Senate approves public land conservation bill News
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Senate approves public land conservation bill

The Senate on Wednesday voted 73-25 to approve a public land conservation bill. The vote delivers a rare bipartisan win for the often politically gridlocked legislature.

The bill, titled the Great American Outdoors Act, was first introduced in March and will provide additional funding from oil, gas, coal, or alternative renewable energy revenues to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The LWCF was created by Congress in 1964 to fund conservation projects across the nation.

If approved by President Trump, the Act will provide the LWCF with $1.9 billion to further its conservation efforts. Specifically, the Act establishes the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund, which will support deferred maintenance projects on federal lands.

Additional amendments proposed include an amendment on offshore revenue sharing proposed by Senator Bill Cassidy, which did not receive Senate votes.