National park visitors could eventually see improvements to roads, campgrounds, water systems and other aging infrastructure if Congress approves legislation that just cleared a key Senate committee.
On Wednesday, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee advanced the bipartisan America the Beautiful Act. It moved the bill one step closer to consideration by the full Senate. The legislation would reauthorize the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund, a program that helped pay for major repair projects across national parks and other federal public lands from 2021 through 2025.
For RVers, the issue is more than another piece of legislation moving through Washington. The projects funded through the program have included campground upgrades, road repairs, water and wastewater systems, visitor facilities, trails, and other infrastructure that millions of visitors rely on every year.
What RVers are likely to notice
Most RVers won’t notice a congressional funding bill. They will notice when a campground loop reopens after repairs, a dump station gets upgraded, a failing water system is replaced or a rough park road finally gets resurfaced.
“Most RVers won’t notice a congressional funding bill. They will notice when a campground loop reopens after repairs, a dump station gets upgraded, a failing water system is replaced or a rough park road finally gets resurfaced.”
Many national parks are still dealing with aging roads, campgrounds, utility systems and visitor facilities that need repair after decades of heavy use. According to supporters of the legislation, the Park Service faces a deferred-maintenance backlog estimated at more than $23 billion.
Backers of the bill say the previous Legacy Restoration Fund helped pay for hundreds of projects nationwide. That included campground improvements, road work, utility upgrades and repairs to visitor facilities.
Building on an existing program
The original Legacy Restoration Fund was created under the Great American Outdoors Act of 2020. According to the Park Service, the fund provided up to $1.3 billion annually from fiscal years 2021 through 2025 for infrastructure projects across the park system.
Supporters of the America the Beautiful Act say the new legislation would extend the program through 2033 and increase available funding to as much as $2 billion annually. The goal is to continue reducing maintenance backlogs not only in national parks, but on other federal public lands as well.
The bill has attracted support from both Republicans and Democrats. Outdoor recreation groups, conservation organizations and park advocates have argued that visitors benefit when long-delayed infrastructure projects finally move forward.
Still several steps to go
The committee vote does not make the legislation law. The bill must still advance through the Senate, pass the House and be signed by the president.
But supporters see the committee’s action as an important step toward keeping repair funding available for some of the most visible infrastructure problems visitors encounter.
For RVers, that could eventually mean improvements to some of the roads, campgrounds, utility systems and visitor facilities they use during trips to national parks across the country.
Sources
Mountain Journal
Outdoor Recreation Roundtable
National Park Service Legacy Restoration Fund
National Parks Traveler
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