The U.S. House of Representatives passed sweeping conservation legislation on Wednesday, sending to President Donald Trump’s desk a plan providing $9.5 billion for national parks repair and permanently directing $900 million a year toward outdoor recreation on public lands.
The House passed the Great American Outdoors Act by a 310-107 vote, and it sailed through the Senate last month. Trump has signaled support for the legislation, which promises new parks and upgraded recreational facilities across the country.
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., has been leading the effort for years to provide financial relief to national parks. He first introduced legislation three years ago to reduce the backlog of maintenance projects in national parks. His original bill to fix crumbling recreational infrastructure is incorporated into the Great American Outdoors Act.