White House Senior Adviser Ivanka Trump on Thursday visited the Rocky Mountain National Park, part of her two-day tour to the state of Colorado to highlight the passage of the biggest public lands conservation bill in over a half-century.
“There’s never been a more important time to celebrate and value and cherish our national parks and our recreational facilities that are open to all and bring joy to tens of millions of people throughout any given year,” Ivanka said in the amphitheater at the Moraine Park Discovery Center. “It is especially timely, in light of COVID, that we were able to sign the farthest-reaching conservation legislation since Theodor Roosevelt over 100 years ago.”
The House passed the Great American Outdoors Act on Wednesday, provides $900 million in federal oil and gas revenues for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which helps secure land for trails and parks. It also puts $1.9 billion toward addressing a maintenance backlog at national parks over a five-year period.
The measure passed in a 310-107 vote.
Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) was one of the legislation’s key sponsors of the Great American Outdoors Act introduced the bill in March. The Senate passed the legislation in June on a 73-25 vote.
Ivanka joined Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and thanked the Park Rangers and all of those involved for maintaining and preserving the Park for current and future generations at the end of her remarks.
“Once the President signs the bill, all of us have a tremendous amount of work because we have to deliver on the expectations that have been created,” Bernhardt said. “What an opportunity and what a project to get to be a part of.”
After the quick remarks, Ivanka did a .7 mile hike at Bear Lake Trail Head, and stopped to take time to selfie with random trail goers.
On Friday, Ivanka and Sen. Gardner will tour a child care center in Greenwood Village to discuss the importance of child care centers reopening.
The Rocky Mountain National Park is the third most visited National Park in the country. In 2019, over 4.5 million people visited the park, the highest total on record
The pandemic has made us value, now more than ever, the national treasure that is our parks & the respite they afford our families.
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) July 23, 2020
Today @SecBernhardt & I visited Rocky Mountain Nat‘l Park🏔to celebrate the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, a landmark win for all 🇺🇸! pic.twitter.com/96MwDDTArO
President Trump on Wednesday announced his support for the impending passage of the bill, which is now heading to his desk for his signature.
“We MUST protect our National Parks for our children and grandchildren. I am calling on the House to pass the GREAT AMERICAN OUTDOORS ACT today. Thanks @SenCoryGardner and @SteveDaines for all your work on this HISTORIC BILL!” Trump tweeted.
Bear Lake Trail HeadColoradoCongressGreat American Outdoors ActInterior Secretary David BernhardtIvanka TrumpNational ParkPresident TrumpRocky MountainRocky Mountain National ParkSen. Cory Gardner
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