JUDY WOODRUFF: Today,
the Senate overwhelmingly
passed an act that provides
funding for national

parks and public lands.

Our Lisa Desjardins joins me to
tell us about this legislation
and what else Congress is

considering when it
comes to the environment.

LISA DESJARDINS:
That's right, Judy.

This is actually an
extraordinary bill,
bipartisan bill, that's been
years in the making, and

passed now at this extraordinary
time. Let me tell you a
little bit about what's in it,

first of all.

This bill passed by the Senate
still has to go through the
House. But let's start with

the top. This would fund
deferred maintenance
for our national parks
and other federal lands,

$9.5 billion over five years.
That is -- those are needs
that have been overlooked for a

long time.

This also would permanently
fund something called the Land,
Water and Conservation Fund.

That is something we will talk
about more in a minute, and
it would fund that by using

oil and gas revenues,
offshore drilling, Judy.

Let's go back to the
$9.5 billion for our
parks and federal lands.
Judy, everyone knows

that that is one of America's
pride and joy, but the truth
is, for decades, that those

parks have been underfunded.

Let's talk about our first
national park, Yellowstone
National Park, for example. In

that park, they have not been
able to take care of all their
roads and trails. And, in

addition, some of the staff
there have not had housing.
So, they actually haven't been

able to hire the staff
they want because there's
nowhere for them to live.

This is what the bill
would provide. Judy,
again, bipartisan,
passed overwhelmingly in

the Senate, and it
has some strong hopes
in the House as well.

JUDY WOODRUFF: And, Lisa, tell
us why that is. What is it
that gives it the support in

the House?

LISA DESJARDINS: Well, I
think there is some really
important policy here as well.

Let's talk about that Land,
Water and Conservation Fund, for
example. That fund is something

that is used to add to federal
land, including national parks.
Say Yellowstone wants to grow.

This fund has -- which was
incorporated in 1965, has been
part of the idea that America's

public lands are important.

However, Congress has barely
funded it and used a patchwork
of temporary funding year

after year for it, so it hasn't
been dependable. Now it has a
permanent funding source. And

it will be mandatory
funding. Congress will not
vote on this every year.

And what that means is not just
more land for national parks,
but potentially more land

in cities as well, urban areas.
That's where a lot of these
environmental activists also

want to expand federal land.

This is something that is a
big issue, I think, for much of
America, and that's why you see

many Republicans, not all,
but some, supporting it.

JUDY WOODRUFF: And, Lisa,
prospects, you were telling us,
look good in the House, but not

unanimous.

Tell us what the folks who
object to it are saying.

LISA DESJARDINS: There are
some objections, largely
along the cost of this bill.

While that expansion of
the Conservation Fund is
paid for by oil and gas
revenues, the national

park money, for example, is
not. So this would add to the
deficit. And some have concerns.

Also, Judy, some opposition
coming mostly from livestock
groups. They say that this

expansion of federal land comes
before the federal government
has really put together

a plan to take care of those
lands. As many people know,
especially in the Western part

of this country, there is
often heated debate over
federal ownership of land.

The federal government, in
fact, owns more than a quarter
of the land in this country.

On the other hand, Judy,
conservationists say they have
a goal of trying to preserve

30 percent of the land in
this country by 2030. This
bill is part of that effort.

So, it's a big move for them.

JUDY WOODRUFF: And just finally,
Lisa, interesting that this bill
does have the Republican support

that it does. And you were
telling us there's more climate
action legislation bubbling up

on the Hill.

LISA DESJARDINS: Right. I want
to talk about the politics here.

One reason also Republicans
are supporting this, look at
this letter. This is from an

environmental -- the Evangelical
Environmental Network. Judy,
65,000 people who describe

themselves as pro-life or
anti-abortion Christians
signed this letter
urging Congress to pass

this bill and other
environmental bills.

Essentially, Judy, there is
some fervor on the right from
religious groups to say, the

environment is a life issue.
And that is something that we're
seeing senators listen to. Also,

there are some at-risk senators,
Cory Gardner in Colorado,
also Steve Daines in Montana,

for whom this bill will help.

And there is more environmental
legislation coming up the
pike. We will keep an eye on

it.

JUDY WOODRUFF: Lisa Desjardins
reporting on something that
hasn't gotten a lot of attention

on the Hill in quite some time.

Lisa, thank you.

LISA DESJARDINS: You're welcome.