Congress: Close the nature equity gap!

Please support a package of outdoor bills and programs to help to close the nature equity gap in America!

I am writing to call on Congress to act now to ensure all kids and families can improve their health and wellness by experiencing America’s great outdoors. One-hundred million people - including 28 million children - do not have a park or green space within 10 minutes from home. Access to nature has proven physical and mental health benefits, and communities without nearby nature have higher rates of asthma and obesity along with lower air quality. It’s time to ensure all people can exercise their human right to a connection with nature. I am urging you today to support a package of outdoor bills and programs that would help to close the nature equity gap in America by ensuring more kids and families have access to nearby nature, transportation to trails, support to visit national parks and public lands, and meaningful career pathways in conservation and recreation. Please cosponsor: - Outdoors for All Act (H.R.5413 / S.2887): The bipartisan Outdoors for All Act would guarantee a source of funding for projects that expand outdoor recreational opportunities in cities and towns across the country, particularly in communities that have historically been denied access to nature. The Outdoors for All Act accomplishes this without spending any taxpayer dollars, since the program is part of the existing Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). - Transit to Trails Act (H.R. 2924 / S.1461): The Transit to Trails Act will provide new funding for public transportation options to public lands. This bill will help support outdoor equity and reduce climate pollution. It will also increase access to the health benefits of nature, because people need nature near where they live. AND support critical funding for these programs in the FY23 budget: - $130 million for the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program: The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program invests in parks and green spaces in the areas where 80% of people in the US live, helping to close the nature equity gap so more can benefit from the healthy activities and better quality of life these parks afford. By investing $130 million in ORLP, we can ensure this critical program continues to provide opportunities for expanding outdoor recreation in our communities, as well as promoting the development of new or enhanced partnerships for outdoor recreation in urban communities across the nation. - $25 million for Every Kid Outdoors: The Every Kid Outdoors (EKO) program connects fourth graders and their families with public lands and waters at no cost to them. The bipartisan-supported EKO program is helping millions of children build lifelong relationships with public lands and waters. However, without adequate funding, EKO has never been able to reach the children and families who need it most. After two years spent inside, children and families are in desperate need of the proven physical and mental health benefits of accessing the outdoors. - $69 million for Civilian Climate Corps: An ambitious Civilian Climate Corps could help us meet our climate goals, keep our communities safe from extreme weather, and increase access to the outdoors for all, ensuring those who come after them enjoy a direct connection to nature on a thriving planet. Furthermore, a well-funded CCC could provide union jobs paying family-sustaining wages to do the work our communities so badly need. This package would expand equitable access to the outdoors by expanding park equity projects in underserved communities, launching transportation projects that would reduce emissions and connect communities with public lands, ensuring children can visit national parks and public lands, and creating career pathways for young people to conserve our public lands and waters and enhance recreation opportunities.