The Alliance for Florida's National Parks urging Congress to pass the America the Beautiful Act
The Floridant/10343272

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Floridant -- The Alliance for Florida's National Parks has joined the National Park Foundation, (https://www.nationalparks.org/) the National Park Friends Alliance (https://www.friendsalliance.org/) and 160 national park philanthropic partners in a letter urging Congress to pass the bipartisan America the Beautiful Act (S.1547 / H.R.9250) to reauthorize the Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) – a critical U.S. government fund dedicated to the stewardship and maintenance of America's greatest treasures.

The letter, addressed to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, highlights the successes of the LRF since its creation under the Great American Outdoors Act of 2020, and the urgent need for reauthorization following its expiration on September 30, 2025:

"The LRF provided $1.3 billion annually, totaling $6.5 billion over its five-year lifespan, to undertake nearly 400 priority infrastructure projects across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. This landmark investment in our national parks and public lands delivered measurable results and improvements to critical park infrastructure, including road repairs, trail and campground upgrades, restoration of historic structures, rehabilitation of utility systems, and modernization of visitor facilities.

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"These projects preserved America's natural and historical legacy – uniquely American places that are the envy of the world. They enhanced access, improved safety, and elevated and modernized the visitor experience. In addition, the LRF's investment delivered irrefutable economic impact, supporting more than 72,000 jobs, injecting $5 billion into the labor market nationwide, and contributing $8 billion to the nation's GDP. These benefits have been felt most acutely by the local communities in every state and territory that surround and depend upon healthy, thriving parks."

"The Alliance for Florida's National Parks supports the America the Beautiful Act and reauthorization of the Legacy Restoration Fund," said Lulu Vilas, CEO of The Alliance for Florida's National Parks." This critical funding is already improving essential infrastructure and protecting historic and natural resources in parks like Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks. We are grateful for the bipartisan leadership advancing this effort to ensure Florida's national parks, including Everglades, Biscayne and Dry Tortugas National Parks, and Big Cypress National Preserve – and parks like ours all across the country – remain resilient and protected for generations to come."

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The letter signatories make up a community committed to supporting, protecting and enhancing America's 433 national parks. Together, they provided more than $720 million (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.nationalparks.org/uploads/2026_ParkPartnersReport.pdf__;!!N96JrnIq8IfO5w!gvDKDcZ2bfjlxtJrc-xcusJcLkLfxggG7hsbsyr4jrtW7_zcjzqNphHEXJmhAhv1dUJn_NtM9kF3ZLGidzB_dB6qL2aG) in private funds in 2025, serving as a force multiplier to federal investment in national parks.

The letter and list of supporters can be read ​here (https://nationalparksfoundation-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/cperry_nationalparks_org/IQC4WCxyawY4TrfMhIR9HN68AQq9KeU3jCX7C0VbohzM4V4?e=MNRw59)​.

For more information about The Alliance, visit FloridaNationalParks.org.