Our Parks Act

Bill Number

H.R. 6603

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-12-10: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Last Updated

2026-04-10T08:05:52Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "Our Parks Act" (H.R. 6603) aims to increase public access to national parks and wildlife refuges by eliminating entrance fees on federal holidays, making these sites more affordable and encouraging visitation during times when many people are off work.

Key Provisions

• Fee Waiver Requirement: The Secretary of the Interior (who oversees national parks and wildlife refuges) must waive entrance fees for any unit of the National Park System (NPS) or National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) that normally charges them.
• Applicable Dates: The waiver applies specifically to federal holidays as defined in 5 U.S.C. § 6103, which includes holidays like New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
• Scope: This only affects entrance fees; other fees (e.g., for camping or special activities) are not mentioned and remain unchanged.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends Section 803(e) of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. § 6802(e)), which currently allows the Secretary to set and collect recreation fees but does not mandate waivers on holidays.
• Adds a new subsection (3) explicitly requiring no-charge entry on federal holidays for fee-charging NPS and NWRS units, shifting from discretionary authority to a mandatory policy.

Potential Impacts

• On Citizens: Enhances affordability and accessibility, potentially increasing family outings, tourism, and educational visits on holidays, benefiting lower-income visitors who might otherwise skip these sites due to costs (typically $20–$35 per vehicle for national parks).
• On Government Agencies: The National Park Service (NPS) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) may see higher visitor numbers, leading to increased operational demands (e.g., crowd management, maintenance) but short-term revenue loss from waived fees. Long-term, it could boost overall park funding through higher annual pass sales or donations.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could indirectly promote U.S. natural heritage to international tourists visiting on holidays.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Visitors and the Public: Primary beneficiaries, including families, tourists, and educators who gain free access.
• Federal Agencies: NPS and USFWS, responsible for implementation and managing potential crowds.
• Congress and Sponsors: Representatives like Mr. Torres and Ms. Clarke of New York, who introduced the bill to promote equitable access to public lands.
• Local Economies: Communities near parks may see boosts from increased holiday tourism spending on lodging, food, and services.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act's framework by mandating fee waivers, ensuring consistency across federal holidays without altering broader fee-collection authority. No challenges to property rights or appropriations are evident.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power under Article IV, Section 3 to manage federal lands, promoting the public welfare by democratizing access to natural resources.
• Political: Represents a bipartisan-friendly push for environmental equity and public enjoyment of federal lands, potentially setting a precedent for future expansions of free-access days. It may spark debates on balancing revenue generation with inclusivity, but the fiscal impact is likely small given the targeted scope.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]

Cosponsors (12)

Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16], Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26], Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33], Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]

Recent Actions

• 2025-12-10: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
• 2025-12-10: Introduced in House
• 2025-12-10: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Our Parks Act — issued 2025-12-10 — PDF (2 pages)