Committee Passes Amata-Backed GAOA 250 Bill to Invest in Parks and Public Lands
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming passage Wednesday by the House Natural Resources Committee of the Great America Outdoors Act 250, the GAOA 250, as she is an original cosponsor of this legislation. The GAOA 250 is named as a follow-on to the major Great America Outdoors Act enacted in 2020, and in honor of America’s 250th anniversary.
File photo - Amata in HNR field hearing, Grant Teton National Park
Introduced just this month, the bipartisan bill invests in modernization and upkeep projects throughout the National Park Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Forest Service, and the Bureau of Indian Education.
“This is excellent legislation, fully bipartisan, and enhances care and maintenance of our public lands,” said Congresswoman Aumua Amata Radewagen (R-AS-AL). “This five-year investment in America’s beautiful places honors the 250th birthday of the country.”
Over the next five years, the GAOA250 reauthorizes the Legacy Restoration Fund, and invests $1.9 billion annually in America’s national parks and public lands, especially focusing on high-priority projects and deferred maintenance, and restoration of related roadways and infrastructure.
With the backing of Aumua Amata and others, and endorsed by over 100 supporting organizations, the bill includes the leadership of Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR), the only forester in Congress, and Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-CA).
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