On the road in her RV named Lucille, former Maryland Congresswoman Donna Edwards leaves Washington politics behind—but not her fight for America’s wild spaces. Her travels reveal why public lands are for everyone, and why they matter now more than ever.
Donna Edwards made history in 2008 as the first Black woman elected to Congress from Maryland, representing the state’s 4th District for nearly a decade. During her time in the House, she earned a reputation as a leading progressive, working to raise the minimum wage, invest in scientific research, and protect women from domestic violence.
In 2017, shortly after leaving Congress, Edwards announced that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Rather than slow down, she set out on the road in her RV, Lucille, determined to visit all 63 national parks despite the challenges of the disease. That journey is now the subject of a new documentary, From the Hill to the Horizon.
The Film Comes to the Capitol
From the Hill to the Horizon was recently featured at a discussion on conservation and funding of the national parks, held at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. The event was hosted by Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID), Chair of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, and Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Ranking Member, alongside the National Parks Conservation Association, the Former Members of Congress Association, and Parks Channel.
Former Congressman Dennis Ross (R-FL) offered opening remarks before the screening. Afterward, a panel discussion moderated by Andrea Sachs of the Washington Post brought together Tiernan Sittenfeld, President of the National Parks Conservation Association; Pete Maysmith, President of the League of Conservation Voters; and Edwards herself, reflecting on the film, her journey, and what’s at stake for America’s public lands.
The gathering underscored a message that resonates well beyond party lines: national parks are a shared inheritance worth protecting, no matter which side of the aisle you sit on.
About the Film
From the Hill to the Horizon was produced by Brays Run Productions and Parks Channel Productions, directed and written by Rakhi Varma, and edited by Peter Coan. The film follows Edwards on the road as she leaves Washington politics behind to chase a simple but ambitious goal: setting foot in every national park in the country.
Edwards has remained active in Maryland politics and public service since leaving Congress, including a 2022 bid to reclaim her old House seat. She continues to advocate for working families, healthcare access, and the protection of America’s public lands for future generations.
