” His legacy, including the dramatic expansion of national parks and creation of dozens of monuments and wildlife refuges, shines as a guiding example of conservative tradition.
The future of that tradition stands at a crossroads.
A failing sewage system at Yellowstone or Yosemite threatens wildlife and ranchers alike. Washed-out trails in the Sierras mean fewer opportunities to connect with family in the great outdoors. And lack of maintenance leaves our beloved forests vulnerable to devastating wildfires. Ensuring these issues are handled is the basic tenets of caring for America’s greatest natural treasures.
FAMOUS BEACH NOW REQUIRES VISITORS TO RESERVE SPOTS WEEKS AHEAD AND PAY FEES
In late June, the House Natural Resources Committee advanced the GAOA 250 under the leadership of Republican Chairman Bruce Westerman, who hails from “The Natural State” of Arkansas. GAOA 250 reauthorizes the LRF at $1.9 billion annually for another five years while prioritizing mission-critical infrastructure and requiring a public dashboard so taxpayers can track every project. The legislation also includes a much overdue, and overlooked, provision.
International visitors enjoy the same park experiences as their American counterparts, yet they do not contribute to the tax revenues to sustain them. American citizens subsidize the international visitor fee gap when they both pay their federal taxes and pay the entrance fees. The foreign visitor surcharge, originally introduced in West Virginia Republican Rep. Riley Moores and Indiana Republican Sen. Jim Bankss PATRIOT Parks legislation, now a component of GAOA 250, would correct this imbalance.
From Ecuador to New Zealand, countries across the world charge international visitors a premium to access their treasured lands. In that spirit, President Trump ordered a foreign visitor fee through executive action. But the next administration coul
