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WASHINGTON D.C. — Ahead of the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, Rep. French Hill (AR-02), a member of the bipartisan Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus and avid outdoorsman, shared his support for the bill in the July 22^nd Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Newsletter. 

Rep. Hill asserted that the Great American Outdoors Act will help preserve outdoor recreation, which is a beloved part of Arkansas life especially as we continue to practice safe social distancing. Rep. Hill also argues that the funding provided in the bill would benefit the three national forests, seven National Park Service sites, and 2.9 million acres of land left wild for Arkansans and visitors alike for generations to come.

The full op-ed is copied below.

Why Congress must pass the Great American Outdoors Act
Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Newsletter
By: Congressman French Hill

Outdoor recreation is a beloved part of Arkansas life, connecting us with the abundant beauty, and bounty, of the great outdoors. Today, the House of Representatives will vote on a bill that would help restore our parks to their former glory, improving the outdated National Park System and protecting the parks for many generations to come. The Great American Outdoors Act would provide $6.5 billion over five years to the U.S. National Park Service to address neglected public lands and waters. An additional $3 billion already included in the act would be used to improve and maintain public lands, which equates to more recreational areas for everyone. 

Since the start of the current COVID-19 outbreak, many Arkansans – some for the first time – have sought the outdoors as an escape from the surround of screens and the monotony of daily life at home. This makes legislative efforts to improve our parks all the more important. In Arkansas, there are three national forests that cover more than 2.9 million acres of land and seven National Park Service sites as well as more than 200 campgrounds and recreational sites. As an avid outdoorsman for five decades, I enjoy spending my free time outdoors with my family, so this bill hits especially close to home.

My top priority as a member of the bipartisan Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus is to promote programs that improve access to our state and federal public lands, including national parks. I’m proud to have this opportunity to make The Natural State a better place for our friends, families, and neighbors to adventure, and to call home.