PATRIOT Parks Act
- Bill Number
- S. 2308
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-09: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-02T21:21:13Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation amends the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to impose an additional surcharge on international visitors to National Park System units that already charge entrance fees. The goal is to generate extra revenue for park maintenance, visitor services, and related needs while allowing flexibility in implementation.
Key Provisions
- Entrance Fee Surcharge: The Secretary may establish (or must establish upon request from a park superintendent) a surcharge for international visitors, defined as nonimmigrant individuals admitted under section 101(a)(15)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act or section 217 (Visa Waiver Program).
- Surcharge Determination: Superintendents set the amount by regulation to maximize revenue without significantly reducing international visitation. Per-vehicle fees require a proportionate collection process.
- Collection Methods: Fees may be collected using existing entrance fee systems or through agreements with third-party travel vendors.
- Flexibility Options: The Secretary can suspend, modify, or tier the surcharge based on visitation levels and may set minimum percentage increases over time.
- Proceeds Use: All surcharge revenue stays with the specific park unit for maintenance, staffing, and visitor services.
- Recreation Passes: A separate surcharge applies to National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes sold to international visitors, with proceeds deposited into the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund.
- Limitations: The surcharge is separate from any visa fees and is not administered by the Departments of State or Homeland Security.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill adds new subsections to sections 803(e) and 805(a) of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6802 and 6804). It creates an optional or mandatory surcharge authority for international visitors that did not previously exist and directs that collected funds be retained locally rather than following standard federal revenue-sharing rules.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The National Park Service gains authority to increase revenue at individual parks and direct those funds toward operational needs; the Secretary of the Interior oversees implementation and possible adjustments.
- Citizens: U.S. citizens and residents are unaffected by the new surcharge.
- International Relations: International visitors from B visa or Visa Waiver Program countries would pay higher fees at participating parks, potentially affecting tourism patterns.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- National Park Service and individual park superintendents.
- International visitors subject to the surcharge.
- Third-party travel vendors that may handle collections.
- Domestic park users who benefit from improved maintenance funded by the new revenue.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The legislation grants broad regulatory discretion to the Secretary and park superintendents for setting and adjusting fees, which could raise questions about administrative rulemaking authority. It explicitly separates the surcharge from immigration-related fees, limiting involvement by the Departments of State and Homeland Security. No constitutional issues are addressed in the bill text.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR], Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO], Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-09: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.
- 2025-07-16: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 2025-07-16: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Protecting America’s Treasures by Raising Inflow from Overseas Tourists Parks Act — issued 2025-07-16 — PDF (7 pages)