Business

“It should happen as a consequence of fact and public support — both of these bills are bipartisan — but getting it out of the Senate required a political necessity more than a conservation necessity,” Natural Resources Chair Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) told POLITICO. “If it’s seen as somehow good politically for some Republican senators in tight races, that’s the way the [political] alignment ended up happening.” Other lawmakers credited its success to the groundwork built by its supporters in the House who pressed Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) for a vote and lined up co-sponsors through face-to-face meetings and telephone calls over many months. And they relied on the fact that public lands are broadly popular across political parties and LWCF contributes...

Despite widespread uncertainty in the wake of the most severe economic shock in generations, Americans still want to buy homes, one of the biggest financial decisions they will make in their lifetimes. Consider: Home construction jumped 17 percent in June, according to Census Bureau data, while permit applications to build single-family homes rose almost 12 percent. And mortgage applications were up 19 percent in the week ending July 17 over a year ago. Part of housing’s strength comes down to demographics, as millennials, who make up the largest share of the population, enter the market to buy homes. And while double-digit unemployment would normally dampen demand, the current downturn is heavily lopsided toward certain lower-wage sectors, like the hospitality and food-service industries,...