U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski | Lisa Murkowski Official FB
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski | Lisa Murkowski Official FB
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski has announced her support for the America the Beautiful Act, a piece of legislation aimed at reauthorizing and enhancing the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF). This fund was initially established under President Trump in 2020 to improve staff and visitor safety and address maintenance issues within national parks and public lands.
"Alaska’s national parks are the crown jewel of NPS, with visitors traveling across the globe to take in the spacious and scenic beauty," said Senator Murkowski. "This legislation ensures these spaces remain a safe and enjoyable testament to America’s natural splendor."
The America the Beautiful Act seeks to extend the LRF through 2033, increasing its funding to $2 billion annually. The goal is to tackle the extensive maintenance backlog faced by various agencies responsible for national parks and public lands. The current backlog figures are significant:
- U.S. Park Service: $23.26 billion
- U.S. Forest Service: $8.695 billion
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: $2.65 billion
- U.S. Bureau of Land Management: $5.72 billion
- U.S. Bureau of Indian Education: $804.5 million
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