The National Resources Management Act, the biggest public lands bill in a decade, passes Congress

The National Resources Management Act, the biggest public lands bill in a decade, won U.S. House approval by a landslide Tuesday and will go on to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law. The act, which will designate 1.3 million acres across the country as wilderness and permanently reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund, had already won near-unanimous approval in the Senate.

“Thank you to every Coloradan who has spoken up in support of LWCF, met with me across the state at an LWCF-funded project, and traveled to Washington to advocate for this critical program,” Sen. Michael Bennet said in a press release. “It’s your persistence that has led to this historic vote in the Senate to permanently save the conservation fund.”

“The permanent authorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund is long overdue and a milestone for future generations,” Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Boulder) said in another press release. “In Colorado, we understand the value of our public lands. Our state’s outdoor recreation economy brings in $28 billion and $10 billion in workers’ wages. Investing in our public lands and conserving our wild places is good for our economy and our future.”