January 27, 2026
“This bill would address more than $40 billion in deferred maintenance across national parks and public lands, including repairs in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Wayne National Forest.”
WASHINGTON – Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) joined Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Angus King’s (I-Maine) America the Beautiful Act. This bipartisan bill would strengthen and reauthorize the Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) and address the serious maintenance backlog in national parks and public lands.
“America’s national parks need proper maintenance for people across the world to continue to enjoy our great outdoors and natural beauty. This bill would address more than $40 billion in deferred maintenance across national parks and public lands, including repairs in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Wayne National Forest. I’m proud to support it to help keep our lands healthy, safe and beautiful for the millions of visitors who visit them each year,” said Husted.
“Our National Parks and other public lands are an essential part of the fabric that makes our nation so great. They are unique, and they contribute to the health and well-being of people in America, provide critical habitat for plants and animals, and are key drivers of our nation’s—and Ohio’s—outdoor recreation economy. The federal government led the development of this system, and the America the Beautiful Act continues the essential investment into the long-term health and productivity of these special places,” said Bill Stanley, state director for The Nature Conservancy in Ohio.
“We applaud Senator Husted’s support to advance the America the Beautiful Act. Our national parks are vital resources that inspire wonder, foster adventure, and strengthen local economies. The projects supported by this legislation will ensure these iconic places remain safe and accessible for all Americans, including the nearly three million annual visitors to Ohio’s Cuyahoga Valley National Park,” said Greg Peckham, President & CEO of the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
“Trust for Public Land appreciates Senator Husted’s support for the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund, which continues to deliver significant benefits for America’s public lands. These investments have strengthened essential infrastructure, safeguarded natural and cultural resources, and supported the local economies that rely on them. This impact is evident at Cuyahoga Valley National Park, a nationally significant destination that welcomes nearly 3 million visitors each year,”said Sean Terry, Ohio State Director for Trust for Public Land.
The LRF provided the National Park Service with up to $1.3 billion each year for five years (fiscal years 2021-2025), or $ 6.5 billion total, to address extensive and long overdue maintenance and repair needs in national parks.
Background:
The America the Beautiful Act reauthorizes the LRF through 2033 and increases funding to $2 billion per year to help address the maintenance backlog in national parks and public lands. Currently, the maintenance backlog for each agency is as follows:
- U.S. Park Service: $23.26 billion
- U.S. Forest Service: $8.695 billion
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: $2.65 billion
- U.S. Bureau of Land Management: $5.72 billion
- U.S. Bureau of Indian Education: $804.5 million
Full text of the bill is available here.