Great American Outdoors Act 250 | Field Hearing

The House Committee on Natural Resources GOP held a field hearing on June 12, 2026, in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas, to discuss the Great American Outdoors Act 250 (HR 9250), a bipartisan bill aimed at reauthorizing and improving the Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) to address deferred maintenance on federal public lands. Committee members, including Chairman Bruce Westerman and Ranking Member Jared Huffman, along with witnesses from the USDA Forest Service, Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Arkansas Department of Parks, and local business leaders, testified on the successes and ongoing challenges of the original Great American Outdoors Act. Key procurement-related topics included the allocation of funds generated from energy development royalties to deferred maintenance projects, the need for reforms to expedite project delivery and permitting, and the importance of maintaining adequate staffing to support infrastructure projects. Witnesses highlighted specific investments in Arkansas and other states, the economic impact of outdoor recreation, and the role of public-private partnerships in enhancing visitor experiences. The hearing also addressed concerns about maintaining the fund's focus on deferred maintenance and the implementation of international visitor fees. The committee emphasized the importance of continued bipartisan support to ensure the reauthorization of the act and the sustained investment in national parks and public lands infrastructure.