Securing Continued Marianas Conservation Funding
Along with 103 House colleagues, I introduced the bipartisan H.R. 9250, the Great American Outdoors Act 250 (GAOA 250), to reauthorize and strengthen the Great American Outdoors Act. The landmark legislation provided permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which helps the Northern Marianas with approximately $800,000 annually to protect natural resources and support the planning, development, and maintenance of public outdoor recreation projects. GAOA 250 also reauthorizes the American Legacy Restoration Fund (ALRF), providing $1.9 billion annually for five years through revenues from onshore energy development, philanthropic contributions, and user fees. In the Marianas, ALRF funding has already supported approximately $15 million in repairs to critical waterline infrastructure at American Memorial Park on Saipan. H.R. 9250 includes reforms to ensure ALRF resources are prioritized for deferred maintenance projects in our national parks and for rural and remote communities. I thank Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman and Ranking Member Jared Huffman for their leadership on this bipartisan effort, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this important legislation through Congress.