Outdoors Act Awaits Trump Signature

The Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) applauds The U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of this historic outdoors legislation to promote conservation and increased public land and water access for opportunities for sportsmen and women.

The Great American Outdoors Act will provide $9.5 billion over 5 years to address the decimated infrastructure on America’s public lands and waters. The National Park Service will receive $6.5 billion in funding and $3 billion will be included to repair and maintain public land infrastructure overseen by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and U.S. Forest Service (USFS).

From the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation: The inclusion of funding specifically for BLM, USFWS, and USFS lands and waters will ensure that Americans have the ability to access critically important hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting opportunities. Over 246 million acres, or 99%, of BLM lands are open to hunting and fishing while the USFS reports that 99% of the 193 million acres it administers are open to hunting and at least 99% of USFS administered rivers, streams, and lakes are open to fishing.

Collectively, BLM, USFWS, and USFS annually support more than 25 million hunting days and nearly 45 million fishing days, highlighting the importance of these lands for America’s sportsmen and women as well as the outdoor economy. Additionally, funding to address these agencies’ maintenance backlog will create over 100,000 employment opportunities. The Great American Outdoors Act also provides full and permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) at $900 million annually. LWCF is one of the most successful and influential conservation programs in our nation’s history. GAOA also ensures $15 million annually is dedicated to increase public access for hunting, fishing, recreational shooting, and other forms of outdoor recreation.

The Great American Outdoors Act now awaits the President’s signature.

Congratulations to the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and all of our fellow peer organizations and individuals that have worked so hard, for so many years, to bring this critical piece of legislation to fruition. And our sincere thanks to each of you that contacted your legislators to make this a reality.