When I went out into the country to talk about "The Case for America," my book celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary, it was an immersion experience.The capital of our country is in Washington, D.C., and that’s where I’ll be on July 4.
But the heart of America lies across the nation — "from the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with foam," in the great American outdoors.To experience our vast land is always inspiring.It puts things in perspective.
Our differences seem to fade away when they’re set against such a grand backdrop.Recently, I had an opportunity on my "Common Ground" podcast to talk with two congressmen — Arkansas Republican Bruce Westerman and California Democrat Jared Huffman — about their bill, the Great American Outdoors Act 250, an enhancement of the 2020 Great American Outdoors Act, which would invest $1.9 billion annually in national parks, public lands and Bureau of Indian Education facilities.
Dozens of American institutions support the bill, which has received enthusiastic bipartisan support.Bipartisan bills are also in the spirit of America.And we don’t think about it a lot, but the national parks play a fundamental role in the American story.
There are 63 of them, in 33 states and territories.Last year alone, 323 million people visited a national park.TRUMP TAKES INAUGURAL FLIGHT ABOARD NEW AIR FORCE ONE AHEAD OF LIBRARY DEBUT HONORING FAMED OUTDOORSMANThe actor Kevin Costner, a passionate conservationist, testified before the U.S.
House Natural Resources Committee in support of the Great American Outdoors Act 250.Fox News anchor Bret Baier and the book cover for his latest book 'A Case for America' (Fox News)A passionate advocate for America’s public lands, Costner spoke poetically about their importance."Nature sits in silence.
It's beautiful, it's awe-inspiring, and it's also vulnerable to our worst instincts.There's really no better time for us to reaffirm our commitment to these places that tell ...