Congresswoman Mia Love (UT-04) and Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-09) called on Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to stop a proposal by the National Park Service (NPS) to significantly increase entrance fees at 17 national parks.
“I strongly believe in protecting and preserving the beauty of our National Parks, and understand that comes at a cost,” said Congresswoman Love. “However, I am concerned that the proposed fee increase would make them inaccessible to families in Utah and throughout the West. I’m grateful for this opportunity to unite with my Western colleague, and look forward to collaborative discussions regarding park fees in the weeks ahead.”
“This large fee increase to access the Grand Canyon is a misguided proposal that hurts Arizona’s tourism economy and our access to public lands,” said Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema. “For generations Arizonans have hiked, fished, camped, and enjoyed our national parks. They are special places that tell Arizona’s story and speak to our state’s unique way of life. As Westerners, we will work together on a reasonable solution that ensures our National Parks remain open and accessible for all Americans to enjoy.”
Read the full letter below:
Dear Secretary Zinke:
We write concerning a recent proposal by the National Park Service (NPS) to significantly increase entrance fees at 17 national parks.
As you know, the mission of the NPS is to conserve and protect public parks for the enjoyment of future generations. NPS receives federal funding through the appropriations process and also assesses entrance fees to supplement its funding. Despite this, NPS faces a significant maintenance backlog and a growing need to update infrastructure and improve services and accessibility for visitors.
We recognize the importance of addressing deferred maintenance and improving infrastructure, but we are concerned that a steep increase in fees would make it more difficult for Americans to access and enjoy the public lands that have been rightfully ours for generations. For example, the NPS proposal more than doubles weekly vehicle entrance fees at the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Zion from $30 to $70.
Our national parks also support jobs in nearby communities, where a good job is often tough to come by. Large fee increases in our national parks will discourage the tourism that sustains these communities. We should be doing everything we can to ensure rural communities have opportunities to succeed.
All of us agree that NPS deserves the funding it needs to address maintenance needs and ensure future generations can enjoy our national parks, but a proposal that more than doubles fees to access our parks isn’t the answer. We look forward to working with you to find thoughtful solutions that provide adequate funding for our national parks while ensuring these treasured places remain accessible for all Americans.
Thank you for your attention to this request.
Sincerely,
Congresswoman Mia Love
Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema
