Advocacy

Issue Brief: Outdoors for All Act

THE ISSUE

ASLA supports legislation that provides additional funding to Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) programs that help create outdoor recreation opportunities in urban environments.

Background

The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) was created in 2014 as a subset of, and a complement to, the existing LWCF State and Local Assistance Program. ORLP is administered using a dedicated stream of funding from the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 (GOMESA).

GOMESA opened up new offshore areas in the Gulf of Mexico for oil and gas drilling. A portion of those new revenues (12.5 percent) from Outer Continental Shelf leases were directed - without further appropriation by Congress - to the LWCF stateside program, thus creating the only source of "mandatory" funding for LWCF.

ORLP aims to identify and showcase new ways of providing opportunities for expanding outdoor recreation in areas with great need, as well as promoting the development of new or enhanced recreational spaces in urban communities across the nation.

Bill Summary

On May 14, 2019, Senator Kamala Harris introduced S. 1458, the Outdoors for All Act. Representatives Nanette Barragan (CA) and Michael Turner (OH) later introduced companion legislation H.R. 4512, the Outdoors for All Act.

This legislation would codify the existing National Park Service administered ORLP. Additionally, it would direct 20 percent of the dedicated GOMESA funds to ORLP to address outdoor recreation deficits in urban communities.

Recent Action

On May 14, 2019, Senator Kamala Harris (CA) introduced S. 1458, the Outdoors for All Act.

On September 30, 2019, Representatives Nanette Barragan (CA) and Michael Turner (OH) introduced H.R. 4512, the Outdoors for All Act.

Sponsors

Senator Kamala Harris (CA) and cosponsors.

Representatives Nanette Barragan (CA) and Michael Turner (OH) and cosponsors.

 

Resources

LWCF Programs

Representative Barragan's Press Release  

Related ASLA Policies

Environmental Justice

Human Health and Well-Being

Livable Communities

Open Space

State, Regional, and Local Parks

Urban Growth and Development  

Contact

Roxanne Blackwell, 
Esq., Hon. ASLA,
Director of Federal
Government Affairs
governmentaffairs@asla.org

Elizabeth Hebron,
Director of State
Government Affairs
governmentaffairs@asla.org

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