May 21, 2025
Mr. Neguse (for himself, Mr. Huffman, Ms. Salinas, Ms. Elfreth, Mr. Golden of Maine, Mr. Peters, Ms. DeGette, Ms. Sewell, Mr. Fields, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Lynch, Ms. Norton, Ms. Tlaib, Ms. Pettersen, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Ms. Strickland, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Ms. Budzinski, Ms. Brownley, Mr. Quigley, Ms. Dexter, Ms. Ansari, Mr. Magaziner, Mr. Levin, Ms. Bynum, Mr. Thanedar, and Mr. Min) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
To ensure that the National Park Service is fully staffed, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Protect our Parks Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
(2) Service
The term Service means the National Park Service.
Sec. 3. National Park Service staffing and personnel
Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, using funds previously appropriated to the Secretary for such purposes, the Secretary shall—
(1)
take such actions as are necessary—
(A)
to ensure that the units of the National Park System are fully staffed to ensure visitor safety and enjoyment and natural and cultural resource protection at the units of the National Park System; and
(B)
to ensure that all maintenance staff positions at the Service are filled; and
(2)
reinstate any individuals who were involuntarily removed or otherwise terminated from employment with the Service during the period beginning on January 20, 2025, and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act.
Sec. 4. Continuation of authorized National Park Service projects
The Secretary shall continue to carry out any Service project for which funds are authorized or appropriated under—
(1)
the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6801 et seq.);
(2)
the Great American Outdoors Act (Public Law 116–152; 134 Stat. 682);
(3)
the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117–58; 135 Stat. 429); or
(4)
Public Law 117–169 (commonly known as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
) (136 Stat. 1818).