Montana Republican Sen. Steve Daines is pushing to re-up a popular bipartisan law to repair national parks by the next Independence Day — the country’s 250th birthday. Whether his legislation can become law is far from certain.
Daines’ “America the Beautiful Act,” S. 1547, would refresh the Great American Outdoors Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law five years ago Monday. It was an effort to address the park and public land maintenance backlog and bolster vulnerable Republicans.
But Daines’ legislation must go through the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, chaired by Utah Republican Mike Lee, who opposed the 2020 law. Lee declined to comment when asked Thursday.
For now, Daines is optimistic his bill can get done. He’s pushing the measure with Maine independent Sen. Angus King, a parks champion who caucuses with Democrats.
