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S. 1458Senate116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Outdoors for All Act

A bill to codify the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program of the National Park Service, and for other purposes.

Sponsored by Kamala D. HarrisSen. Kamala D. Harris (D-CA)
Introduced May 14, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 5:03 AM UTC

The Outdoors for All Act codifies the National Park Service’s Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program and creates a grant system to help states, territories, cities, counties, special districts, and Indian tribes acquire land or water and build or improve outdoor recreation facilities, especially in urban and underserved communities. It requires grant recipients to match federal funds and sets reporting and funding rules.

Key Provisions

  • Defines eligible entities as states, territories, cities, counties, special districts and Indian tribes that serve a qualifying urban area.
  • Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to award grants for land or water acquisition and for developing or renovating outdoor recreation facilities.
  • Requires grant recipients to provide matching funds equal to at least 100% of the federal grant, from state, local, private or nonprofit sources.
  • Prioritizes projects that improve access in urban neighborhoods, engage underserved communities and youth, create job training, and foster public‑private partnerships.
  • Prohibits use of grant money for administration, land‑acquisition incidental costs, operation and maintenance, indoor or professional‑sports facilities, or land that limits public access.
  • Mandates annual and final performance and financial reports from state lead agencies.
  • Designates 20% of Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act revenues for fiscal years 2020‑2055 to fund the program, supplementing but not replacing other federal funds.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

May 14, 2019

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

May 14, 2019

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

May 14, 2019

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued May 14, 2019

II

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1458

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 14, 2019

Ms. Harris (for herself, Mr. Booker, Ms. Smith, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Menendez, and Mr. Wyden) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

A BILL

To codify the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program of the National Park Service, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Outdoors for All Act.

2.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Eligible entity

(A)

In general

The term eligible entity means—

(i)

a State or territory of the United States;

(ii)

a political subdivision of a State or territory of the United States, including—

(I)

a city; and

(II)

a county;

(iii)

a special purpose district, including park districts; and

(iv)

an Indian Tribe.

(B)

Political subdivisions and Indian Tribes

A political subdivision of a State or territory of the United States or an Indian Tribe shall be considered an eligible entity only if the political subdivision or Indian Tribe represents or otherwise serves a qualifying urban area.

(2)

Indian Tribe

The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term Indian tribe in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).

(3)

Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program

The term Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program means the program established under section 3(a).

(4)

Qualifying urban area

The term qualifying urban area means an area identified by the Census Bureau as an urban area in the most recent census.

(5)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

3.

Grants authorized

(a)

In general

The Secretary shall establish an outdoor recreation legacy partnership program under which the Secretary may award grants to eligible entities for projects—

(1)

to acquire land and water for parks and other outdoor recreation purposes; and

(2)

to develop new or renovate existing outdoor recreation facilities.

(b)

Matching requirement

(1)

In general

As a condition of receiving a grant under subsection (a), an eligible entity shall provide matching funds in the form of cash or an in-kind contribution in an amount equal to not less than 100 percent of the amounts made available under the grant.

(2)

Sources

The matching amounts referred to in paragraph (1) may include amounts made available from State, local, nongovernmental, or private sources.

4.

Eligible uses

(a)

In general

A grant recipient may use a grant awarded under this Act—

(1)

to acquire land or water that provides outdoor recreation opportunities to the public; and

(2)

to develop or renovate outdoor recreational facilities that provide outdoor recreation opportunities to the public, with priority given to projects that—

(A)

create or significantly enhance access to park and recreational opportunities in an urban neighborhood or community;

(B)

engage and empower underserved communities and youth;

(C)

provide opportunities for youth employment or job training;

(D)

establish or expand public-private partnerships, with a focus on leveraging resources; and

(E)

take advantage of coordination among various levels of government.

(b)

Limitations on use

A grant recipient may not use grant funds for—

(1)

grant administration costs;

(2)

incidental costs related to land acquisition, including appraisal and titling;

(3)

operation and maintenance activities;

(4)

facilities that support semiprofessional or professional athletics;

(5)

indoor facilities such as recreation centers or facilities that support primarily non-outdoor purposes; or

(6)

acquisition of land or interests in land that restrict access to specific persons.

5.

National Park Service requirements

In carrying out the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program, the Secretary shall—

(1)

conduct an initial screening and technical review of applications received; and

(2)

evaluate and score all qualifying applications.

6.

Reporting

(a)

Annual reports

Not later than 30 days after the last day of each report period, each State lead agency that receives a grant under this Act shall annually submit to the Secretary performance and financial reports that—

(1)

summarize project activities conducted during the report period; and

(2)

provide the status of the project.

(b)

Final reports

Not later than 90 days after the earlier of the date of expiration of a project period or the completion of a project, each State lead agency that receives a grant under this Act shall submit to the Secretary a final report containing such information as the Secretary may require.

7.

Revenue sharing

(a)

In general

Section 105(a)(2)(B) of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 (43 U.S.C. 1331 note; Public Law 109–432) is amended by inserting before the period at the end , of which 20 percent for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2055 shall be used by the Secretary of the Interior to provide grants under the Outdoors for All Act.

(b)

Supplement not supplant

Amounts made available to the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program as a result of the amendment made by subsection (a) shall supplement and not supplant any other Federal funds made available to carry out the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program.