09.01.15

Ranking Member Grijalva, Rep. Tsongas Endorse New Obama Legislative Plan to Celebrate National Park Service 100th Birthday

Tucson, Ariz.– House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva and Subcommittee on Federal Lands Ranking Member Niki Tsongas today released the following statement endorsing President Obama's legislative initiative to mark the National Park Service's upcoming centennial birthday.

"The National Park Service's first director, Stephen Mather, said that touring our national parks makes one 'a better citizen with a keener appreciation of the privilege of living here.' Thanks to the great work of the NPS, that great privilege continues to belong to every single American, from farm country to the wilds of Alaska to the inner cities," Rep. Grijalva said. It will continue to belong to every American as long as we support the outstanding work of the NPS. Let us remember that our public lands truly belong to all of us, and that marking one hundred years of their successful protection is an occasion for national pride. They are a singularly beautiful part of our shared national history. Congress should treat them with the respect they are due, pass this bill without delay and give the NPS the centennial celebration it deserves.

"As the lead Democrat on the Committee, I am pleased to be among the first to declare my full endorsement. I intend to sponsor this bill in the House and work with my colleagues to see it move forward. I share the hopes of every American who believes in the mission of the NPS and doesn't wish to see it politicized or become a target for election-season grandstanding. The career officers and volunteers who protect and enhance our national parks every day are among our nation's most dedicated public servants. They deserve the support this bill provides. So do the millions of Americans who visit our national parks and public lands every year to enjoy the profound experiences they offer. We should pass this bill not just to honor the NPS itself, but to honor every man, woman and child who has visited and fallen in love with a national park -- and the many others yet to make their first visit."

"National parks and federal lands provide a mountain range of benefits to communities across the nation," Rep. Tsongas said. "I have seen it firsthand in my own Third District of Massachusetts, home to two national historical parks (Lowell and Minute Man) and three federal wildlife refuges. As the highest ranking Democratic member on the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands, I place special priority on ensuring those benefits are maintained, cultivated and grown. By preserving majestic landscapes, delicate ecosystems and notable landmarks - natural and manmade - we are keeping pieces of our shared national history alive and preventing time and outside forces - natural and manmade - from encroaching on their significance and longevity. So many Americans place enormous value on the ability to visit our national parks and our nation points to them with pride, which is why a substantial federal investment is essential to maintain and preserve them. Adequately funding our national parks is a smart long-term investment to preserve sites for future generations‎."