The National Resources Management Act was approved yesterday by Congress in a landslide 363-62 vote. The Act is a sweeping public lands conservation package that will protect millions of acres of land and rivers across the country. It also designates over 1 million acres of new wilderness land, with almost 700,000 acres reserved for recreation and conservation. Hunting, fishing, and shooting on federal land is also protected by the Act. In total, the Act contains over 100 land and conservation measures.

The Act creates six new National Parks Service units, expands some parks, and establishes new protections for wildlife habitats. Additionally, the Act permanently authorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund – a federal program that supports the protection of federal public lands and water, which expired last year. It also renews the Every Kid Outdoors program, which grants fourth-graders and their families free admission to all national parks for the next seven years.

The bill was passed in the Senate earlier this month and will now go to President Trump, who is expected to sign it into law.

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