COLORADO SPRINGS — The Great American Outdoor Act just passed the U.S. Senate and moves to congress.
"To fully and permanently fund the land and water conservation fund," said Republican Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner. The legislation sponsored Gardner is considered by many, one of the most significant things done for public land conservation in decades.
"Here in Southern Colorado, this legislation is particularly relevant for all of us, we identify with the landscape here,” said Palmer Land Trust President & CEO Rebecca Jewett.
The nonprofit Palmer Land Trust has been an advocate for public lands and conservation in southern Colorado for more than four decades. If eventually signed into law, the Great American Outdoor Act would compliment the nonprofit’s mission. "This is tremendously significant. Never in our history has the Land and Water Conservation fund been fully funded by congress."
The act sets aside $900 million annually to fund public lands conservation. "It also allocates $12 billion to addressing the enormous backlog of capital improvements costs and maintenance costs," said Jewett.
The act passed in the Senate with strong bipartisan support. Colorado Democratic Senator, Michael Bennet is among the bi-partisan co-sponsors of the act. It now moves to the House.
