PARKS Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9145
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Families
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-04: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-01T20:07:36Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation aims to increase access to federal recreational lands for children in foster care by providing free annual passes to licensed foster families under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act.
Key Provisions
- The bill amends Section 805(b)(3) of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6804(b)(3)).
- It adds licensed foster families to the existing group eligible for free annual passes.
- Eligibility requires adequate proof as determined by the Secretary and is limited to one pass per family, with the option for additional passes if the family size exceeds what a single pass covers.
- A foster family home is defined by reference to section 472(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 672(c)), including through section 479B.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- The amendment expands the free pass category beyond current recipients (such as members of the Armed Forces) to explicitly include qualifying foster families.
- It introduces specific eligibility verification and pass allocation rules tailored to foster family circumstances.
Potential Impacts
- Federal land management agencies (such as the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management) would administer the new passes, including verification processes and distribution.
- Licensed foster families would gain reduced-cost access to federal recreation sites, potentially encouraging outdoor activities for children in foster care.
- No direct effects on international relations are indicated.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Licensed foster families and the children in their care.
- Federal agencies responsible for recreation fee collection and pass programs.
- State and local child welfare systems involved in licensing foster homes.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The bill relies on existing statutory definitions from the Social Security Act, creating a cross-reference between recreation and child welfare law.
- It introduces no apparent constitutional concerns and maintains the Secretary’s discretion in setting eligibility proof requirements.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-04: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-06-04: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-06-04: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Promoting Access to Recreation for Kids in Foster Settings Act — issued 2026-06-04 — PDF (3 pages)