Support for Trails in Reconciliation Legislation To Address Equitable Access and Natural Climate Solutions

PDF Version of Letter

October 21, 2021

 

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi

Speaker

U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, D.C. 20515

 

The Honorable Steny Hoyer

Majority Leader

U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, D.C. 2051

Re: Support for Trails in Reconciliation Legislation To Address Equitable Access and Natural Climate Solutions

 

Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leader Hoyer:

 

On behalf of American Hiking Society and the 44 million strong hiking community who enjoy the trails and green spaces in their communities we ask you to maintain the following provisions in the Build Back Better Act that support trails, public lands, and the outdoors in the final budget reconciliation legislation to promote equitable outdoor access and natural climate solutions:

 

Title XI- Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

  • SEC. 110003 NEIGHBORHOOD ACCESS AND EQUITY GRANTS
  • SEC. 110008 LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PRIORITIES

 

Title I- Agriculture

  • SEC. 11001 NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM RESTORATION AND FUELS REDUCTION PROJECTS; including:
        • (a)(8) $100,000,000 for maintenance of trails on National Forest System land, with a focus on trails hat provide to underserved communities access to National Forest System land
        • (a)(9) $100,000,000 for capital maintenance and improvements on National Forest System land, with a focus on maintenance level 3, 4, and 5 roads and improvements that restore ecological integrity and conditions for at-risk species
        • (a)(6) $450,000,000 for the Legacy Roads and Trails program of the Forest Service
  • SEC. 11002 NON-FEDERAL LAND FOREST RESTORATION AND FUELS REDUCTION PROJECTS AND RE5 SEARCH; including:
        • (a) (4) $250,000,000 to award grants to a Tribal, State, or local government, a regional organization, a special district, or a nonprofit organization for projects on non-Federal land to expand equitable outdoor access and promote tourism on non-Federal forested land for members of underserved groups  
  • SEC. 11003 STATE AND PRIVATE FORESTRY CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

 

Title VII- Committee on Natural Resources

  • SEC. 70206 URBAN PARKS
  • SEC. 70207 EVERY KID OUTDOORS
  • CIVILIAN CLIMATE CORPS (Multiple Sections)
  • SEC. 70208 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CLIMATE RESILIENCE
  • SEC. 70209 BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT CLIMATE RESILIENCE

 

These critical sections will expand outdoor access for all communities across the country and support climate resiliency. Trails are the gateway to the outdoors, connecting communities to public lands and green spaces. A failure to maintain, manage, and grow our nation’s trails will limit access for all communities, stymie economic growth, and reduce opportunities for healthy outdoor recreation. It will also hamper economic recovery, add to the nation’s healthcare costs, and frustrate tens of millions of Americans who utilize trails for a diverse array of recreation including walking, running, hiking, horseback riding, bicycling, snowmobiling, dirt bike and ATV riding, driving OHVs, cross-country skiing, canoeing, and kayaking and more.  It will diminish enjoyment of public lands and waters by reducing access—at a time when public use of America’s trail systems is increasing dramatically.

Please contact Tyler Ray, Senior Director for Programs and Advocacy, tray@americanhiking.org with any questions or for additional information.

 

Sincerely,

Tyler Ray

Senior Director for Programs and Advocacy

American Hiking Society