1 00:00:02,433 --> 00:00:05,366 JUDY WOODRUFF: Today, the Senate overwhelmingly passed an act that provides funding for national 2 00:00:06,100 --> 00:00:08,100 parks and public lands. 3 00:00:08,100 --> 00:00:11,766 Our Lisa Desjardins joins me to tell us about this legislation and what else Congress is 4 00:00:13,133 --> 00:00:14,933 considering when it comes to the environment. 5 00:00:14,933 --> 00:00:19,400 LISA DESJARDINS: That's right, Judy. 6 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:23,800 This is actually an extraordinary bill, bipartisan bill, that's been years in the making, and 7 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:27,900 passed now at this extraordinary time. Let me tell you a little bit about what's in it, 8 00:00:27,900 --> 00:00:29,966 first of all. 9 00:00:29,966 --> 00:00:32,866 This bill passed by the Senate still has to go through the House. But let's start with 10 00:00:32,866 --> 00:00:37,866 the top. This would fund deferred maintenance for our national parks and other federal lands, 11 00:00:39,833 --> 00:00:44,000 $9.5 billion over five years. That is -- those are needs that have been overlooked for a 12 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:46,033 long time. 13 00:00:46,033 --> 00:00:49,966 This also would permanently fund something called the Land, Water and Conservation Fund. 14 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:54,300 That is something we will talk about more in a minute, and it would fund that by using 15 00:00:54,300 --> 00:00:58,266 oil and gas revenues, offshore drilling, Judy. 16 00:00:58,266 --> 00:01:02,900 Let's go back to the $9.5 billion for our parks and federal lands. Judy, everyone knows 17 00:01:02,900 --> 00:01:07,300 that that is one of America's pride and joy, but the truth is, for decades, that those 18 00:01:07,300 --> 00:01:09,300 parks have been underfunded. 19 00:01:09,300 --> 00:01:12,800 Let's talk about our first national park, Yellowstone National Park, for example. In 20 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:17,066 that park, they have not been able to take care of all their roads and trails. And, in 21 00:01:17,066 --> 00:01:21,866 addition, some of the staff there have not had housing. So, they actually haven't been 22 00:01:21,866 --> 00:01:25,500 able to hire the staff they want because there's nowhere for them to live. 23 00:01:25,500 --> 00:01:30,500 This is what the bill would provide. Judy, again, bipartisan, passed overwhelmingly in 24 00:01:32,100 --> 00:01:34,733 the Senate, and it has some strong hopes in the House as well. 25 00:01:34,733 --> 00:01:39,733 JUDY WOODRUFF: And, Lisa, tell us why that is. What is it that gives it the support in 26 00:01:42,133 --> 00:01:44,133 the House? 27 00:01:44,133 --> 00:01:46,766 LISA DESJARDINS: Well, I think there is some really important policy here as well. 28 00:01:46,766 --> 00:01:51,733 Let's talk about that Land, Water and Conservation Fund, for example. That fund is something 29 00:01:53,766 --> 00:01:56,866 that is used to add to federal land, including national parks. Say Yellowstone wants to grow. 30 00:01:58,833 --> 00:02:02,933 This fund has -- which was incorporated in 1965, has been part of the idea that America's 31 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:05,833 public lands are important. 32 00:02:05,833 --> 00:02:09,600 However, Congress has barely funded it and used a patchwork of temporary funding year 33 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:15,033 after year for it, so it hasn't been dependable. Now it has a permanent funding source. And 34 00:02:16,966 --> 00:02:19,366 it will be mandatory funding. Congress will not vote on this every year. 35 00:02:19,366 --> 00:02:23,266 And what that means is not just more land for national parks, but potentially more land 36 00:02:23,266 --> 00:02:27,800 in cities as well, urban areas. That's where a lot of these environmental activists also 37 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:30,166 want to expand federal land. 38 00:02:30,166 --> 00:02:33,666 This is something that is a big issue, I think, for much of America, and that's why you see 39 00:02:33,666 --> 00:02:37,600 many Republicans, not all, but some, supporting it. 40 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:42,600 JUDY WOODRUFF: And, Lisa, prospects, you were telling us, look good in the House, but not 41 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:45,066 unanimous. 42 00:02:45,066 --> 00:02:48,100 Tell us what the folks who object to it are saying. 43 00:02:48,100 --> 00:02:52,733 LISA DESJARDINS: There are some objections, largely along the cost of this bill. 44 00:02:52,733 --> 00:02:57,700 While that expansion of the Conservation Fund is paid for by oil and gas revenues, the national 45 00:02:59,700 --> 00:03:03,366 park money, for example, is not. So this would add to the deficit. And some have concerns. 46 00:03:03,366 --> 00:03:08,266 Also, Judy, some opposition coming mostly from livestock groups. They say that this 47 00:03:08,266 --> 00:03:13,233 expansion of federal land comes before the federal government has really put together 48 00:03:13,233 --> 00:03:17,533 a plan to take care of those lands. As many people know, especially in the Western part 49 00:03:17,533 --> 00:03:22,266 of this country, there is often heated debate over federal ownership of land. 50 00:03:22,266 --> 00:03:26,566 The federal government, in fact, owns more than a quarter of the land in this country. 51 00:03:26,566 --> 00:03:30,866 On the other hand, Judy, conservationists say they have a goal of trying to preserve 52 00:03:30,866 --> 00:03:35,866 30 percent of the land in this country by 2030. This bill is part of that effort. 53 00:03:37,033 --> 00:03:39,733 So, it's a big move for them. 54 00:03:39,733 --> 00:03:44,733 JUDY WOODRUFF: And just finally, Lisa, interesting that this bill does have the Republican support 55 00:03:46,666 --> 00:03:49,466 that it does. And you were telling us there's more climate action legislation bubbling up 56 00:03:49,466 --> 00:03:50,966 on the Hill. 57 00:03:50,966 --> 00:03:53,133 LISA DESJARDINS: Right. I want to talk about the politics here. 58 00:03:53,133 --> 00:03:56,833 One reason also Republicans are supporting this, look at this letter. This is from an 59 00:03:56,833 --> 00:04:01,800 environmental -- the Evangelical Environmental Network. Judy, 65,000 people who describe 60 00:04:04,266 --> 00:04:08,666 themselves as pro-life or anti-abortion Christians signed this letter urging Congress to pass 61 00:04:09,866 --> 00:04:12,166 this bill and other environmental bills. 62 00:04:12,166 --> 00:04:17,066 Essentially, Judy, there is some fervor on the right from religious groups to say, the 63 00:04:17,066 --> 00:04:22,000 environment is a life issue. And that is something that we're seeing senators listen to. Also, 64 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:26,900 there are some at-risk senators, Cory Gardner in Colorado, also Steve Daines in Montana, 65 00:04:26,900 --> 00:04:28,866 for whom this bill will help. 66 00:04:28,866 --> 00:04:32,900 And there is more environmental legislation coming up the pike. We will keep an eye on 67 00:04:32,900 --> 00:04:34,933 it. 68 00:04:34,933 --> 00:04:38,900 JUDY WOODRUFF: Lisa Desjardins reporting on something that hasn't gotten a lot of attention 69 00:04:39,766 --> 00:04:40,866 on the Hill in quite some time. 70 00:04:40,866 --> 00:04:41,866 Lisa, thank you. 71 00:04:41,866 --> 00:04:42,000 LISA DESJARDINS: You're welcome.