Washington, D.C. (December 19, 2016) – A bipartisan effort by the U.S. Congress to help the National Park Service meet the challenges of its second century of stewardship reached a long-awaited and successful conclusion on December 16, when President Barack Obama signed the National Park Service Centennial Act into law. The legislation provides the agency with new resources that will help it engage the country’s growing and diverse population with their public lands and waters, embrace new technologies and address a $12 billion maintenance backlog.
“The American Recreation Coalition applauds Congress’s recognition of the natural, cultural and historic importance of the National Park System to our nation,” said President Derrick Crandall. “This law creates valuable new tools that will help the National Park Service provide exceptional opportunities for healthy, active fun outdoors to diverse Americans for generations to come.”
Key provisions of the legislation include:
Congress eliminated proposed new taxes on in-park concessioner-provided lodging (including campground stays) and other goods and services that would not have been used to support park operations in the units generating the funds. The provision would have undercut important provisions of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) and current concessions law.
The legislation also increases the price of a lifetime Senior Pass for people 62 and older from $10 to $80. Seniors who don’t wish to purchase a lifetime pass can purchase an annual one for $20.
The bill text is attached.
John Stewart Managing Editor - 4x4Voice - 4x4Wire - MUIRNet.net Natural Resources Consultant - California Four Wheel Drive Association - http://www.cal4wheel.com Board of Directors - BlueRibbon Coalition http://www.sharetrails.org
OutdoorWire, 4x4Wire, JeepWire, TrailTalk, MUIRNet-News, and 4x4Voice are all trademarks and publications of OutdoorWire, Inc. and MUIRNet Consulting. Copyright (c) 1999-2020 OutdoorWire, Inc and MUIRNet Consulting - All Rights Reserved, no part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without express written permission. You may link freely to this site, but no further use is allowed without the express written permission of the owner of this material. All corporate trademarks are the property of their respective owners.