Wrap-Up: Dec. 2 Hearing on the National Park Service Centennial Act Shows Need for Stronger Congressional Funding for NPS

Hearing Overview

Today’s Subcommittee on Federal Lands hearing featured a discussion draft of the National Park Service Centennial Act offered by Chairman Rob Bishop (R-Utah). Bishop’s draft bill is modeled on the Obama Administration’s proposal, which was introduced in September by Ranking Member Grijalva as H.R. 3556, and is designed to provide the National Park Service (NPS) with the funding and updated authority it needs to prepare for a second century.

The discussion draft is similar to H.R. 3556 in many ways, except that it does not contain any of the mandatory or discretionary funding in Ranking Member Grijalva’s bill. Rep. Grijalva’s bill authorizes up to $1.5 billion in funding over the next three years to invest in service-wide infrastructure, maintenance, and operation needs.

Bills

Chairman Bishop’s discussion draft of the National Park Service Centennial Act

Witnesses

Jonathan B. Jarvis, Director, National Park Service
John Nau, Board Member, National Park Foundation
David McDonald, Executive Director, Friends of Acadia National Park

Key Takeaways

Over the past decade, funding for the NPS Construction Account has decreased by more than 62 percent, contributing to a growing maintenance backlog of more than $11 billion.
House Republicans complain that the Park Service and other federal land management agencies are unable to take care of the assets under their management. The reality is that if Congress doesn’t begin to rectify this funding shortfall, the backlog will continue to grow.
Congressional investments in public lands have a strong economic multiplier effect. In the case of National Parks, every dollar invested generates $10 in economic activity.
The discussion draft leaves out key components of the National Park Service Centennial Act, including the Centennial Declaration and critical funding proposals to invest in maintenance and infrastructure needs.

Background

In 2016, the National Park Service (NPS) celebrates its 100^th anniversary.
Over the past several years, the NPS, advocates, and two presidential administrations have identified the Centennial as an opportunity to cultivate the next generation of park stewards, users, and advocates, and to address pressing needs in infrastructure and investment in the future of NPS.
Preparing for the Centennial was a central focus of the Service’s FY16 budget request.
The Obama administration prepared a draft bill that addresses NPS priorities, including funding needs. That bill, the National Park Service Centennial Act, was introduced by Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Grijalva as H.R. 3556.
H.R. 3556 authorizes $300 million per year for the next three years to the National Park Service Century Fund, restoring much-needed funding to the NPS Construction Account, the principal source of funding for the non-transportation half of the backlog.
The bill also includes an authorization of up to $100 million per year over the next three years for the Centennial Challenge, a matching grant program designed to leverage federal investments to raise private donations on a 1:1 basis and fund signature projects that improve visitor services; maintain resources and infrastructure; enhance relationships with community partners; and engage youth and diverse community with park assets. Congress appropriated $10 million to this program in FY15 which was able to attract over $15 million in matching private donations.
Lastly, H.R. 3556 includes $300 million for the Public Lands Centennial Fund, which will make funds available to Federal land and water management agencies for projects designed to enhance visitor services, restore natural environments, repair facilities, and increase energy efficiency.

Grijalva Statement

House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva released the following statement after today’s hearing.

“Next year marks the hundredth anniversary of the National Park Service. Congress has the responsibility to invest in our national parks, ensuring that they will endure another century and continue to represent the diverse voices and communities that make up our great country. I thank the Chairman for putting forward this proposal, but I am afraid it doesn’t do enough to correct the forced austerity of the past few funding cycles. Let’s not wait until some future anniversary to make sure our national parks have the funding they need. We owe it to the next generation of Americans to get it right now.”

Press Contact

Media Contact: Adam Sarvana

(202) 225-6065 or (202) 578-6626

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