Americans Outdoors Act Reintroduced

From National Recreation and Park Association

U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), David Vitter (R-LA), and Tim Johnson (D-SD) re-introduced legislation, on April 28, to create an annual trust fund to conserve and restore coastal resources, provide Land and Water Conservation Fund state assistance, fund the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Program, and aid wildlife resources. If enacted, the bill would provide sufficient, reliable long-term funding for park and recreation capital investments. The bill, S. 964, was referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

The proposed act would direct a portion of offshore oil and gas revenues to four areas: (1) Coastal Impact Assistance would be allocated $500 million, directed towards oil and gas producing coastal states to mitigate the impacts of offshore drilling activity and provide funding for wetlands restoration; (2) Land and Water Conservation Fund state assistance would receive $450 million to go to states and local governments for the planning, acquisition, and development of state and local park and recreation lands and facilities; (3) Wildlife Conservation would receive $350 million for a broad variety of state wildlife conservation programs, both game and non-game species; and (4) Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Program would be allocated $125 million in the form of matching grants to assist local governments in restoring park and recreation systems.