Thursday, June 18, 2020

Senate passes bill that funds public lands conservation, reduces backlog of maintenance needs in national parks

The Senate voted 73-25 Wednesday to pass a bill to protect public lands and address part of the national park system's maintenance backlog. It would permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund at $900 million a year. "It would also provide $9.5 billion to help clear part of the Interior Department’s nearly $20 billion in maintenance projects that had been deferred because of budget constraints," Elvina Nawaguna reports for Roll Call.

The move is also meant to help its two sponsors, Sens. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., and Steve Daines, R-Mont., both Republicans facing tough re-election battles, Nawaguna reports. The bill passed with little trouble, after less than two weeks of debate and with no major amendments. A Democratic aide told Nawaguna that the bill will get a House floor vote before the July 4 recess.

No comments: