This bill aims to modernize and maintain critical infrastructure across several federal agencies, renaming the existing National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund as the America's Legacy Restoration Fund (ALRF) . The ALRF will receive dedicated funding from several sources, including 100 percent of new foreign visitor fees and donations, and 50 percent of certain energy development revenues from federal lands. For fiscal years 2026 through 2030, the combined annual deposits from these sources, excluding donations, are capped at $1.9 billion, with any excess transferred to the General Fund of the Treasury. These funds are made available to the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture without further annual appropriation or fiscal year limitation through 2030. Funds from the ALRF are allocated among five covered agencies: 70 percent to the National Park Service, 15 percent to the Forest Service, and 5 percent each to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Bureau of Indian Education. These allocations are primarily for priority deferred maintenance projects , which include addressing infrastructure deficiencies, conducting cyclical maintenance, and modernizing components to contemporary standards. A significant portion of funds is earmarked for nontransportation projects, with specific minimum percentages for each agency. The bill establishes clear criteria for selecting projects, prioritizing those that address mission-critical assets, enhance public access and visitor experience, mitigate public health or safety threats, or prevent further asset deterioration. It also mandates the incorporation of accessibility improvements for individuals with disabilities and requires annual solicitation of project recommendations from state governors. To ensure transparency, the Secretaries must publish project selection criteria and maintain a publicly available, searchable geospatial database tracking project details, costs, timelines, and environmental review status. New provisions encourage public-private partnerships and philanthropic donations , allowing agencies to accept cash or in-kind contributions and partner with non-profit organizations for project implementation. A pilot program is introduced, allocating up to 15 percent of funds for outdoor recreation and sportsmen's access projects, with specific requirements for project types and regional distribution. Revenues generated from sportsmen's access projects are retained by the unit where they occur to fund additional projects or address deferred maintenance. To streamline implementation, the bill requires the development of a consolidated categorical exclusion for projects funded under this Act, adhering to NEPA requirements. It also sets timelines for awarding construction contracts, increases the micro-purchase threshold to $25,000, caps architect and engineer fees at 8 percent, and authorizes the use of emergency acquisition flexibilities. The Comptroller General is tasked with conducting annual studies and reports to Congress on the Act's implementation and its effectiveness in reducing the deferred maintenance backlog across the covered agencies. A key funding mechanism is the codification of new fees for foreign visitors. Visitor nonimmigrants will be charged an additional fee of not less than $100 for entry to federal recreational lands and waters where fees are collected. Furthermore, the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass will be available to these foreign visitors for a fee of not less than $250. All revenues generated from these new foreign visitor fees will be deposited directly into the America's Legacy Restoration Fund.
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Committee Hearings Held
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Committee Hearings Held
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Great American Outdoors Act 250
USA119th CongressHR-9250| House
| Updated: 6/24/2026
This bill aims to modernize and maintain critical infrastructure across several federal agencies, renaming the existing National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund as the America's Legacy Restoration Fund (ALRF) . The ALRF will receive dedicated funding from several sources, including 100 percent of new foreign visitor fees and donations, and 50 percent of certain energy development revenues from federal lands. For fiscal years 2026 through 2030, the combined annual deposits from these sources, excluding donations, are capped at $1.9 billion, with any excess transferred to the General Fund of the Treasury. These funds are made available to the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture without further annual appropriation or fiscal year limitation through 2030. Funds from the ALRF are allocated among five covered agencies: 70 percent to the National Park Service, 15 percent to the Forest Service, and 5 percent each to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Bureau of Indian Education. These allocations are primarily for priority deferred maintenance projects , which include addressing infrastructure deficiencies, conducting cyclical maintenance, and modernizing components to contemporary standards. A significant portion of funds is earmarked for nontransportation projects, with specific minimum percentages for each agency. The bill establishes clear criteria for selecting projects, prioritizing those that address mission-critical assets, enhance public access and visitor experience, mitigate public health or safety threats, or prevent further asset deterioration. It also mandates the incorporation of accessibility improvements for individuals with disabilities and requires annual solicitation of project recommendations from state governors. To ensure transparency, the Secretaries must publish project selection criteria and maintain a publicly available, searchable geospatial database tracking project details, costs, timelines, and environmental review status. New provisions encourage public-private partnerships and philanthropic donations , allowing agencies to accept cash or in-kind contributions and partner with non-profit organizations for project implementation. A pilot program is introduced, allocating up to 15 percent of funds for outdoor recreation and sportsmen's access projects, with specific requirements for project types and regional distribution. Revenues generated from sportsmen's access projects are retained by the unit where they occur to fund additional projects or address deferred maintenance. To streamline implementation, the bill requires the development of a consolidated categorical exclusion for projects funded under this Act, adhering to NEPA requirements. It also sets timelines for awarding construction contracts, increases the micro-purchase threshold to $25,000, caps architect and engineer fees at 8 percent, and authorizes the use of emergency acquisition flexibilities. The Comptroller General is tasked with conducting annual studies and reports to Congress on the Act's implementation and its effectiveness in reducing the deferred maintenance backlog across the covered agencies. A key funding mechanism is the codification of new fees for foreign visitors. Visitor nonimmigrants will be charged an additional fee of not less than $100 for entry to federal recreational lands and waters where fees are collected. Furthermore, the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass will be available to these foreign visitors for a fee of not less than $250. All revenues generated from these new foreign visitor fees will be deposited directly into the America's Legacy Restoration Fund.
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Committee Hearings Held
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Committee Hearings Held
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.