Law Enforcement Officer and Firefighter Recreation Pass Act
- Bill Number
- S. 3456
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-11: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-15T15:23:29Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Law Enforcement Officer and Firefighter Recreation Pass Act" (S. 3456) aims to honor the service of law enforcement officers and firefighters by providing them with free access to national parks and other federal recreational lands. It amends the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA), a law that manages fees for using public lands, to expand eligibility for a no-cost annual pass.
Key Provisions
- Definitions:
- Firefighter: Any employee of the federal government, a state, local government, or an Indian Tribe who works directly on suppressing fires, including wildland fires.
- Law enforcement officer: Any officer, agent, or employee of the federal government, a state, local government, or an Indian Tribe authorized to prevent, detect, investigate crimes, or supervise sentenced offenders.
- Availability of Pass:
- The Secretary (of the Interior or Agriculture, depending on the land) must provide the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass at no cost to eligible individuals, including members of the Armed Forces and their dependents (already covered), upon proof of eligibility.
- This pass grants access to over 2,000 federal recreation sites managed by agencies like the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 805(b)(3) of the FLREA (16 U.S.C. 6804(b)) by replacing the previous paragraph, which focused mainly on military eligibility.
- Expands the free annual pass program to include law enforcement officers and firefighters, broadening access beyond just military personnel and their families.
- No changes to the pass's overall structure or fees for the general public; it only adds new eligible groups.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Law enforcement officers and firefighters gain free entry to federal recreational areas, encouraging outdoor recreation, stress relief, and family time for these public servants without financial burden.
- On Government Agencies: Federal land managers (e.g., National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management) will need to develop processes for verifying eligibility, potentially increasing administrative workload and costs. However, it could boost park visitation and public appreciation of natural resources.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic public servants and U.S. federal lands.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Primary Beneficiaries: Law enforcement officers and firefighters at federal, state, local, and tribal levels (estimated hundreds of thousands nationwide).
- Government Entities: U.S. Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture (overseeing federal lands); state, local, and tribal governments (whose employees qualify).
- Indirectly Affected: Taxpayers (through any added administrative costs) and the general public (potential for increased park usage).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens the FLREA's framework for equitable access to public lands by recognizing essential workers, with built-in safeguards like proof-of-eligibility requirements to prevent abuse.
- Constitutional: No major issues; it involves congressional spending authority for public benefits, aligning with the Property Clause (empowering Congress to manage federal lands).
- Political: Introduced with bipartisan support (sponsors from both parties), it signals appreciation for first responders amid ongoing debates on public service benefits. Could set precedent for expanding free access to other professions, but implementation depends on agency rulemaking.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (16)
Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM], Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA], Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID], Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID], Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ], Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO], Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX], Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA], Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE], Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR], Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS], Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK], Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA], Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-11: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 2025-12-11: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Law Enforcement Officer and Firefighter Recreation Pass Act — issued 2025-12-11 — PDF (3 pages)