Congress Advances Public Lands Funding Backed by RVIA
WASHINGTON, DC – The RV Industry Association (RVIA) is urging Congress to restore a federal public-lands repair fund that has historically helped modernize campgrounds, roads, utilities, and other recreation infrastructure used by RV travelers. The Legacy Restoration Fund’s original authorization ran through September 30, 2025, while the deferred-maintenance backlog across federal public lands now exceeds $40 billion, RVIA says. Bipartisan reauthorization proposals have advanced in both the House and Senate, putting future public lands funding for projects that directly affect campground access and visitor facilities back before Congress.
Fund Targets Aging Public-Lands Infrastructure
According to the RV Industry Association, the Legacy Restoration Fund was created through the Great American Outdoors Act in 2020 to address long-deferred maintenance in national parks, forests, and other public lands. The original program provided up to $1.9 billion annually for five years, using federal energy-development revenues rather than annual appropriations.
Several projects supported by this fund affect RV travelers. Examples include campground water and wastewater systems, electrical service, roads, parking, restrooms, and other facilities. Upgrading these systems and services often determine whether older recreation sites can continue handling modern visitor demand.
Congressional Proposals Move Forward
On June 17, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee advanced S. 1547, the America the Beautiful Act, by voice vote. The proposal would reauthorize the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund.
A week later, the House Natural Resources Committee advanced H.R. 9250. This separate bipartisan proposal would invest $1.9 billion annually for five years in national parks, public lands, and Bureau of Indian Education facilities. The House committee says the measure specifically targets high-priority deferred maintenance. This includes campgrounds, trails, boat ramps and other recreation infrastructure.
Neither proposal has completed the full legislative process. So, additional congressional action would be required before the fund is reauthorized.
Campground Projects Show RV Impact
One of RVIA’s examples is Moraine Park Campground at Rocky Mountain National Park. The 244-site campground can accommodate RVs up to 40 feet. Further, it hosts more than 30,000 campers annually. Great American Outdoors Act funding is being used to rehabilitate water, wastewater, and electrical infrastructure originally installed in the 1960s. Electrical hookups supporting 20-, 30-, and 50-amp service are being added at 49 campsites.
RVIA also points to Zion National Park’s South Campground, where Legacy Restoration Fund money contributed to a major rehabilitation involving bathrooms, drinking-water systems, sewer infrastructure, drainage, and campsites. The campground reopened May 29 after the long-term project.
RVIA Calls for Reauthorization of Public Lands Funding
RVIA says continued investment is important because deteriorating public-land infrastructure can reduce access and affect the experience of RVers and other outdoor visitors. The association has made reauthorization a lobbying priority alongside the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable. It recently raised the issue during its 2026 Advocacy Day.
For RV travelers, the congressional debate is ultimately less about the name of the fund than the condition of the places it supports. Future reauthorization could allow additional aging campgrounds, utility systems and recreation facilities to compete for the type of large-scale repairs already underway at parks such as Rocky Mountain and Zion.
Gabriel Rivero
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