RVIA Applauds Introduction of ‘America The Beautiful Act’ – RVBusiness – Breaking RV Industry News
The RV Industry Association (RVIA), among others, is declaring its support for the bipartisan America the Beautiful Act, which was introduced by Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Angus King (I-ME), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND). This Act would reauthorize the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund for another eight years and ensure additional funding for public land deferred maintenance, according to an RVIA News & Insights report.
The Legacy Restoration Fund was established by the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act, which was signed in 2020 and invested $9.5 billion of nontaxpayer funds into campground modernization and deferred maintenance on public lands, ensuring safe and adequate access. It is the largest investment in our public lands in over a century.
The America the Beautiful Act would continue and expand upon the objectives set forth by the Great American Outdoors Act, which will expire in 2025.
Among other initiatives, the America the Beautiful Act would increase funding from $1.9 billion to $2 billion per year; allow next year’s projects to move forward under a Continuing Resolution; and bolster the ability for public donations to the funds.
“The RV Industry Association applauds the introduction of the America the Beautiful Act and thanks Senators Daines, King, Warner, and Cramer for championing this legislation,” says RV Industry Association President and CEO Craig Kirby. “This extended investment in our public lands is important, as it would allow RVers and other outdoor recreation enthusiasts to continue to access safe, maintained, and enhanced outdoor spaces. We urge Congress to pass this legislation so that the great outdoors can be cherished for generations to come.”
Also lending its support was the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), whose president, Kent Ebersole, released the following statement:
“Record numbers of Americans are visiting our public lands each year, and we have a duty to the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts to ensure we leave these places better than we found them,” said Kent Ebersole, President of Outdoor Industry Association. “OIA and its members applaud this bipartisan effort by Senators King, Daines, Cramer, and Warner to reauthorize the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund and take care of the infrastructure backlog across our public lands. There is no better return on investment than protecting these places that Americans have treasured for generations.”
The America the Beautiful Act’s full text is available here.