MEMO: Celebrate Independence Day by taking action on President Biden’s America The Beautiful

In the month of July, it’s not uncommon to hear the familiar lyrics of “America The Beautiful,” everywhere from sporting events and summer camps to community celebrations. It’s an ode to expansive and wondrous nature - and, as intended by the hymn’s original author - a plea for America to do and be better.   

We know that America has not been, and still isn’t, beautiful for many marginalized and oppressed people, particularly when it comes to a healthy environment and equal access to the outdoors.  

As communities across the country celebrate Independence Day amidst a record-breaking heat wave, we have the opportunity to look to Biden’s America The Beautiful initiative to start creating a more equitable country when it comes to how we protect more nature and, ultimately, more people. Our nation is already poised to live up to its ideals, but we need to see bold action soon. The clock is ticking—nearly half a year has passed since the Biden administration committed to a 10-year goal of conserving and restoring 30% of our lands, waters, and ocean. We need swift administrative and legislative action if we are going to have any chance of reaching the goals that will safeguard the nature that supports ourselves, our climate, and a healthy future for all.   

The America The Beautiful initiative aims to unite the country behind goals deemed critical by scientists (protecting 30% of U.S. land, waters and ocean by 2030) to address the urgency of the climate crisis and the rapid disappearance of nature and wildlife. America The Beautiful is bold yet achievable and relies on communities of all sizes playing a leadership role in advocating for home grown solutions to address climate change, inequitable access to nature, and species loss. These crises are affecting public health, clean air, fresh water and food supplies, and quality of life nationwide. 

As you’re shaping coverage of the administration’s progress towards protecting more nature and addressing climate change, we can be a resource for specific conservation projects, legislation and proposals that seek to create a more equitable and beautiful America for all.  

Immediate Administrative Actions: 

• Restoring Protections for Monuments: As the Biden Administration seeks to advance environmental justice and conserve public lands and waters, the Antiquities Act is an invaluable tool the President can use to honor the diverse experiences of our nation while also reckoning with past injustices when protections were stripped away by President Trump. President Biden made a campaign promise to restore Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments. We are grateful for his Administration’s sincere commitment to honoring Indigenous cultures, seeking justice for the local communities pushing for these protections, and safeguarding our nation’s land and water for all. Now we must see action.  
   

• Wildlife Refuges: In addition to protecting endangered and threatened plants and wildlife, expanding the National Wildlife Refuge System can help address inequitable access to nature. People of color and low-income communities face social, economic, and physical barriers to enjoying the outdoors and parks. With at least one refuge in every state, and more than 100 refuges within an hour’s drive from major metropolitan areas, wildlife refuges offer a unique way to increase access to nature and serve as an excellent first point of contact with our nation’s public lands. 

Key Initial Legislative Efforts: 

• Place Naming Efforts: Across the country, there are thousands of geographic features, national forests, wilderness areas, and other public land units with names that honor perpetrators of atrocities against Native Americans, racist historical figures, and that include offensive slurs. Place names such as these perpetuate prejudice and racism and create barriers for many people to experience the outdoors safely and inclusively. We are asking Congress to re-introduce The Reconciliation in Place Names Act to review and potentially change the thousands of federally recognized places whose names contain racial or other slurs. By working together with lawmakers, we can begin to atone for historical harm by addressing offensive and racist place names, ensuring our public lands are truly inclusive and welcoming. 

• Creating More Access to Nature: Nature benefits us more than we know. For example, green spaces and tree canopies in U.S. cities provide crucial shade, absorb air pollution and have positive effects on peoples’ health, stress levels and overall happiness. When we talk about wanting to save more nature by 2030, we can start by thinking and acting closest to home: building and expanding public parks in under-resourced communities. The Parks, Jobs, and Equity Act would create a $500 million grant program to help cities invest in local parks and support an equitable economic recovery. Additionally, the Transit to Trails Act would help lower the barriers to healthy outdoor activity by providing mass transit options to get to trails and other outdoor destinations.    

Action is urgently needed. Nature is rapidly disappearing to roads, pipelines, deforestation and other development. Failure to expand land, water, and ocean protections will put over a million plants and animals at risk of extinction, within a few decades. This week, we’re seeing the devastating impacts of climate change – people are losing their lives as a result of record-high temperatures. Proposals like expanding the NWRS and investing in urban green space put us on the path to saving more nature which, studies show, can help alleviate rising temperatures. On our current trajectory, we risk losing so much more—the time to save more nature is now. 

We need immediate and bold action from the administration and our local elected officials if we are going to create a safe and flourishing future for our children and grandchildren. We look forward to talking with you more about this urgent crisis and we hope you will strongly consider writing on these issues and calling on our leaders to take immediate action. 

CONTACT: 
Jen Parravani, Communications Manager
jen_parravani@tws.org
(202) 601-1931