In Canton, Portman Visits First Ladies' National Historic Site, Highlights Benefits of the Restore Our Parks Act
Portman’s Legislation Was Signed into Law Last Week and Will Address Deferred Maintenance at America’s National Parks
CANTON, OH – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) visited the First Ladies' National Historic Site to see firsthand how his bipartisan Restore Our Parks Act will help address the more than $12 billion backlog in long-delayed maintenance projects at the National Park Service. The First Ladies' National Historic Site has nearly $1 million in unmet maintenance needs – including building renovations to the Saxton House and First Ladies' Library Education & Research Center.
“I enjoyed my visit to the First Ladies' National Historic Site. I was able to see firsthand the maintenance needs at the park and discuss how my recently signed into law Restore Our Parks Act will fund critical projects here,” said Portman. “This new law will create jobs and rebuild our national parks infrastructure by helping to address the $12 billion deferred maintenance backlog at our national park sites throughout the country, including the nearly $1 million in maintenance backlog at the First Ladies' Historic Site. I’m pleased my bipartisan law will help us do our part to preserve these national treasures for generations to come.”
“I applaud Senator Portman’s Restore Our Parks Act, which is now law. The First Ladies National Historic commemorates the lives and accomplishments of all the first ladies in the United States, stands as an important monument to the role the wives of our elected officials have played in the history of our nation. Unfortunately, a lack of federal funding has left this important site with about $880,000 in needed repairs it hasn’t been able to afford. Thank you, Senator Portman, for continuing to be a champion of our outdoor and historic areas in Ohio and around the country,” Jennifer Highfield, President & CEO, National First Ladies’ Library.
Last week, President Trump signed into law Portman’s bipartisan Restore Our Parks Act, landmark legislation he has pushed for years to protect and preserve America’s national parks. The new law will support more than 100,000 jobs over the next five years by rebuilding critical park infrastructure to help address the more than $12 billion backlog in long-delayed maintenance projects at the National Park Service (NPS). The Restore Our Parks Act is a part of a broader package, the Great American Outdoors Act, that addresses the deferred maintenance backlog across federal land management agencies and provides permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Photos from the visit are below:
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