Mitch McConnell visits Mammoth Cave, talks about the Great American Outdoors Act

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.- U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell visited Mammoth Cave National Park Monday morning to discuss the Great American Outdoors Act and its importance to conservation.

“It’s by any standard a big deal, a big deal. I’m not hyping it. It was declared by over 800 groups across the country as the single greatest conservation measure in 50 years,” said McConnell. 

And McConnell touched on how this came at a pivotal point in history, with the pandemic. 

“People were desperately anxious to get out of the house. I mean after getting stuck at home for two  months, everybody was suffering from cabin fever. And this of course is an example of the kind of place that was perfect,” he said.

The act puts $10 billion dollars towards the deferred maintenance problem in parks around the country. At Mammoth Cave alone, there is an estimated $90 million dollars worth of deferred maintenance. 

Maintaining public land will sustain and preserve them to provide recreation for Americans. McConnell was joined by U.S. Congressman Brett Guthrie who says the timing was perfect for this to be passed. 

“There’s the opportunity to fix things. It was the right time to do it, and these American treasures will be here for as long as we are,” Guthrie said. 

Guthrie also emphasized how important it is to maintain these public lands. 

“We just have treasures, stunningly historic places, we have stunningly beautiful places,” said Guthrie.  

This act will also aid the economy as outdoor recreation supports 120,000 jobs and drives nearly $13 billion dollars in consumer spending.