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S. 1547: America the Beautiful Act

The proposed America the Beautiful Act aims to make changes to the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund, which is designed to repair and maintain national parks, wildlife refuges, and other public lands. Here’s a breakdown of the key components of the bill:

Reauthorization of the Fund

The bill seeks to extend the authorization for the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund until the year 2033. This means that the government will continue to allocate funds for maintenance and restoration projects on public lands.

Funding Changes

- The bill proposes to increase the annual funding target for the Fund from **$1.9 billion** to **$2 billion**.- This money is used to address deferred maintenance and other critical projects on public lands.

Use of Funds

The bill specifies that the funds should be used to support projects on land managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, not just the National Wildlife Refuge System. It emphasizes prioritizing projects that can secure donations covering at least 15% of total project costs, which may encourage community involvement and private contributions.

Annual Project Reporting

The bill requires that an annual list of projects funded by the Legacy Restoration Fund be submitted to Congress, and also should reflect the projects planned for the subsequent fiscal year. This aims to improve transparency and oversight of how funds are utilized.

Alternate Allocation Process

In the event that Congress does not pass full-year appropriations for related departments by the end of the previous fiscal year, the bill establishes a process for the President to allocate funds based on previously approved plans.

Public Donations

The bill encourages the public to donate to projects by increasing awareness through various means, including:- Public awareness campaigns- Physical or digital locations for donations at project sites- Options for donations during the purchase of recreational passesCash donations will be credited to the Fund and allocated to specific projects, which could streamline fundraising efforts.

Disposal of Unneeded Assets

The bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to dispose of assets that no longer serve the public interest or mission of the relevant agency, based on a list of deferred maintenance projects. This may help optimize resources and focus on maintaining currently useful assets.

Reporting to Congress

The bill mandates a report to Congress within one year after the bill is enacted that outlines actions taken without Fund resources to reduce deferred maintenance issues, along with a plan to focus on preventative maintenance to avoid future asset backlogs.