Bipartisan “America the Beautiful Act” Offers Historic Opportunity to Protect South Dakota Public Lands for Nation’s Semiquincentennial
Advocates Call on Congress to Renew a Landmark Investment to Fix Public Land Infrastructure and Boost Local Economies
PIERRE, S.D. — As the nation continues to celebrate our 250th anniversary, a broad, bipartisan coalition is calling on Congress to pass a crucial piece of legislation that maintains our public lands and national heritage for generations to come. The America the Beautiful Act (S. 1547, H.R. 9250) would ensure that America’s national parks, forests, public lands, and wildlife refuges remain safe and accessible for the hundreds of millions of annual visitors. The legislation enjoys significant bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
Established under the Great American Outdoors Act of 2020, the Legacy Restoration Fund was a generational, non-taxpayer funded investment that facilitated the repair of hundreds of trails and roads, campgrounds, marinas, visitor centers, and water systems across all 50 states. Since the Fund expired last year, advocates are urging Congress to pass the America the Beautiful Act as quickly as possible. Extending this investment would be an appropriate gift to the American people during the nation’s 250th birthday.
The congressional legislation has the support of lawmakers from all political parties who recognize that safeguarding our public lands, providing visitor access and safety, and sustaining local economies that depend on visitor spending transcend political differences. In South Dakota, the following member of the congressional delegation supports the bill:
- Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD-At Large)
By extending the Legacy Restoration Fund, the America the Beautiful Act will deliver nearly $2 billion annually to address high-priority infrastructure and maintenance needs nationwide. Enacting this legislation will provide an opportunity to fund priority repair projects within parks and public lands in South Dakota, boosting travel and tourism, safeguarding historic sites and ecological resources, and benefiting local communities that rely on visitor spending.
Examples of projects that received funding include:
- Rehabilitation of headquarters and concession facilities at Badlands National Park: Badlands National Park used portable trailers to conduct concession operations for over 20 years. Funding has provided Badlands National Park with a new headquarters that can better suit the growing needs of guests and employees.
- Residence repairs at the Wounded Knee District School: Funding is allowing 48 residences to be repaired or replaced for teachers at the Wounded Knee District School, replacing academic buildings, and repairing wastewater treatment facilities at the school. The Wounded Knee District School is a Bureau of Indian Education school on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, and these repairs will allow the school to continue to effectively serve students.
For more information about the America the Beautiful Act, please visit this article from the Pew Charitable Trusts: As the U.S. Celebrates its 250th Year, the National Parks Face Unfinished Business
###