Daines Proposes Bipartisan, Bicameral Solution to National Parks Maintenance Backlog

Daines set to introduce legislation to implement Administration’s proposal to help restore and rebuild national parks

U.S. SENATE — United States Senator Steve Daines released the following statement on the inclusion of a proposal to help address the National Park Service maintenance backlog in President Trump’s infrastructure plan and the Department of the Interior’s Fiscal Year 2019 budget request.

In the coming weeks, Daines will introduce legislation to implement the Administration’s proposal to help restore and rebuild national parks.

“Montana’s national parks are national treasures that must be accessible to Montanans and Americans across the country. They are important drivers of our outdoor tourism economy, too,” said Daines. “We must address the maintenance backlog so that our children and grandchildren can continue to enjoy Montana’s great outdoors.”

Background:

On February 9, 2018, Senate Western Caucus members led by Chairman Steve Daines (MT) sent a letter to President Trump following his State of the Union Address, urging him to include a set of core western principles and concepts in the President’s planned infrastructure proposal.

In Apri1 2017, Daines secured recognition of National Parks Week, to increase awareness for the importance of preserving our national parks for a second century and address the maintenance backlog.

On March 17, 2017, Daines congratulated Secretary Zinke for his appointment and urged him to address the nation’s national park maintenance backlog.

On January 21, 2017, Daines announced that he would take the gavel of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks and outlined his goals as Subcommittee Chair, including reducing the maintenance backlog.

On January 5, 2017, Daines met with Secretary Zinke to discuss his priorities, including the National Park Service’s maintenance backlog.

 

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