Press Release: HECHO Celebrates Senate Passage of the Great American Outdoors Act

June 17, 2020 -- Today, HECHO is celebrating alongside countless others the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) by the U.S. Senate. An act of bipartisanship (73-25) marks a major milestone for full and consistent funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which protects and increases access to public lands and national parks, and addresses the significant maintenance backlog in our national parks.

“In these challenging times, it has never been more critical to fortify investments in our communities, especially in under-resourced communities. We thank you senators for voting yes to protect our national, state and local parks, trails, recreation facilities, and public lands, and for ensuring that access and outdoor recreation infrastructure is a crucial part of our nation’s recovery,” said Camilla Simon, Executive Director of HECHO.

The legislation will help to stimulate communities by supporting job growth provided by the outdoor recreation industry, with economic analysis stating that with every $1 million invested in LWCF, between 16 and 30 jobs could be supported, with national park funding supporting 100,000 jobs.

“This important legislation protects the very essence of our democracy, that public lands belong to all of us, and fortifies our connection to our nation’s diverse landscapes,” said former Utah State Representative and HECHO Advisory Board Member Rebecca Chavez-Houck. 

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