U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Senator Angus King have co-authored an opinion piece published by Fox News, calling attention to the future of America’s national parks. The senators describe the parks as not only sites of natural beauty but also places that represent American history, freedoms, and shared values.
The senators highlight the importance of national parks for families, veterans, and local economies dependent on outdoor recreation and tourism. They note that recent improvements in park maintenance and safety have been made possible through the Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF), a federal initiative focused on repairing and restoring these public lands. However, they warn that the LRF is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2025.
In response to this pending expiration, Senators Daines and King have introduced the America the Beautiful Act. According to their statement: “But the LRF is set to expire Sept. 30, 2025, and there is much more work to be done to honor the heritage and history the parks represent, especially ahead of America’s 250th anniversary. That is why we introduced the America the Beautiful Act to reauthorize the LRF. It continues the vision Congress advanced with the Great American Outdoors Act and builds on the strong bipartisan consensus that preserving our parks and public lands is a duty we all share — and a natural investment…”
They emphasize that with America’s 250th anniversary approaching, Congress has an opportunity to reinforce its commitment to protecting public lands: “As we approach America’s 250th birthday, Congress has the chance to reaffirm a bipartisan promise by passing the America the Beautiful Act: to protect the lands, history and freedoms that unite us as a nation. Let’s not let this opportunity pass.”
The full opinion piece can be read at Fox News.
