Mitch McConnell, left, and Brett Guthrie, right, speak during an event at Mammoth Cave Park on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, to announce the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act. The two congressmen are from Kentucky.
(BRENNAN CRAIN/WCLU NEWS)
MAMMOTH CAVE, Ky. – Sen. Mitch McConnell appeared on Monday with Rep. Brett Guthrie at a press conference announcing new funding for national parks, which includes Mammoth Cave National Park.
The lawmaker spoke about the Great American Outdoors Act, which is a piece of conservation and outdoor recreation legislation. President Donald Trump recently signed the act into law.
“I know you all are used to hearing politicians hype things, so you probably have a tendency to discount it,” McConnell said. “The Great American Outdoors Act is by any standard a big deal – a big deal. I’m not hyping it.”
McConnell said the funding would help pay for deferred costs at many parks across the nation. He said Mammoth Cave National Park has approximately $90 million of deferred maintenance costs.
“The Great American Outdoors Act really is landmark legislation for the National Park Service, in addition to other federal lands,” said Barclay C. Trimble, Superintendent of Mammoth Cave National Park. “Our ability to be able to repair and rehab vital infrastructure and start improving the visitor experience as we start moving forward.”
Before the bill was passed, members of the House and Senate worked together to change the specifics, and McConnell was one of four involved in that process.
Guthrie touted McConnell’s work alongside Nancy Pelosi (D – Calif.), Kevin McCarthy (R – Calif.) and Chuck Schumer (D – NY) in his work to finalize the act.
“The value of having a Kentuckian at that table,” Guthrie said. “I have learned that things get done at the end as we’re all moving and trying to get final things at the end of the session.”
The bipartisan legislation provides funding for the National Park Service and secures funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Mammoth Cave National Park was selected as the site for the announcement of the act’s passage. Trimble said the park will be able to better provide services, amenities and activities for visitors.
“With this legislation, we’re excited for what the future is for Mammoth Cave National Park. We’re excited that we’re going to be able to continue with our mission; to preserve and protect this marvel wonder that we have here,” Trimble said. “That we’ll be able to provide that quality visitor experience; we’ll be able to continue to educate our visitors; and then, also, we’ll be able to inspire this, and the future generations, as we move forward.”
Among other item, McConnell spoke about ongoing issues with the United States Postal Service. The service requested $25 million recently to aid in the expected demand this election cycle. The service anticipates more mail as voters utilize absentee balloting rather than in-person voting options.
“The Postal Service is going to be OK between now and the election,” McConnell said. “The Postal Service is not OK long-term. They’ve got a lot of problems, but they’re going to be OK between now and the election.”
House Speaker Pelosi called the House back from summer recess to pass a bill that would disable the U.S. Postal Service from enacting any changes until Jan. 1, 2021.