WEBVTT 00:02.433 --> 00:05.366 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: Today, the Senate overwhelmingly passed an act that provides funding for national 00:06.100 --> 00:08.100 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% parks and public lands. 00:08.100 --> 00:11.766 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Our Lisa Desjardins joins me to tell us about this legislation and what else Congress is 00:13.133 --> 00:14.933 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% considering when it comes to the environment. 00:14.933 --> 00:19.400 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% LISA DESJARDINS: That's right, Judy. 00:19.400 --> 00:23.800 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% This is actually an extraordinary bill, bipartisan bill, that's been years in the making, and 00:23.800 --> 00:27.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% passed now at this extraordinary time. Let me tell you a little bit about what's in it, 00:27.900 --> 00:29.966 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% first of all. 00:29.966 --> 00:32.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% This bill passed by the Senate still has to go through the House. But let's start with 00:32.866 --> 00:37.866 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% the top. This would fund deferred maintenance for our national parks and other federal lands, 00:39.833 --> 00:44.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% $9.5 billion over five years. That is -- those are needs that have been overlooked for a 00:44.000 --> 00:46.033 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% long time. 00:46.033 --> 00:49.966 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% This also would permanently fund something called the Land, Water and Conservation Fund. 00:52.000 --> 00:54.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% That is something we will talk about more in a minute, and it would fund that by using 00:54.300 --> 00:58.266 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% oil and gas revenues, offshore drilling, Judy. 00:58.266 --> 01:02.900 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% Let's go back to the $9.5 billion for our parks and federal lands. Judy, everyone knows 01:02.900 --> 01:07.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% that that is one of America's pride and joy, but the truth is, for decades, that those 01:07.300 --> 01:09.300 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% parks have been underfunded. 01:09.300 --> 01:12.800 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Let's talk about our first national park, Yellowstone National Park, for example. In 01:12.800 --> 01:17.066 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% that park, they have not been able to take care of all their roads and trails. And, in 01:17.066 --> 01:21.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% addition, some of the staff there have not had housing. So, they actually haven't been 01:21.866 --> 01:25.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% able to hire the staff they want because there's nowhere for them to live. 01:25.500 --> 01:30.500 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% This is what the bill would provide. Judy, again, bipartisan, passed overwhelmingly in 01:32.100 --> 01:34.733 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% the Senate, and it has some strong hopes in the House as well. 01:34.733 --> 01:39.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: And, Lisa, tell us why that is. What is it that gives it the support in 01:42.133 --> 01:44.133 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% the House? 01:44.133 --> 01:46.766 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: Well, I think there is some really important policy here as well. 01:46.766 --> 01:51.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Let's talk about that Land, Water and Conservation Fund, for example. That fund is something 01:53.766 --> 01:56.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% that is used to add to federal land, including national parks. Say Yellowstone wants to grow. 01:58.833 --> 02:02.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% This fund has -- which was incorporated in 1965, has been part of the idea that America's 02:03.800 --> 02:05.833 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% public lands are important. 02:05.833 --> 02:09.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% However, Congress has barely funded it and used a patchwork of temporary funding year 02:11.600 --> 02:15.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% after year for it, so it hasn't been dependable. Now it has a permanent funding source. And 02:16.966 --> 02:19.366 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% it will be mandatory funding. Congress will not vote on this every year. 02:19.366 --> 02:23.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And what that means is not just more land for national parks, but potentially more land 02:23.266 --> 02:27.800 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% in cities as well, urban areas. That's where a lot of these environmental activists also 02:27.800 --> 02:30.166 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% want to expand federal land. 02:30.166 --> 02:33.666 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% This is something that is a big issue, I think, for much of America, and that's why you see 02:33.666 --> 02:37.600 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% many Republicans, not all, but some, supporting it. 02:37.600 --> 02:42.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: And, Lisa, prospects, you were telling us, look good in the House, but not 02:43.400 --> 02:45.066 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% unanimous. 02:45.066 --> 02:48.100 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Tell us what the folks who object to it are saying. 02:48.100 --> 02:52.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: There are some objections, largely along the cost of this bill. 02:52.733 --> 02:57.700 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% While that expansion of the Conservation Fund is paid for by oil and gas revenues, the national 02:59.700 --> 03:03.366 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% park money, for example, is not. So this would add to the deficit. And some have concerns. 03:03.366 --> 03:08.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Also, Judy, some opposition coming mostly from livestock groups. They say that this 03:08.266 --> 03:13.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% expansion of federal land comes before the federal government has really put together 03:13.233 --> 03:17.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% a plan to take care of those lands. As many people know, especially in the Western part 03:17.533 --> 03:22.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% of this country, there is often heated debate over federal ownership of land. 03:22.266 --> 03:26.566 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% The federal government, in fact, owns more than a quarter of the land in this country. 03:26.566 --> 03:30.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% On the other hand, Judy, conservationists say they have a goal of trying to preserve 03:30.866 --> 03:35.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% 30 percent of the land in this country by 2030. This bill is part of that effort. 03:37.033 --> 03:39.733 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% So, it's a big move for them. 03:39.733 --> 03:44.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: And just finally, Lisa, interesting that this bill does have the Republican support 03:46.666 --> 03:49.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% that it does. And you were telling us there's more climate action legislation bubbling up 03:49.466 --> 03:50.966 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% on the Hill. 03:50.966 --> 03:53.133 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: Right. I want to talk about the politics here. 03:53.133 --> 03:56.833 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% One reason also Republicans are supporting this, look at this letter. This is from an 03:56.833 --> 04:01.800 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% environmental -- the Evangelical Environmental Network. Judy, 65,000 people who describe 04:04.266 --> 04:08.666 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% themselves as pro-life or anti-abortion Christians signed this letter urging Congress to pass 04:09.866 --> 04:12.166 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% this bill and other environmental bills. 04:12.166 --> 04:17.066 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Essentially, Judy, there is some fervor on the right from religious groups to say, the 04:17.066 --> 04:22.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% environment is a life issue. And that is something that we're seeing senators listen to. Also, 04:22.000 --> 04:26.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% there are some at-risk senators, Cory Gardner in Colorado, also Steve Daines in Montana, 04:26.900 --> 04:28.866 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% for whom this bill will help. 04:28.866 --> 04:32.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And there is more environmental legislation coming up the pike. We will keep an eye on 04:32.900 --> 04:34.933 align:left position:40% line:89% size:50% it. 04:34.933 --> 04:38.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: Lisa Desjardins reporting on something that hasn't gotten a lot of attention 04:39.766 --> 04:40.866 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% on the Hill in quite some time. 04:40.866 --> 04:41.866 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% Lisa, thank you. 04:41.866 --> 04:42.000 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: You're welcome.