,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #hbhh ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,september #ag1 #bjbj,mr4 ,bishop of ,utah introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to correct shortfalls in the ,great ,american ,outdoors ,act by providing fairness and parity to ,eastern ,states1 strengthening commitments to urban recreation1 establishing logic in funding priorities1 and ensuring appropriate consequences for shifts in funding sources1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,improving the ,not-,so-,great ,american ,outdoors ,act4 #b4 ,ensuring fairness and parity for eastern ,states ,section #bjjcjf7;a7 of title #ed1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding the at the end the following3 7#e7 ,except for amounts specifically authorized by an ,act of ,congress1 not less than #ej percent of the land acreage or interests in land acreage acquired pursuant to this section shall be east of the #ajjth meridian4 4 #c4 ,strengthening commitments to urban recreation 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,eligible entity 7,a7 ,in general ,the term eligible entity means-- 7i7 a ,state2 7ii7 a political subdivision of a ,state1 including-- 7,i7 a city2 and 7,,ii7 a county2 7iii7 a special purpose district1 including park districts2 and 7iv7 an ,indian ,tribe4 7,b7 ,political subdivisions and ,indian tribes ,a political subdivision of a ,state or an ,indian ,tribe shall be considered an eligible entity only if the political subdivision or ,indian ,tribe represents or otherwise serves a qualifying urban area4 7#b7 ,outdoor recreation legacy partnership grant program ,the term ,outdoor ,recreation ,legacy ,partnership ,grant ,program means the program established under subsection 7b74 7#c7 ,qualifying urban area ,the term qualifying urban area means an area identified by the ,census ,bureau as an urban area in the most recent census4 7#d7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior4 7b7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary shall establish an outdoor recreation legacy partnership grant program under which the ,secretary may award grants to eligible entities for projects-- 7#a7 to acquire land and water for parks and other outdoor recreation purposes2 7#b7 to develop new or renovate existing outdoor recreation facilities2 and 7#c7 to develop projects that provide opportunities for outdoor education and public lands volunteerism4 7c7 ,matching requirement 7#a7 ,in general ,as a condition of receiving a grant under subsection 7b71 an eligible entity shall provide matching funds in the form of cash or an in-kind contribution in an amount equal to not less than #ajj percent of the amounts made available under the grant4 7#b7 ,sources ,the matching amounts referred to in paragraph 7#a7 may include amounts made available from ,state1 local1 nongovernmental1 or private sources4 7#c7 ,waiver ,the ,secretary may waive all or part of the matching requirement under paragraph 7#a7 if the ,secretary determines that-- 7,a7 no reasonable means are available through which an applicant can meet the matching requirement2 and 7,b7 the probable benefit of such project outweighs the public interest in such matching requirement4 7d7 ,eligible uses 7#a7 ,in general ,a grant recipient may use a grant awarded under this section-- 7,a7 to acquire land or water that provides outdoor recreation opportunities to the public2 and 7,b7 to develop or renovate outdoor recreational facilities that provide outdoor recreation opportunities to the public1 with priority given to projects that-- 7i7 create or significantly enhance access to park and recreational opportunities in an urban or suburban area that lacks access to such activities2 7ii7 engage and empower underserved communities and youth2 7iii7 provide opportunities for youth employment or job training2 7iv7 establish or expand public-private partnerships1 with a focus on leveraging resources2 and 7v7 take advantage of coordination among various levels of government4 7#b7 ,limitations on use ,a grant recipient may not use grant funds for-- 7,a7 grant administration costs2 7,b7 incidental costs related to land acquisition1 including appraisal and titling2 7,c7 operation and maintenance activities2 7,d7 facilities that support semiprofessional or professional athletics2 7,e7 indoor facilities such as recreation centers or facilities that support primarily non-outdoor purposes2 or 7,f7 acquisition of land or interests in land that restrict access to specific persons4 7e7 ,national park service requirements ,in carrying out the ,outdoor ,recreation ,legacy ,partnership ,grant ,program1 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 conduct an initial screening and technical review of applications received2 and 7#b7 evaluate and score all qualifying applications4 7f7 ,reporting ,each grant recipient that receives a grant under this section shall annually submit to the ,secretary performance and financial reports that-- 7#a7 summarize project activities conducted during the report period2 and 7#b7 provide the status of the project1 including of description of how the project has improved access to parkland1 open space1 or recreational facilities from the community perspective4 7g7 ,funding ,section #bjjcjf7;a7 of title #ed1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#g7 ,five percent of the amounts shall be allocated to provide grants under the ,outdoor ,recreation ,legacy ,partnership ,grant ,program established under section #c of the ,improving the ,not-,so-,great ,american ,outdoors ,act4 4 #d4 ,establishing logic in funding priorities ,section #bjjdjb7;b7 of title #ed1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by-- 7#a7 redesignating paragraph 7#c7 as paragraph 7#d72 and 7#b7 adding the following after paragraph 7#b7-- 7#c7 ,insufficient funds ,in any of fiscal years #bjba through #bjbe in which the total amount deposited into the ,fund is less than #a1ijj1jjj1jjj1 sufficient funds 7if available7 under section #bjjcjf #e of title #ed1 ,united ,states ,code1 shall also be available for the uses of the ,fund in accordance with this chapter in such amounts as are necessary to ensure that a total of #a1ijj1jjj1jjj is available for those uses for that fiscal year4 ,if sufficient funds are not available under section #bjjcjf of title #ed1 ,united ,states ,code1 to ensure the #a1ijj1jjj1jjj total1 then the maximum amount allocated to that section shall be made available for the uses of the ,fund4 4 #e4 ,transparency in project funding allocation ,section #bjjcjc7;c77#b77;,b7 of title #ed1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting only in accordance with the detailed submission to ,congress under paragraph 7#a7 after allocated by the ,president both places it appears4 #f4 ,appropriate consequences regarding funding sources ,in the first fiscal year in which receipts under section #bjjcjb7;c77#b7 of title #ed1 ,united ,states ,code1 are unavailable for deposit in the ,land and ,water ,conservation ,fund established under that section1 the ,land and ,water ,conservation ,fund shall be repealed1 any existing unobligated balances shall revert to the general ,treasury1 and any future revenues and collections that would have been deposited in that ,fund shall instead be deposited in the general ,treasury4 #g4 ,ensuring availability of funds for maintenance backlog ,section #bjjcjb7;c7 of title #ed1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by striking not less than4 #h4 ,conforming amendment ,section #bjjcjf7;a77#b77;,b7 of title #ed1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7iii7 ,limitation ,except for areas specifically authorized by ,act of ,congress1 not more than #ae percent of the acreage added to the ,national ,forest ,system pursuant to this section shall be west of the #ajjth meridian4 4