Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Extend Legacy Restoration Fund

(Washington—June 10, 2026) Audubon applauds the introduction at this time of bipartisan laws to increase and construct upon the success of the Nationwide Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund.  The Nice American Open air Act 250, by Home Pure Assets Committee Chair Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Rating Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), would make investments $1.9 billion over 5 years to proceed restoring and enhancing public land infrastructure whereas supporting the long-term stewardship of America’s public lands and waters. 

“The Nice American Open air Act 250 represents a vital subsequent step to handle long-standing upkeep and habitat restoration wants throughout our nationwide parks and monuments, wildlife refuges and waters, and enhance the locations that help birds, wildlife, outside recreation, and communities throughout America,” stated Felice Stadler, vp of presidency affairs on the Nationwide Audubon Society. “We admire Chair Westerman and Rating Member Huffman’s management in advancing a invoice that builds on the success of the Legacy Restoration Fund and creates new alternatives to spend money on wildlife habitat and outside recreation. These efforts are a key transfer in direction of guaranteeing our wildlife refuges, parks, and forests stay wholesome and accessible, and ecologically resilient for the following 250 years.” 

Along with addressing deferred upkeep wants, the laws provides essential new provisions that prioritize investments in non-transportation-related tasks that may profit habitat, ecosystems, and pure sources, enhance outside recreation experiences, and help wildlife habitat enhancements for searching and fishing.  The invoice additionally and reinforces the essential position of public-private partnerships to ship significant on-the-ground conservation outcomes that this laws guarantees.  

“Our nation’s public lands are ecological treasures that maintain wildlife, help wholesome watersheds and forests, present locations of respite and connection to the outside, and function important financial engines for communities throughout the nation. Greater than 96 million People take part in birdwatching, contributing over $107 billion yearly to the economic system. Investing within the stewardship of the general public lands and habitats that birds and other people rely upon is important, and Audubon appears ahead to working with Congress to advance this essential laws,” stated Stadler. 

Established via the Nice American Open air Act of 2020, the Legacy Restoration Fund helps handle deferred upkeep wants throughout nationwide parks and different federal public lands. Whereas Legacy Restoration Fund investments primarily help campgrounds, trails, customer services, and different outside recreation infrastructure, this system has additionally supported habitat restoration and conservation efforts. The proposed adjustments to this system goal to unlock better investments for wildlife habitat and stewardship of America’s pure sources.

The laws is predicted to be the subject of a Home Pure Assets Committee subject listening to in Scorching Springs, Arkansas, on June 12. 

Press contact: Jason Howe, jason.howe@audubon.org

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