Last September, EcoTour Adventures founder Taylor Phillips testified before the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources during a field hearing at Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park. The hearing focused on the future of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), landmark legislation that has helped address long-standing maintenance needs across America's public lands.

Today, that conversation continues with the introduction of the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act 250, legislation designed to build on the success of GAOA as our nation approaches its 250th birthday.

For those of us who spend our days guiding guests through Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, the importance of this investment is easy to see. The trails, campgrounds, roads, visitor facilities, and wildlife habitats that make these places so memorable don't maintain themselves. As visitation continues to grow, so does the need for thoughtful investment that supports both visitors and the landscapes they come to experience.

During his testimony, Taylor shared a simple truth: our public lands are more than beautiful places to visit—they are the foundation of local communities and economies. Every year, tens of thousands of visitors join guided experiences in Grand Teton National Park, supporting local businesses, jobs, and gateway communities throughout the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Those opportunities depend on healthy parks, functioning infrastructure, and protected wildlife habitat.

The original Great American Outdoors Act has already made a difference by helping parks tackle decades of deferred maintenance. Yet significant needs remain across Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and public lands throughout the West. Continued investment is essential to ensuring that future generations can enjoy the same world-class experiences that inspire visitors today.

We're encouraged to see leaders from both parties working together to advance the Great American Outdoors Act 250. Protecting America's public lands has long been a bipartisan tradition because these places belong to all of us.

As guides, conservation advocates, and lifelong public lands users, we believe investments in our parks are investments in our communities, our economy, and our shared future. We applaud the introduction of GAOA 250 and look forward to seeing continued support for the landscapes, wildlife, and visitor experiences that make places like Grand Teton and Yellowstone so extraordinary.

The views from Jenny Lake, the wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and the memories made on our public lands are part of America's story. Ensuring their future is a responsibility we all share.