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This bill would establish funds and endowments aimed at raising money for the 100th anniversary of the creation of the National Park Service (NPS) while enacting reforms to improve the NPS for its second century of operation. The “Centennial Challenge Fund” would be modified to match every dollar of private donations with federal funds that would be used for major projects and programs to enhance the NPS.

The Centennial Challenge Fund would also receive revenue from annual parks passes for senior citizens, and a price increase in the NPS’ lifetime pass for seniors. Senior passes are available to Americans age 62 and up and cost $20 for an annual pass, while a lifetime pass is currently $10 that would be raised to $10, with the additional revenue going to the Fund.

A “Second Century Endowment” would be established within the National Park Foundation to accept gifts and bequests from the public. The endowment would also receive revenue from new fees on lodging paid by NPS visitors, although educational groups and NPS employees would be exempted from the fees. All endowment funds would be prohibited from going toward administrative expenses, and must be used on projects and activities that advance the mission of the NPS and are approved by the Dept. of the Interior.

The leadership structure of the NPS would be modified to make the Secretary of the Interior and the NPS Director non-voting members of the National Park Foundation Board, which would mirror the structures used by the National Forest Foundation and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

The NPS’ “Volunteers in the Parks” program would see its funding expanded from $7 million to $10 million to provide the growing numbers of volunteers with the resources they need to improve the parks.

","official_title":"To prepare the National Park Service for its Centennial in 2016 and for a second century of promoting and protecting the natural, historic, and cultural resources of our National Parks for the enjoyment of present and future generations, and for other purposes.","short_title":"National Park Service Centennial Act","popular_title":null,"short_summary":"National Park Service Centennial Act\n\nTITLE I--NATIONAL PARK CENTENNIAL CHALLENGE FUND\n\n(Sec. 101) This bill establishes the National Park Centennial Challenge Fund in the Treasury to finance signature projects and programs to enhance the National Park System.\n\n(Sec. 102) The Department of the Interior (for a federal land management agency) and the Department of Agriculture (for the Forest Service) shall make the National Parks and Federal Lands Pass available to any U.S. citizen or person residing in the United States who is 62 years of age or older for:\n\n a period of 12 months from the date of issuance at a cost of $20; and the lifetime of the passholder at a cost (currently $10) equal to the cost of the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. Any amounts charged by the National Park Service (NPS) in excess of $10 for such age-discounted National Parks and Federal Lands Passes shall be deposited in the Challenge Fund.\n\n(Sec. 103) Interior shall develop for Congress a list ...","summarized":true,"cost":null,"cost_commentary":"A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.","impact":"Volunteers at national parks; national park visitors; and the National Park Service.","argument_for":"More private donations to the National Park Service will improve the experience of all park visitors now and ensure that future generations of Americans can continue to enjoy them.","argument_against":"Individual citizens and businesses shouldn’t be called upon to make donations to the National Park Service, as the federal government should be covering all expenses.","bill_type":"hr","published":true,"type":"FederalBill","id":"hr4680-114","bill_id":"hr4680-114","formal_id":"H.R. 4680","chamber":"house","congress":114,"last_action_at":"2016-12-16T00:00:00.000Z","active":true,"enacted":true,"enacted_at":"2016-12-16","vetoed":false,"last_vote_at":"2016-12-10T00:00:00.000Z","debated_on":"2016-12-05T00:00:00.000Z","congress_url":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th/house-bill/4680","plain_text_url":"https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-114hr4680ih/html/BILLS-114hr4680ih.htm","shareable_image_url":"https://n.causes.com/share-images/bills/hr4680-114.png","congress_full_text_url":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th/house-bill/4680/text","is_current_congress":false,"last_version_on":"2016-03-03","related_bill_ids":["hr3556-114","hr2817-114"],"progress":"Enacted","house_passage_result":true,"senate_passage_result":true,"position_count":376,"committees":[{"name":"Committee on Agriculture","chamber":"house","committee_id":"HSAG","subcommittee":false},{"name":"Conservation and Forestry","chamber":"house","committee_id":"HSAG15","subcommittee":true},{"name":"National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands","chamber":"house","committee_id":"HSII10","subcommittee":true},{"name":"Committee on Education and Labor","chamber":"house","committee_id":"HSED","subcommittee":false},{"name":"Higher Education and Workforce Investment","chamber":"house","committee_id":"HSED13","subcommittee":true},{"name":"Committee on Natural Resources","chamber":"house","committee_id":"HSII","subcommittee":false}],"links":{"rollCalls":"/api/roll_calls?bill_id=hr4680-114","details":"/api/bills/hr4680-114/details","sharingMessage":"/api/sharing_messages/hr4680-114","positionsFor":"/api/bills/hr4680-114/positions/for","positionsAgainst":"/api/bills/hr4680-114/positions/against"},"upcoming":false,"cosponsors_count":1,"slug":"hr4680-114-national-park-service-centennial-act","latest_chamber_votes_id":null,"official_url":null,"target_video":true,"following":false,"vote_count":3674,"yea_vote_count":2852,"nay_vote_count":816,"passed_house":true,"passed_senate":true,"vote_id":null,"my_position_id":null,"topic_ids":["environment","government"],"issue_ids":["private-sector","national-parks","federal-agencies","environment","government"],"sponsor_id":497}],"votes":[],"issues":[{"id":"private-sector","name":"Private Sector","slug":"private-sector","description":"Vote on the latest federal legislation regarding Private Sector. 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Make your voice heard about the issues you care about. \r\n","page_title":"Federal Agencies Legislation - Vote on Bills, Stay informed, Hold Your Reps Accountable","icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/federal-agencies/black_federal-agencies-1429042054.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/federal-agencies/grey_federal-agencies-1429042054.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/federal-agencies/white_federal-agencies-1429042054.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false},{"id":"environment","name":"Environment","slug":"environment","description":"Congressional legislation related to research and regulation of the Environment, including: Air and water quality, Pollution, Climate Change, Recycling, Radioactive Waste, Hazardous Wastes and Toxic Substances. 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I fear our public lands and national parks are going to suffer greatly. ","argument_against":null,"show_argument_for":true,"show_argument_against":false,"upvote_count":0,"upvotes_for_count":0,"upvotes_against_count":null,"has_upvoted":false,"endorsement_count":0,"links":{"self":"https://www.causes.com/positions/30822d91-e414-469f-b237-7091ded58a53"},"body":"This is particularly important as Trump takes office. I fear our public lands and national parks are going to suffer greatly. ","stance":"yea","created_at":"2016-12-05T00:46:16.103Z","shareable_image_url":"https://n.causes.com/share-images/positions/30822d91-e414-469f-b237-7091ded58a53.png","note_color":null,"note_text":null,"bill_id":"hr4680-114","user_id":"kW3o1RXW","endorser_ids":[]}}

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🌲 Does the National Park Service Need More Private Donations?