Exciting things are happening in Washington that matter to every archer, bowhunter and industry professional in our community. The America the Beautiful Act (S. 1547/H.R. 9250), which represents a bipartisan effort to reauthorize the Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF), has cleared committee with unanimous votes in both the House and Senate, and momentum is building for full passage. 

Why should ATA members care? This bill is about protecting the places where our sport happens. The original Great American Outdoors Act, which created the LRF, has already driven historic investment in the roads, trails, campgrounds, boat ramps and access points that hunters and outdoor recreationists rely on across our national parks, forests, wildlife refuges and BLM lands. But deferred maintenance backlogs remain, and aging infrastructure can quietly shrink access to the very public lands where bowhunters pursue deer, elk, turkey and more. 

The America the Beautiful Act builds on that success, extending and strengthening the LRF while preserving full, permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. It also includes new provisions directing improvements to hunting and fishing opportunities within the National Wildlife Refuge System, which is a direct win for archery access on refuge lands.  

The ATA has joined dozens of hunting, fishing and conservation organizations, including Boone and Crockett Club, National Wild Turkey Federation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation in urging Congress to pass this legislation as expeditiously as possible. 

As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, investments like this ensure public lands stay accessible, well-maintained and ready to welcome the next generation of archers and bowhunters. Healthy access to public lands is healthy business for our industry. 

We’ll keep members updated as this bill moves toward a final vote.  

For more information or questions about the ATA’s legislative efforts, contact Dan Forster, ATA’s vice president and chief conservation officer, at danforster@archerytrade.org.