Celebrate S. 47, the “John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act”
Today, President Donald Trump signed a massive package of public lands legislation made up of more than 100 individual bills that were introduced by 50 senators and several U.S. House members.
Formerly known as the Natural Resources Management Act, the bipartisan bill, S. 47, was renamed the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act in honor of Dingell, a long-serving member of Congress who died last month at the age of 92.
It permanently reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which provides grants to fund parks and other outdoor recreation initiatives. The measure also creates four new national monuments, adds thousands of miles to national trails and scenic river systems and designates 700,000 acres of new recreation and conservation areas nationwide.
This bill is an incredible victory for our natural resources and public lands. Roughly 47 million Americans hunt and fish every year which provides an economic benefit of more than of $201.4 billion per year and supports 1.5 million jobs and this public lands bill expands our access to the lands we cherish.
Let’s go explore!