The Great American Outdoors Act Passes House, Expected to Become Law

The Great American Outdoors Act, a bipartisan effort to fund recreation opportunities on American public lands, passed in the House yesterday 310-107. The bill is now moving to the president’s desk, where it is expected to be signed into law. The GAOA is a huge win for anyone who loves playing on public lands, as it will permanently provide full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and address a huge maintenance backlog across federal public lands with $9.5 billion in new funding. The money will go directly towards providing access to our cherished outdoor spaces for everyone.

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The bill was made possible through the combined efforts of many in the outdoor community, including access advocacy groups like Outdoor Advocacy Project, mountain bike advocacy groups like IMBA, and individuals across the country who contacted their representatives and shared their will to see this happen.

“Nearly 14,000 mountain bikers have contacted their representatives in support of LWCF and the Great American Outdoors Act, in partnership with thousands upon thousands more outdoor recreation advocates across the country,” said IMBA Executive Director David Wiens, “As we celebrate, we must remember this historic level of funding means the hard work for trail advocates is just beginning. Mountain bikers, let's stay engaged and active. Let’s get to work for more trails.”