PARK Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7089
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-15: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-11T21:14:40Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation aims to prevent the waiver or reduction of entrance fees at units of the National Park System and National Wildlife Refuge System to celebrate the birthday of a sitting U.S. President, except when that birthday falls on a federal holiday. This is intended to ensure consistent fee collection and avoid using public lands for personal commemorations.
Key Provisions
- Short Title (Section 1): The bill is titled the "Protecting America's Resources from Kings Act" or the "PARK Act."
- Fee Waiver Prohibition (Section 2): Entrance fees charged under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (a law that authorizes recreation fees on federal lands) cannot be waived or reduced at applicable National Park System units or National Wildlife Refuge System units to mark a sitting President's birthday. This restriction does not apply if the birthday coincides with a federal holiday, as defined in 5 U.S.C. § 6103 (which lists holidays like New Year's Day, Independence Day, and others).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This bill amends the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act by adding a specific prohibition on presidential birthday-related fee waivers, which were not explicitly barred before. Previously, the National Park Service (NPS) or other agencies could choose to waive fees for various events, including presidential birthdays, as a discretionary practice. The change limits such discretion to only federal holidays.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The NPS (which manages national parks) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (which oversees national wildlife refuges) would lose flexibility in waiving fees for non-holiday presidential birthdays, potentially increasing revenue from entrance fees but requiring updated policies and public notices.
- Citizens: Park and refuge visitors might face higher costs on presidential birthday dates that are not federal holidays, affecting access for families, tourists, and recreational users. It could promote fairer fee application across all visitors.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic public lands management.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: Primarily the NPS and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which administer fee-charging sites.
- Visitors and the Public: Individuals and groups using national parks and wildlife refuges, including tourists, hikers, and educators, who may encounter unchanged or enforced fees.
- Executive Branch: Indirectly affects the President and White House staff, as it curbs a symbolic perk of waiving fees for birthday celebrations.
- Congress and Lawmakers: Sponsors (e.g., Representatives Amo, Velazquez, and others) represent interests in resource protection and fiscal accountability.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill is a narrow amendment to existing recreation fee laws, enforceable through agency regulations. It does not require new funding or major rulemaking but could lead to minor administrative adjustments. No challenges to enforceability are evident.
- Constitutional: No significant issues; it aligns with Congress's authority over federal lands (under Article IV, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution) and spending (Article I, Section 9). It does not infringe on executive powers in a substantive way.
- Political: The title's reference to "Kings" implies a critique of perceived executive overreach or personalization of public resources, potentially sparking partisan debate on symbolism versus practicality. However, the bill's scope is limited and bipartisan in sponsorship, suggesting it could pass without broad controversy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (8)
Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-15: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2026-01-15: Introduced in House
- 2026-01-15: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Protecting America’s Resources from Kings Act — issued 2026-01-15 — PDF (2 pages)