Congress has just passed the Great American Outdoors Act which will reserve over $9.5 billion for National Parks and conservation efforts. 

It’s being called the most significant conservation legislation in the last 50 years. 

While we usually stray away from political news, this approval is a win for everyone in the country. 

“We have a generational opportunity to ensure America’s crown jewels are protected,” Representative Raúl Grijalva, chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, said in a speech on the House floor ahead of the vote.

 “We have a unique chance to ensure that every tool is available to help us respond to the climate crisis, [to] protect those landscapes that best protect clean water, clean air, and healthy green spaces. This bill is a major win for the American people, decades in the making.”

The bill is expected to generate over 100,000 jobs while increasing and protecting public access to parks across the country. 

The decision comes at a time when we need it most. With health concerns expected to continue for the foreseeable future, getting outdoors is the break Americans need and deserve. 

Not to mention, time in nature boosts our mental health and immune systems.