House Natural Resources Committee Passes America the Beautiful Act

During a hearing, yesterday, on the Great American Outdoors Act 250, the committee approved an “amendment in the nature of a substitute” offered by Chairman Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., that aligns the bill with the Senate’s America the Beautiful Act of 2026. The measure reauthorizes the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund for fiscal years 2027 through 2031. The fund delivers dedicated resources to address the backlog of deferred maintenance on federal public lands managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.

“This legislation is a practical, bipartisan investment in the infrastructure that makes hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation possible on public lands,” said Matt Lindler, NWTF director of government affairs. “By reauthorizing the Legacy Restoration Fund, Congress is prioritizing projects that improve access for hunters, anglers and other outdoor users while giving land managers the tools they need to restore habitat and keep forests healthy.”

The reauthorized fund includes minimum allocations for non-transportation deferred maintenance projects, with strong direction for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to focus resources on national wildlife refuges and projects that increase hunting and fishing access. Funds remaining after those allocations can support transportation infrastructure, including roads, bridges, culverts and parking areas.

Addressing deferred maintenance on roads, culverts and bridges directly affects the ability to conduct forest management and habitat restoration. These assets provide the access necessary for prescribed burns, mechanical thinning, monitoring and other active management that improves forest health, reduces wildfire risk and creates better conditions for wild turkeys and other wildlife. Without reliable infrastructure, many projects become logistically difficult or impossible.

The bill also includes reforms to speed project delivery through expanded categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act, contract award timelines and other streamlining measures. A portion of proceeds from a new surcharge on foreign tourists at national park units will help support the fund.

The NWTF thanks Chairman Westerman and committee members for working across the aisle to advance this important legislation. We call on the full House to consider and pass the measure quickly so it can move toward final enactment.

“The Legacy Restoration Fund has already demonstrated results in reducing maintenance backlogs and improving public land access since its creation,” Lindler said. “Reauthorization ensures those gains continue for sportsmen, land managers and future generations who rely on well-maintained federal lands.”

About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 25 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. Since 2022, the NWTF has also invested over $2.3 million in critical wild turkey research that, when leveraged with partner contributions, has resulted in more than $22 million to guide the management of the wild turkey and to ensure sustainable populations. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale to create healthy forests and wildlife habitats, clean and abundant water, resilient communities and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF is committed to creating a nation united by the life-changing power of the outdoors.