Lincoln Presidential Foundation Joins the National Park Foundation, National Park Friends Alliance, and Park Partner Groups in Urging Congress to Pass the America the Beautiful Act
July 21, 2026 (SPRINGFIELD, IL) Lincoln Presidential Foundation has joined the National Park Foundation, the National Park Friends Alliance and 160 national park philanthropic partners in a letter urging Congress to pass the bipartisan America the Beautiful Act (S.1547 / H.R.9250) to reauthorize the Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF)—a critical U.S. government fund dedicated to the stewardship and maintenance of America’s greatest treasures.
The letter, addressed to Majority Leader Thune, Minority Leader Schumer, Speaker Johnson, and Minority Leader Jeffries, highlights the successes of the LRF since its creation under the Great American Outdoors Act of 2020, and the urgent need for reauthorization following its expiration on September 30, 2025:
“The LRF provided $1.3 billion annually, totaling $6.5 billion over its five-year lifespan, to undertake nearly 400 priority infrastructure projects across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. This landmark investment in our national parks and public lands delivered measurable results and improvements to critical park infrastructure, including road repairs, trail and campground upgrades, restoration of historic structures, rehabilitation of utility systems, and modernization of visitor facilities.
“These projects preserved America’s natural and historical legacy – uniquely American places that are the envy of the world. They enhanced access, improved safety, and elevated and modernized the visitor experience. In addition, the LRF’s investment delivered irrefutable economic impact, supporting more than 72,000 jobs, injecting $5 billion into the labor market nationwide, and contributing $8 billion to the nation’s GDP. These benefits have been felt most acutely by the local communities in every state and territory that surround and depend upon healthy, thriving parks.”
“The future of our national parks requires investment today. The places stewarded by the National Park Service reflect the many facets of the American story. Their care is a shared responsibility. If we value them, we must support them, advocate for them, and help sustain them for future generations,” states Lincoln Presidential Foundation President & CEO Erin Carlson Mast.
The letter signatories make up a community committed to supporting, protecting, and enhancing America’s 433 national parks. Together, they provided over $720 million in private funds in 2025, serving as a force multiplier to federal investment in national parks.
The letter and list of supporters can be read here.