JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — 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 Missouri, the following members of the congressional delegation support the bill:
- Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO)
- Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO)
- Rep. Wesley Bell (D-MO-1)
- Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO-8)
- Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO-2)
- Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO-4)
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 Missouri, 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:
- Preserving the Old Courthouse at Gateway Arch National Park: The Old Courthouse in St. Louis is where Dred Scott sued for his freedom, in a case that helped set the country on the path to civil war. Two Legacy Restoration Fund projects totaling $29.1 million will rehabilitate the building’s failing systems and historic fabric, repairing drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems, electrical and lighting components, and fire suppression and security systems; preserving masonry and restoring the copper dome roofing, doors, and windows; and rehabilitating retaining walls and site accessibility, preserving the site’s historic features, finishes, and furnishings while improving visitor safety.
- Rehabilitating National Park Service roads at George Washington Carver National Monument, Ozark National Scenic Riverways, and Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield: Missouri’s national parks span the natural beauty of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, the site of the second major battle of the Civil War at Wilson’s Creek, and the boyhood home of pioneering agriculturalist George Washington Carver. This $18.2 million Legacy Restoration Fund project is repairing and proactively preserving main park roads and parking lots to extend their life and reduce future restoration costs.
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