Advocacy

On behalf of our tens of millions of members and supporters across the country, we respectfully
request that you support significantly increased funding for environmental agencies and
programs in the FY23 omnibus.

Coalition Letter to Congress and OMB to to urge support for robust funding increases to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Forest Service (USFS), and Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recreation budget line items in FY24 and subsequent budget years to offset the continuing and increasing deficit in these accounts.

We are thrilled to share our excitement and support for the opportunity to complete the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). The hiking community thanks you for your leadership on the Continental Divide Trail Completion Act and encourages all Senators to act today to protect the major watershed of the North American Continent and a crown jewel for millions of hikers, recreation users, and gateway community residents.

As discussions between the House and Senate are underway to reconcile the FY23 Omnibus Appropriations bill for final passage, and enactment, the trails community requests that final legislation include robust funding for trails, including the preferred funding levels (at a minimum) and report language outlined below.

FY23 Senate Testimony of: Kathryn Van Waes, PhD., Executive Director, American Hiking Society and with the full support of American Trails, American Motorcyclist Association, Back Country Horsemen of America, Equine Land Conservation Resource, International Mountain Bicycling Association, National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

We are writing on behalf of the National Trails Community to express support for the National Scenic Trails Parity Act, S. 2964, (Parity Act) introduced by Senator Baldwin. We represent National Scenic and Historic Trail co-managing non-governmental organizations with extensive experience co-managing our National Scenic and Historic Trails with our agency partners in the federal and state governments and the millions of users and volunteers that recreate on and steward these trails.