[Senate Hearing 117-475]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
S. Hrg. 117-475
PENDING LEGISLATION
=======================================================================
HEARING
BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON
NATIONAL PARKS
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON
ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION
ON
S. J. Res. 57 S. 4168
S. 305 S. 4222
S. 1211 S. 4371
S. 3447 S. 4377/H.R. 4380
S. 3579 S. 4464/H.R. 1908
S. 3873 S. 4693
S. 4122 S. 4784
__________
SEPTEMBER 21, 2022
__________
[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Printed for the use of the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.govinfo.gov
__________
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
48-573 WASHINGTON : 2024
COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES
JOE MANCHIN III, West Virginia, Chairman
RON WYDEN, Oregon JOHN BARRASSO, Wyoming
MARIA CANTWELL, Washington JAMES E. RISCH, Idaho
BERNARD SANDERS, Vermont MIKE LEE, Utah
MARTIN HEINRICH, New Mexico STEVE DAINES, Montana
MAZIE K. HIRONO, Hawaii LISA MURKOWSKI, Alaska
ANGUS S. KING, JR., Maine JOHN HOEVEN, North Dakota
CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO, Nevada JAMES LANKFORD, Oklahoma
MARK KELLY, Arizona BILL CASSIDY, Louisiana
JOHN W. HICKENLOOPER, Colorado CINDY HYDE-SMITH, Mississippi
ROGER MARSHALL, Kansas
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Subcommittee on National Parks
ANGUS S. KING, JR., Chairman
BERNARD SANDERS STEVE DAINES
MARTIN HEINRICH MIKE LEE
MAZIE K. HIRONO LISA MURKOWSKI
MARK KELLY JOHN HOEVEN
JAMES LANKFORD
Renae Black, Staff Director
Sam E. Fowler, Chief Counsel
David Brooks, General Counsel
Charlotte Bellotte, Research Assistant
Richard M. Russell, Republican Staff Director
Matthew H. Leggett, Republican Chief Counsel
John Tanner, Republican Deputy Staff Director for Lands
C O N T E N T S
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OPENING STATEMENTS
Page
King, Jr., Hon. Angus S., Subcommittee Chairman and a U.S.
Senator from Maine............................................. 1
Daines, Hon. Steve, Subcommittee Ranking Member and a U.S.
Senator from Montana........................................... 2
Hirono, Hon. Mazie K., a U.S. Senator from Hawaii................ 4
WITNESSES
Padilla, Hon. Alex, a U.S. Senator from California............... 5
Caldwell, Michael A., Associate Director, Park Planning,
Facilities, and Lands, National Park Service, U.S. Department
of the Interior................................................ 7
Shafroth, Will, President and CEO, National Park Foundation...... 34
Richardson, Steven, Vice President, Friends of Katahdin Woods and
Waters......................................................... 40
ALPHABETICAL LISTING AND APPENDIX MATERIAL SUBMITTED
A Cure for Kyler:
Letter for the Record........................................ 91
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, North Eastern Episcopal
District:
Letter for the Record........................................ 60
Airbnb, Inc.:
Statement for the Record..................................... 113
Alabama State Missionary Baptist Convention:
Letter for the Record........................................ 59
American Baptist General Convention of Texas:
Letter for the Record........................................ 58
American Discovery Trail Society:
Statement for the Record..................................... 124
Statement for the Record in response to National Park Service
testimony on S. 4693....................................... 130
Amigos de Guadalupe Center for Justice and Empowerment:
Letter for the Record........................................ 116
Appalachian Trail Conservancy:
Letter for the Record........................................ 133
Bahary, Susan:
Statement for the Record..................................... 92
Baptist General State Convention of Illinois:
Letter for the Record........................................ 74
Blackburn, Hon. Marsha:
Letter for the Record........................................ 93
Blumenthal, Hon. Richard:
Letter for the Record........................................ 94
Brandon, Theresa M.:
Statement for the Record..................................... 97
Caldwell, Michael A.:
Opening Statement............................................ 7
Written Testimony............................................ 9
Responses to Questions for the Record........................ 55
California Catholic Conference:
Letter for the Record........................................ 119
California League of United Latin American Citizens:
Letter for the Record........................................ 121
California State Baptist Convention, Inc.:
Letter for the Record........................................ 63
Canine Companions for Independence:
Letter for the Record........................................ 95
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church College of Bishops:
Letter for the Record........................................ 65
Church of God in Christ, Inc.:
Letter for the Record........................................ 61
Connecticut State Missionary Baptist Convention:
Letter for the Record........................................ 67
Conservation Resources:
Letter for the Record........................................ 159
Coons, Hon. Christopher A. and Hon. John Boozman:
Statement for the Record..................................... 106
Coons, Hon. Christopher A. et al.:
Statement for the Record..................................... 137
Daines, Hon. Steve:
Opening Statement............................................ 2
Devine, Rev. Carol:
Letter for the Record........................................ 71
Duckworth, Hon. Tammy and Hon. Richard J. Durbin:
Letter for the Record........................................ 68
East Branch Sno-Rivers and ATV, Inc.:
Letter for the Record........................................ 146
East Millnocket, ME (Town of):
Letter for the Record........................................ 148
Emmanuel Temple Church of God in Christ:
Letter for the Record........................................ 66
Etienne, Philippe, Ambassador of France to the United States:
Statement for the Record..................................... 108
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
Letter for the Record........................................ 70
Florida Council of Churches:
Letter for the Record........................................ 88
GreenFaith:
Letter for the Record........................................ 72
Hirono, Hon. Mazie K.:
Opening Statement............................................ 4
King, Jr., Hon. Angus S.:
Opening Statement............................................ 1
La Union del Pueblo Entero:
Letter for the Record........................................ 122
Maine Professional Guides Association:
Letter for the Record........................................ 150
Masjid Muhammad, Inc.:
Letter for the Record........................................ 77
Mid-West Episcopal District:
Letter for the Record........................................ 76
Military Women's Memorial:
Letter for the Record........................................ 96
Mills, Hon. Janet, Governor of Maine:
Letter for the Record........................................ 151
Mitchell, Anne:
Statement for the Record..................................... 152
National Black Presbyterian Caucus:
Letter for the Record........................................ 62
National Parks Conservation Association:
Letter for the Record........................................ 160
National Parks Second Century Action Coalition:
Letter for the Record........................................ 111
National Religious Partnership for the Environment:
Letter for the Record........................................ 79
North Carolina Council of Churches:
Letter for the Record........................................ 78
Northern Timber Cruisers:
Letter for the Record........................................ 154
Padilla, Hon. Alex:
Opening Statement............................................ 5
Pennsylvania Baptist State Convention, Inc.:
Letter for the Record........................................ 81
Plaskett, Hon. Stacey E.:
Letter for the Record........................................ 114
Polanin, Joseph:
Letter for the Record........................................ 102
Professional Logging Contractors of Maine:
Statement for the Record..................................... 140
Progressive Missionary and Educational Baptist State Convention
of Florida, Inc.:
Letter for the Record........................................ 82
Richardson, Steven:
Opening Statement............................................ 40
Written Testimony............................................ 43
Salvador E. Alvarez Institute for Non-Violence:
Letter for the Record........................................ 123
Search Dog Foundation:
Letter for the Record........................................ 101
Shafroth, Will:
Opening Statement............................................ 34
Written Testimony............................................ 36
Questions for the Record..................................... 57
Sierra Club:
Statement for the Record..................................... 83
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas:
Letter for the Record........................................ 85
Springfield Branch NAACP:
Letter for the Record........................................ 86
Texas State Missionary Baptist Convention, Inc.:
Letter for the Record........................................ 89
United Baptist Missionary Convention:
Letter for the Record........................................ 75
United Farm Workers:
Letter for the Record........................................ 120
United States Police Canine Association:
Letter for the Record........................................ 103
United States War Dogs Association:
Letter for the Record........................................ 104
Wagner Forest Management, LTD.:
Letter for the Record........................................ 156
Western States Mounted Officers Association:
Letter for the Record........................................ 105
(The) Wilderness Society:
Statement for the Record..................................... 162
Wisconsin General Baptist State Convention:
Letter for the Record........................................ 90
----------
The text for each of the bills addressed in this hearing can be found
on the Committee's website at: https://www.energy.senate.gov/hearings/
2022/9/u-s-senate-committee-on-energy-and-natural-resources-
subcommittee-on-national-parks-hearing-on-pending-legislation
PENDING LEGISLATION
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022
U.S. Senate,
Subcommittee on National Parks,
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
Washington, DC.
The Subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:36 a.m. in
Room SD-366, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Angus S.
King, Jr., Chairman of the Subcommittee, presiding.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. ANGUS S. KING, JR.,
U.S. SENATOR FROM MAINE
Senator King. Good morning and welcome to today's
legislative hearing to consider 14 bills related to a variety
of national park issues. On today's agenda we will hear about
bills to establish new units in the National Park System,
including the Springfield Race Riot National Monument. We will
also consider legislation to remove ``Robert E. Lee Memorial''
from the name of the Arlington House at Arlington National
Cemetery. This legislation was introduced by Senator Tim Kaine
and was partially inspired by a request from the descendants of
General Lee and those who were enslaved at the Arlington House.
We will also discuss the reauthorization and expansion of the
National Park Foundation, an important partner of our national
parks that leverages private funds to support the maintenance,
restoration, and completion of signature projects at national
parks across the country. I was proud to join Senators Portman
and Daines to introduce this bill, and I look forward to
hearing testimony on it today.
I was also proud to introduce the Senate companion to a
House bill introduced by our colleague, Congresswoman Stacey
Plaskett, of the U.S. Virgin Islands. This bill would establish
the St. Croix National Heritage Area on the Island of St.
Croix. I think it is important for us to work together to
ensure the voices of our citizens in the territories are also
heard. Finally, I am looking forward to hearing testimony on S.
4784, the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument Access
Act, which I introduced last month with my colleague, Senator
Collins. This bill will allow specific parcels to be added to
the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument from willing
donors or sellers, improving access to the monument from the
south and the Millinocket region. This new access will make it
easier for visitors to enter the monument and will help towns
like Millinocket and East Millinocket capture some of the
economic opportunities from those visitors. Visitors will
benefit because many services they are looking for--
restaurants, hotels, retail shops and more--already exist in
the south and are not as readily available in the north, where
you currently enter the monument.
A couple of things I would like to emphasize about this
legislation--this bill expressly prohibits the use of eminent
domain. I want to repeat that. The bill expressly prohibits the
use of eminent domain. Nothing is taken away, only given. That
means land will only be added to the monument if willing
landowners sell or donate their land. Additionally, we have
included language to explicitly protect the continued access
for many important uses, including snowmobiling, hunting,
fishing, and foraging for fiddleheads. I believe this is
probably the first piece of federal legislation to mention
fiddleheads. You probably don't even know what fiddleheads are,
Mr. Daines.
Senator Daines. I have never foraged for a fiddlehead.
[Laughter.]
Senator King. Well, come to Maine and we will teach you.
Since I put out this bill, I have heard from groups that
have additional concerns we want to address, specifically, the
use of ATVs and logging. Local ATV clubs have been working for
years to build a connector trail that crosses one of the
parcels that is covered by the legislation. My intention is for
this bill to maintain existing uses and access, and when we
consider the bill in markup, I will make sure language is
included to protect ATV access to this trail. I have also heard
concerns about making sure that logging trucks can still travel
safely and efficiently through these parcels. This is important
because as we grow the recreation economy, we must also make
sure--make sure--that the traditional forest product sector
continues to function unimpeded and continue to promote a more
diversified forest product sector in the region. Currently,
logging trucks travel through the monument, and the Park
Service has worked with stakeholders in the region to make sure
there is appropriate signage, and on the website it says,
``logging trucks always have the right of way.'' I am confident
we can make clarifications and amendments that will fully
retain current access while improving safety and supporting the
forest economy.
For today's hearing, I will first recognize Vice Chair
Daines for his opening statement. Following his remarks, I will
recognize members of the Committee who wish to make a statement
about their bills on the agenda, followed by any members not on
the Committee seeking to make a statement. After that, I will
introduce our witnesses before we move to questions.
Additionally, without objections, all members may submit
letters of support or opposition or any additional materials
regarding matters on today's agenda.
And now, Vice Chair Daines, you are recognized for your
opening statement.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. STEVE DAINES,
U.S. SENATOR FROM MONTANA
Senator Daines. Chairman King, thank you.
Today's legislative hearing focuses on 14 bills, many of
which are parochial and bipartisan, such as Senate bill 3447,
to create the National Service Animals Memorial, and Senate
bill 4377, to designate the El Paso Community Garden National
Memorial. I look forward to hearing from my colleagues and the
witnesses about each of these projects.
Some of the bills have a larger impact, such as Senate bill
4693, to designate the American Discovery Trail, which spans 16
states from Delaware to California and creates a new Discovery
Trail designation administered by the Department of the
Interior. We do look forward to hearing more about the local
support behind this proposal and the challenges around the
National Park Service's administering this new designation.
On today's agenda, we also have Senate bill 4168, the
National Park Foundation Reauthorization Act. This is a very
important bill. It has strong bipartisan support, including
from the Chairman, as well as myself. Senate bill 4168
reauthorizes the National Park Foundation through Fiscal Year
2030 and increases the authorization from $5 million to $15
million per year. The National Park Foundation was created in
1967 to be the official non-profit partner of the National Park
Service. The foundation exists to raise funds for the National
Park Service and provide funding for programs and projects that
otherwise may not be available. In fact, over the past few
years, the foundation has exceeded its goals of raising over
$100 million per year for parks around the country. The
foundation has used those funds to support projects across the
United States. In fact, in Montana, the National Park
Foundation invested one and a half million dollars at the
Little Bighorn Battlefield to replace an aging visitor center.
The foundation also invested $2 million to modernize the north
entrance of Yellowstone National Park, including a new entrance
station and reconstruction of the road between the historic
Roosevelt Arch. The investments made by the National Park
Foundation have lasting impacts on the parks, the visitor
experience, and the day-to-day lives of the employees. It is
critical that we reauthorize the foundation so they can
continue to carry out a very important mission to protect and
enhance our national parks and gateway communities.
I would also like to briefly discuss what is happening in
Yellowstone National Park and the local gateway communities
because I believe it has a direct impact on both the mission of
the National Park Foundation as well as the National Park
Service. The tragic flooding that occurred on the Yellowstone
River back in June has devastated the northern portion of the
Park and cut off the Gardiner and Cooke City communities from
the tourism and economic impact of the Park. I sincerely want
to thank all of the outstanding work the Park Service and the
National Park Foundation, what they have done over the last
couple of months, but there is a lot of work to do in this
recovery process from the flood. Superintendent Cam Sholly of
Yellowstone National Park has been working around the clock to
critically provide needed access and has been doing a
phenomenal job--really, hats off to that team at Yellowstone
National Park. We all need to work together to ensure the park
can rebuild the necessary infrastructure and the gateway
communities have the resources they need to continue serving
visitors and local community members. I will tell you, after
the devastation occurred, I had a chance to see that from the
air a couple different times. I was taking videos and pictures
from this camera. I was actually texting them to Senator King
so he could stay in the loop and could see the devastation that
I was seeing firsthand from the air.
With that, Mr. Chairman, I turn it back over to you and I
look forward to a robust discussion and testimony from our
witnesses.
Senator King. Thank you, Senator Daines.
I want to welcome Senator Padilla to the table. Senator,
our plan is to have a statement from Senator Hirono, and then
yourself, about the bill that you are supporting.
Senator Hirono.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. MAZIE K. HIRONO,
U.S. SENATOR FROM HAWAII
Senator Hirono. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member
Daines.
Mr. Chairman, I believe you and I are the only two members
on the Subcommittee who have lifetime passes to our national
parks. So you and I very much know the importance of our
national parks and the work of the National Park Service.
Senator King. It is nice that you did not mention the word
senior.
[Laughter.]
Senator Hirono. I specifically left that out. We know how
mature you and I are so we don't need to remind people. So
thank you.
I would like to briefly discuss the importance of S. 4464,
the Kaena Point National Heritage Area Act. The National Park
Service defines national heritage areas as places where
historic, cultural, and natural resources combine to form
cohesive, nationally important landscapes. Since 1984, there
have been 55 national heritage areas established across the
country, none of which are in Hawaii. This bill seeks to change
that by requiring the Secretary of the Interior to study the
suitability and feasibility of designating Kaena Point as a
national heritage area. Kaena Point is located on the western
most tip of Oahu and is considered by Native Hawaiians to be
one of the most sacred landscapes on the island. It is home to
numerous cultural, historical, and archeological sites as well
as natural resources, making it one of the last remaining
intact coastal ecosystem sites in Hawaii. Kaena Point is
currently managed by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural
Resources and includes the second most visited park on Oahu--
Kaena Point State Park. The park offers numerous recreational
opportunities for visitors: fishing, hiking, beachgoing,
wildlife viewing, and picnicking. The state park also serves as
a gateway to the Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve, which is
also managed by the state. The 34-acre reserve was established
over 30 years ago to help preserve one of the last intact dune
ecosystems in Hawaii.
The coastal ecosystems and near-shore waters at Kaena Point
offer critical habitat to numerous endemic and endangered
species. Green sea turtles and Hawaiian monk seals are often
spotted in the near-shore waters. Numerous endangered plant
species, like Ohia or Kaena akoko spot the landscape, and
endangered yellow-faced bees nest in the local driftwood. The
unique vegetation at Kaena Point also offers prime nesting
habitat for 17 different bird species, such as the albatross--
they are an endangered species--and wedge-tailed shearwater.
There is no question that Kaena Point's many historic,
cultural, and natural resources combine to make a nationally
significant landscape, a landscape that offers one of the last
glimpses of undisturbed coastline in Hawaii.
S. 4464 simply directs the Secretary of the Interior, in
consultation with state and local stakeholders, to study the
possibility of designating Kaena Point as a national heritage
area. The bill requires the studies to be completed within
three years, and that upon completion, the Secretary submits a
report to Congress on the findings. It is supported by the
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, which
currently manages the area. The House companion bill, H.R.
1908, introduced by my colleague, Representative Case, passed
the House earlier this year in March. A national heritage area
designation would bring much-needed federal support to the
management and educational opportunities at Kaena Point,
including enhanced interpretation and resource protection.
I urge my colleagues to join me in advancing S. 4464 out of
the Committee so that the Senate can pass the bill and allow
the Secretary to get the study underway. The National Park
Service knows that ``through their resources, national heritage
areas tell nationally important stories that celebrate our
nation's diverse heritage.'' The historic, cultural, and the
natural resources found at Kaena Point indeed tell a nationally
significant story, a story told nowhere else in our country.
This legislation will help ensure that story can continue to be
told and appreciated for generations to come.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator King. Thank you, Senator Hirono.
And we are honored to have with us Senator Alex Padilla of
California to come before our Subcommittee.
Senator Padilla, the floor is yours.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. ALEX PADILLA,
U.S. SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA
Senator Padilla. Thank you, Chairman King and Ranking
Member Daines for inviting me to join you today to testify on a
bill that I believe is necessary to help preserve and tell
America's full history and embrace further the rich mosaic that
is the United States of America. And it is fitting that I am
here today, that we are here today, during Hispanic Heritage
Month to consider a measure on behalf of the Cesar E. Chavez
and the Farmworker Movement National Historic Park Act.
Now, this month, we remember the accomplishments and
contributions made by Latino leaders in America throughout our
nation's history and we celebrate the people and the movements
that have helped shape our nation and who have moved our
country closer to living up to the ideals of democracy and
equality that were established in our nation's founding. What
better way to do that during Hispanic Heritage Month than to
honor the civil rights icon and labor leader, Cesar E. Chavez,
for future generations of Americans? As its name implies, my
bill would establish a national historic park to preserve the
nationally significant sites associated with Cesar E. Chavez
and the farmworker movement.
A little bit of legislative history: in 2008, in a
bipartisan effort led by Senators John McCain and Barbara
Boxer, as well as Representative Hilda Solis at the time,
Congress directed the National Park Service to conduct a study
of sites significant to the life of Chavez and the farm labor
movement. The National Park Service determined several sites to
be ``nationally significant'' and recommended that Congress
establish a national historic park. While President Obama
designated a UFW headquarters in Chavez's home in La Paz,
California as a national monument in 2012, this legislation
would build on that foundation and allow the National Park
Service to tell the complete story of the movement through the
inclusion of additional significant sites. If the National Park
Service is to continue to be America's storyteller, this bill
will help us honor and be more inclusive of the people who have
moved our country forward.
And on a personal note, I know some of you may recall the
day and the ceremony where President Obama first established
the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument in Keene, California. I
remember it because I was there. My wife Angela and I pulled
our oldest son, Roman, from school that day so that we could be
part of history--history in the making. It was on that day in
2012 with Roman perched on my shoulders, that we watched as a
Latino leader was honored in the National Park System. And if
you think I am exaggerating, Mr. Chairman, here is a photo from
that day. A new generation of Americans saw that our nation
also celebrates those who challenge us to build a more
inclusive America. And kids, like mine--we now have three
boys--can grow up knowing that some of the most courageous and
admirable Americans are activists and organizers. They, too,
are heroes. They are farmworkers and laborers and yes, they are
Latino. And that is what we have a chance to do today, to help
expand the story of our nation to better reflect the
communities who helped write it and to remind us of the
continued fight for dignity, for respect, and for equal justice
that still lies before us.
So I look forward to working with this Committee to advance
this bill, and I thank you again for allowing me the
opportunity to share a few words today. Thank you.
Senator King. Senator Padilla, thank you so much for
joining us. I remember Cesar E. Chavez quite well during the
period that he was leading the farmworkers and I appreciate you
bringing this bill forward.
Now we will introduce our witnesses for today's hearing.
First, Mr. Michael Caldwell, who is the Associate Director
of Park Planning, Facilities, and Lands at the National Park
Service. Mr. Caldwell is no stranger to this Committee, and we
welcome him back. Thank you very much for being here today.
We also have Mr. Will Shafroth, President and CEO of the
National Park Foundation. Again, no stranger to this Committee,
another familiar face and thank you for joining us.
We also have Mr. Steve Richardson, Vice President of the
Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters. Mr. Richardson is the
former CEO and now Chair of the Board of Katahdin Trust
Company, who resides in Shin Pond, Maine. We are very glad to
have you here, Mr. Richardson. Thank you for taking the trip
down to join us.
Mr. Caldwell, your testimony.
STATEMENT OF MICHAEL A. CALDWELL, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR PARK
PLANNING, FACILITIES, AND LANDS, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Mr. Caldwell. Chairman King, Ranking Member Daines, thank
you for the opportunity to present the Department of the
Interior's views on the 16 bills on today's agenda. I would
like to submit our full statements on each of the bills for the
record and summarize the Department's views.
Senator King. Without objection.
Mr. Caldwell. The Department supports the following eight
bills.
S.J. Resolution 57, which would redesignate the memorial to
Robert E. Lee in Arlington National Cemetery as the Arlington
House National Historic Site.
S. 3447, which would authorize the National Service Animals
Monument Corporation to establish a commemorative work in
Washington, DC, to commemorate service animals and their
handlers.
S. 3579, which would authorize the Embassy of France to
establish a commemorative work in Washington, DC, to honor the
contributions of Jean Monnet.
S. 4122, which would designate specified segments of the
Housatonic River in Connecticut as components of the National
Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
S. 4222, which would establish the St. Croix National
Heritage Area in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
S. 4464 and H.R. 1908, which would direct the Secretary of
the Interior to conduct a study to assess the designation of
Honolulu County, Hawaii, as a national heritage area to be
known as the Kaena Point National Heritage Area.
S. 4784, which would add 43,000 acres to the Katahdin Woods
and Waters National Monument and enable the National Park
Service to provide a dedicated public route into the monument
from the south, improving access from the communities of
Millinocket, East Millinocket and Medway.
The reasons for our support of these bills are explained in
our full statements. For several of the bills we are requesting
amendments and we would be happy to work with the Committee on
drafting them.
The Department appreciates the opportunity provided by S.
305, the Springfield Race Riot National Monument Act, to
increase public awareness and engagement with this painful, but
important chapter in our nation's history. The bill would
establish the Springfield Race Riot National Monument in
Illinois as a unit of the National Park System to preserve and
interpret the resources associated with the Springfield Race
Riot of 1908 and its role in the formation of the NAACP. The
National Park Service is currently in the process of completing
a special resource study of the site, and if the Committee
decides to move forward on this bill before the study is
completed, the Department would appreciate the opportunity to
recommend technical amendments to the bill.
S. 1211 would authorize the establishment of the Cahokia
Mounds Mississippian Culture National Historical Park. The
Department recognizes the importance of the story that is
represented by the resources related to the Cahokia Mounds and
other Mississippian mound sites in the greater St. Louis area,
but recommends that the bill be amended to provide for a
special resource study in place of a park designation at this
time.
The Department does not object to S. 3873, which would
recognize and honor former U.S. Congressman Rick Boucher by
designating the outdoor amphitheater at the Blue Ridge Music
Center in Galax, Virginia, as the ``Rick Boucher
Amphitheater.''
Regarding S. 4168, which would increase the annual
authorization of the appropriations to the National Park
Foundation from $5 million to $15 million, and extend the
authority for this funding through Fiscal Year 2030, the
Department supports the extension of the authorization of
appropriations and looks forward to working with Congress to
ensure continued support for the National Park Service in
alignment with the priorities set forth in the President's
budget.
The Department appreciates the concept and vision of H.R.
4878, which would amend the National Trail System Act to
include a new category of national discovery trails and
designate the American Discovery Trail as the first trail in
this new category, but does not support amending the National
Trail System Act to include this new designation.
Finally, on S. 4377 and H.R. 4380, which would designate
the Healing Garden in El Paso, Texas as the El Paso Community
Healing Garden National Monument Memorial, the Department will
be submitting a statement for the record following the hearing.
The Department has previously testified that it does not have a
position on H.R. 4380, as the memorial would be located at a
site that is not under the jurisdiction of the Department of
the Interior, and the bill does not provide for any management
or funding by the National Park Service.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes my statement. I would be
pleased to answer any questions you may have.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Caldwell follows:]
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Senator King. Thank you very much, Mr. Caldwell, and thank
you again for all your service. You are in friendly territory
here. That brings me to Mr. Will Shafroth, testifying on behalf
of the National Park Foundation.
Mr. Shafroth, welcome.
STATEMENT OF WILL SHAFROTH, PRESIDENT AND CEO, NATIONAL PARK
FOUNDATION
Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Daines, thank you for the
invitation to be here today. I am Will Shafroth, President and
CEO of the National Park Foundation. On behalf of the
Foundation's Board of Directors, and all who love our most
treasured places in this country, I want to thank you, again,
for holding this hearing and to consider S. 4168, the National
Park Foundation Reauthorization Act of 2022. An identical
companion bill, H.R. 7693, has already passed the House on July
19th with strong bipartisan support.
Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation
was founded on a legacy that began more than a century ago when
private citizens from all walks of life acted to establish and
protect our national parks. Today, the National Park Foundation
carries on the tradition as the only national charitable non-
profit whose sole mission is to directly support the National
Park Service. Working together with the National Park Service
and a dedicated community of park partners, the National Park
Foundation strives to preserve what is best about our national
parks and ensure that all people can connect with and enjoy
them. The success of the National Park Foundation is tied to
the financial support by the individuals, families,
foundations, and corporate partners provide to it. In FY21,
that support totaled more than $128 million. As we close the
books on FY22, we anticipate total revenue to exceed $166
million with more than 73 percent of that directly impacting
the parks.
One reason for the foundation's rapid growth in recent
years is its ability to leverage federal dollars. Many donors
who I work with want to know that their funds are being matched
by federal investments. As authorized by the National Park
Service Centennial Act of 2016, the foundation receives up to
$5 million in annual appropriations through FY23. The Act also
requires the foundation to provide a minimum of a dollar-for-
dollar private match for any programs or projects funded with
federal appropriations. Since receiving its first appropriation
in FY18, the foundation received a total of $23 million in
federal funds. The foundation selects projects and matches
funds at a greater than one-to-one ratio in all cases. For
example, the foundation received $5 million in FY19 and matched
that with $6.5 million in private funds, creating a total
impact of over $11.5 million. In FY20, the $5 million the
foundation received was matched with $11.4 million in private
funds, creating an overall impact of more than $15 million. So,
of the $18 million that the foundation received from the
Treasury for FY18-FY21, the foundation has raised and allocated
an additional $23.8 million. So it is a good bang for the buck,
we think, for Congress to provide these funds. The foundation
continues the process of matching and allocating additional
funds for the remainder of appropriation dollars on an ongoing
basis. It is a continual thing that we try to respond to parks
and the Park Service, in general.
To date, the foundation has invested a combination of
appropriated and private dollars on more than 100 projects in
32 states and two territories. Our goal over the next couple of
years is to have funded projects in all 50 states and many more
territories. The foundation staff works closely with both the
Park Service as well as our local park partners to identify
priority projects and programs where investing appropriated
dollars can help leverage private dollars. Examples of these
projects include rehabilitating trails, visitor centers, and
other facilities; deploying service corps to build and maintain
trails, eradicate invasive species and restore historic
structures; engaging in educating youth; expanding
sustainability efforts, including reducing waste and funding
electric vehicle shuttle programs in parks; conserving wildlife
in their habitat; and restoring and improving historic and
cultural resources. These funds have proven critical in
addressing the parks' deferred maintenance backlog, making our
parks more resilient and sustainable and increasing access for
current and future generations of park visitors.
With increased visitation to parks and a continued gap
between need and available funding across the park system, the
National Park Foundation Reauthorization Act could not come at
a better time. S. 4168 would reauthorize the foundation's
annual appropriation through 2030, as you have heard, and
increase the authorized amount from $5 to $15 million. We will
continue to be very confident that we can raise substantial
private funds to more than double the federal investment in
park programs and projects, and should this reauthorization
happen, as proposed, the total impact on the parks on an annual
basis will be greater than $30 million. The foundation
anticipates continued growth in its fundraising in the coming
years, and we believe that the passage of the Reauthorization
Act will only accelerate the growth and deliver critical impact
to our parks and improve visitor experience. Literally, the
legislation puts wind in our sails as we go out and are seeking
additional funds for the parks.
Thank you again to Senator Portman, Chairman King, and
Ranking Member Daines, for introducing legislation and for all
those who have joined as co-sponsors since. I am happy to
answer any questions you have.
Thank you very much.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Shafroth follows:]
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Senator King. Thank you, Mr. Shafroth. I only wish every
witness before our Committee could promise us $2 back for every
dollar we put in. I think our job would be a lot easier.
Mr. Shafroth. Good, well, we hope to make it more than $2.
Senator King. Our next witness is Mr. Steven Richardson. He
will introduce himself, but I have to say that my dad used to
use the term ``pillar of the community''--someone who is really
essential to the support of any community--literally, a pillar,
meaning someone who holds the place up. Steve Richardson is one
of those people, from Patten, Maine. We are delighted you made
the trip to join us today.
Steven Richardson.
STATEMENT OF STEVEN RICHARDSON, VICE PRESIDENT, FRIENDS OF
KATAHDIN WOODS AND WATERS
Mr. Richardson. Thank you very much, Senator King. Before I
start, I would just encourage Ranking Member Daines to ask you
to bring a one-pound bag of fiddleheads back to him. It is not
the foraging of it that is so much fun, it is the eating.
[Laughter.]
Mr. Richardson. Thank you both and the members of this
distinguished Committee, Subcommittee on National Parks. I am
honored and humbled to be with you today to discuss the
critical legislation that you are considering for Katahdin
Woods and Waters National Monument. But before I start, I need
to offer my sincere appreciation to Senator Angus King and
Senator Susan Collins for their support and advocacy for Maine
and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, specifically.
Since its creation in August of 2016, our Senators have worked
diligently through the appropriations process to improve the
monument, increase staffing, protect its resources, and make it
more accessible to visitors. So thank you very much.
Senator King has introduced me, for the most part. I was
born in Patten. I now live in Shin Pond, which is just ten
miles away. I live in the northern part of the monument area.
In addition to what you have heard about me, I also am a very
silent partner with my son, Nathan, who successfully runs the
family hardware, the lumber yard, greenhouse, et cetera in
Patten. And I look forward today to providing testimony on S.
4784, the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument Act,
which is sponsored by Chairman King and co-sponsored by Senator
Collins. To me, this legislation is about the future. It is
about making it possible for our kids to stay in the region and
thus, in Maine.
Millinocket, a town south of the monument, was once home to
the largest paper mill in the world. Families made their living
in the woods and in the mills, and there were good jobs with
benefits for anyone willing to work hard. But that changed,
through no fault of the good men and women of the Katahdin
region. Our communities have had to adapt to a new reality and
take new approaches to our natural resources and our economy.
The monument is an important part of that transition. It is a
beacon of hope, drawing new people, more visitors, and
increased investment to our communities, all the while
protecting a very special place for the enjoyment of
generations to come.
The legislation before you does three things: first, it
allows the National Park Service to acquire land from willing
sellers to improve access to the monument. Second, it allows
the National Park Service to work collaboratively with local
communities to secure space for headquarters, staff housing,
visitor contact stations, and other important facilities in
gateway communities. And third, it protects and preserves
access for traditional activities, including hunting, fishing,
snowmobiling, and the gathering of those all-important
fiddleheads.
When the monument was created, we all knew that the access
from the south would benefit towns such as Millinocket, East
Millinocket, and Medway, so that visitors there could enter the
monument more easily and the economic benefits of visitation
would be spread more evenly. Southern access is imperative to
those gateway communities and for the monument's continued
growth and development. Senators King and Collins have
recognized a need and found a solution that is broadly
supported in the region and statewide. When it was created,
Katahdin Woods and Waters also came with a promise. Private
philanthropy would ensure the monument would get off to a good
start by investing private dollars into infrastructure. That
promise, I am proud to say, has been kept. There is a $3
million endowment, along with annual private funding to offset
operational costs to the National Park Service. Over $20
million has been raised from donors to construct a new
visitor's contact center inside the monument and more than $8
million philanthropic dollars have been invested to improve
roads, bridges, trails, scenic views, and campsites. Katahdin
Woods and Waters has built incredible momentum because of the
unique and successful partnership between local communities,
philanthropic partners, and the National Park Service. Friends
of Katahdin Woods and Waters has developed the Katahdin
Learning Project, where staff leadership, local schools and
educators, and the National Park Service have combined to
provide 9,000 students the opportunity for outdoor learning,
place-based and service-learning projects, and trail crew
opportunities. To date, 1,600 young people, have visited the
monument, connecting them with nature and the history of the
area. This legislation you are considering is all about
connecting all people with the monument.
The monument is paying off for the communities in the
region. As a personal story, my son recognized that with the
creation of the monument, our store had an opportunity to serve
new types of customers. It was a risk, but he believed that
once people learned about the beauty and the history of our
region and about the monument, they would come. He began to
stock kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, camping gear and the like.
I am happy today to say that he was correct. The store has
experienced minimum 20 percent year-over-year increases over
the past six years. This is true for many businesses in the
Katahdin region, as more people have come to take advantage of
what is offered. And some visitors have luckily become full-
time residents.
To summarize, there is a need in our region to improve
access to Katahdin Woods and Waters. The legislation from
Senators King and Collins protects traditional recreational
uses, allows the National Park Service to work with willing
sellers, promotes greater investment in our region, and will
help businesses and working people. I appreciate their support
on this matter and ongoing support for the monument, and I hope
the Senate will support this bill as well. I am happy to answer
any questions you might have and thank you for the opportunity
to tell the story of Katahdin Woods and Waters National
Monument and what it means to my community and beyond. Thank
you.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Richardson follows:]
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Senator King. Thank you very much, Mr. Richardson.
Let me begin with some questions generally. Mr. Caldwell, I
understand the importance that working forests have access and
the ability to get their woods out. Can you talk about how the
Park Service deals with this issue in other parts of the
country to have the safe cohabitation, if you will, of visitors
and the forest products industry?
Mr. Caldwell. Sure. Well, certainly at Katahdin Woods--it
is great to see you here, sir--we honor all the agreements that
we have, and I think you alluded to that earlier when you
identified even the signs and the website. But where authorized
elsewhere in the country for commercial use, say in places,
parts of the Foothills Parkway in the Smokies or Delaware Water
Gap, for example, the Park Service has balanced those needs
with those commercial uses versus the needs of the visitors on
those roads. So it is something that we do elsewhere when we
have those authorizations in places similar to Katahdin Woods.
Senator King. Thank you. I look forward to working with you
on that issue.
Mr. Caldwell. Thank you.
Senator King. Mr. Shafroth, you outlined this in your
remarks, and I mentioned it in my response, but I think the
important fact for us here is the matching that you do. Can you
expand on that a little bit? What can we look forward to in
terms of a return on this investment that is proposed in this
bill?
Mr. Shafroth. Thank you for the question, Mr. Chairman.
Well, you know, I would say 60 or 70 percent of my job, Mr.
Chairman, is fundraising. I am at the point of the spear with a
lot of corporations and foundations, individuals, families, and
I can tell you that the dynamic that exists when people are
considering making a meaningful gift to the National Park
Foundation has a lot to do with, ``Well, who else is going to
be in with me on this? Is the Federal Government a part of this
transaction or this project? Do you have other donors that are
lined up?'' Very few people want to fund 100 percent of
something. And so, when I can acknowledge in the course of
those conversations that, yes, we are able to put a quarter of
a million dollars of our federal appropriation dollars into
this program or project, it just shifts the likelihood that we
are going to get a grant.
And so, you know, this is the first time in our 55-year
history--this last four years--that we have actually had
financial resources from the Federal Government to spend. And
so, part of this process for us has been figuring out the
relationships with the Park Service and making sure that we are
aligned with them, both nationally and the local community. I
would say we are hitting our stride in a meaningful way, and I
think even though we are somewhere at, like, for every dollar
that we are provided we are at $1.4 or something like that, in
terms of the match. I think we can see an opportunity to grow
that going forward. And I think there is a huge amount of
demand out there, especially given the shortfall of other
federal dollars available for parks.
Senator King. I have a particularly vivid story about the
power of matching. I used to work for public broadcasting in
Maine, and you know, you have the pledge breaks and people look
at the camera and say ``new members, if you match . . .'', and
for some reason, it came into my head one night when I was
looking at the camera, and I said ``I will personally match all
new members of a hundred dollars,'' or whatever it was. It was
the biggest night of calls they ever got. And it was so--and
so, the head of the station the next day said ``Angus, you
don't really have to do that.'' I said ``yes, I do. I made a
promise.'' But I would not tell you what it cost me, but it was
significant.
[Laughter.]
Senator King. All of my friends called in and picked my
pocket that night.
[Laughter.]
Senator King. Mr. Richardson, you have been in the region
your whole life and you remember, as I do, that there was a lot
of controversy at the time of the creation of the monument, and
there was opposition, and people were concerned about the
impacts in the community. Have attitudes changed? How has the
existence of the monument affected the community's acceptance
of it?
Mr. Richardson. Thank you.
I would say that attitudes have changed. I won't say that
everybody is in favor. I think we are now down to two remaining
``no parks'' signs in our communities, whereas before we had
20, 30, maybe more. Just an anecdote--there was one gentleman
on the edge of the Swift Brook Road that is the entrance for
the monument on the northern end. During the lead-up to the
2016 proclamation, he had mega signs on his doorway and his
driveway, et cetera and he would go to meetings and protest, et
cetera, et cetera.
Senator King. I remember those meetings.
Mr. Richardson. Yes and the other--not too long ago--it was
this summer, there was an activity in the Sherman area and one
of EFI's people was down there.
Senator King. Those are the people that were involved with
the monument.
Mr. Richardson. Correct--Elliotsville Foundation people.
This gentleman tapped on the lady's shoulder and he said,
``I have to say, I approve of the park.'' He calls it a park,
not a monument, but he called it a park. There are no signs on
his lawn anymore. And I am not saying that is the same thing
that happens all over the area, but there is general
acceptance, even those that were vocally opposed, you don't
hear anything. They either don't say anything or they are
quietly approving.
Senator King. You touched on this with regard to the
personal experience of the store in Patten.
Mr. Richardson. Yes.
Senator King. Is there a general consensus in the business
community that the monument has been a positive, in terms of
the economy?
Mr. Richardson. Yes, there is. The only thing that I would
qualify that with is that I think a lot of the uptick in the
business community has been because of COVID. We have a nation
now that has turned to the outdoors rather than sitting home
and looking at the screen, so to speak, and that has helped and
that going to help the national parks all over this country. It
has helped businesses because we have people every week. Last
week I talked to a gentleman from West Virginia and another one
from Texas that was in Northern Maine, and I am sure they would
have never been there if it weren't for the fact that they now
are outdoors, they are trying to find places to go and thank
goodness they are picking our area.
Senator King. One final question.
Mr. Richardson. Yes.
Senator King. This bill provides access to the south. This
will have the effect, as I see it, of spreading the benefits in
terms of the economy to those southern communities as well as
up in your region.
Mr. Richardson. That is correct.
If you were coming north and you were to get off in the
Millinocket-East Millinocket-Medway area, and assume that you
could access the park from there, you still have to drive back
to the Interstate, come north 20 miles, and go into the
monument or go up the local highway, again, another 20 miles to
get there. So, yes, once those people know that they can access
the monument from the southern district they will probably stay
there for the most part and spend their money. So it just has
to have a tremendous positive effect on those communities.
Senator King. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Richardson.
Senator Daines.
Senator Daines. Chairman King, thank you.
Mr. Caldwell, Mr. Shafroth, a heartfelt thanks to both of
you for the work you have already done in Yellowstone National
Park. This is a park that I literally grew up in the shadows of
as a kid, way back in the 1960s. I grew up in the Gallatin
Valley. Some of my earliest memories were visiting Yellowstone
National Park. I wonder if you could provide an update on what
the Park Service and the foundation is doing to address the
economic and the infrastructure impacts from the recent
flooding, and how can both of you work together with the local
communities to get the park and the communities back to 100
percent?
Start with Mr. Caldwell.
Mr. Caldwell. I always defer to Will first, but I will go
first. First, I do want to sincerely thank you, Senator Daines,
for your support during the flooding at Yellowstone. I think as
you rightly noted in your introductory statement, the hard work
of the team at the park, led by Superintendent Sholly and in
collaboration with the staff from across the NPS and the
Department and also with our Federal partners, like Federal
highways, I mean, it has, we have been all in helping and we
really, sincerely appreciate your help.
The NPS was able to reopen 50 percent of the park within
only eight days, 93 percent of the park roads within 20 days,
and 94 percent of the back country within 30 days of this 500-
year flood event from this past June. This allowed for visitor
access from Montana and Wyoming through three of the park's
five entrances, just weeks after the flood. The park offered
public access for hiking, fishing, and bicycling at the north
and northeast entrances as quickly as possible and worked
closely with commercial operators and guides to allow
additional vehicles access through the north entrance. The park
conducted extensive outreach, as you have noted, to more than
1,400 community members and local businesses following the
flood, and continues to communicate with local businesses
regularly throughout the recovery. We look forward to
continuing to provide updates to you as needed and certainly,
it is an effort that will take the collaboration of folks like
Will in the National Park Foundation, so, thanks again.
Senator Daines. Mr. Shafroth.
Mr. Shafroth. Yes, Mr. Daines, thank you.
First of all, I want to affirm what Mike just said about
Superintendent Sholly. I mean, of the 423 or four national park
units that we have now, he is definitely one of the top
performers and you know, as tragic as it was, I am really glad
that Cam was there on the ground, given his capacity to manage
the crisis that was unfolding in real time. Also, Senator, I
want to acknowledge the great work of Yellowstone Forever, the
local park partner that provides day-to-day support and
assistance for Cam and his team throughout the park. You know,
one of the things that we try to do is just listen to Cam and
find out, what do you need, you know, in real time. And so, one
of the things we were able to do is provide funding for the
airport because they were mostly getting around, as you know,
by airplane there, as the roads were all out. So there needed
to be additional funding to support costs they had not
anticipated in their budget to support additional flights, not
only for surveying the damage, but also ongoing research
projects that did not--you do not want to stop those things
that have been happening for so many years related to wolves
or--and then the other thing I would say is that we just try to
work with Cam and his team to understand, kind of, what they
need and how we can collectively solve the problem.
And so, one of the things he told us is that we really need
to stay the course on some of these scientific research
projects. We are looking at the possibility of taking a larger
share of the burden on those so it frees up money for him to
spend on some of the things that need to be done in the
immediate. So, as I said, we are just kind of part of the team,
and we are trying to do what we can do to support the work at
Yellowstone where we can, just as we did at Gardiner Arch a few
years back. Our dollars there really freed up Cam and
Yellowstone Forever to do other things that needed to happen in
the park.
Senator Daines. Thanks, Mr. Shafroth. We are very thankful
that Mr. Sholly happened to be at that position at that time,
not only in terms of his experience and frankly, such a great
mind to help us think through so many challenges that came at
us all at once, but, kind of a native son of Gardiner, too,
having gone to the Gardiner High School, which I think just
adds a little more in terms of perspective as they were staring
at what to do about that road between Gardiner and Mammoth. So,
anyway, thank you. And again, heartfelt thanks for your
continued partnership.
Mr. Shafroth, I want to switch now and talk about Senate
bill 4168, the reauthorization of the foundation until 2030. It
increases the annual authorization--triples it, from $5 million
to $15 million. If this bill was signed into law, how will that
enhance the work the foundation is already doing to support our
parks?
Mr. Shafroth. Thank you, Mr. Daines.
Well, it just gives us an opportunity to scale the work
that we have already been doing. You know, at the end of the
day, the number of requests that we have for the funding that
we have now far exceeds our ability to meet the demand. One of
the things that is happening around the country is that the
capacity of friends groups and local park partners is
increasing, and you know, thankfully, because of the increase
in visitation and the growing gap between funding availability
and need, we are working with a broader diversity of
organizations at the local level to help them to do work with
their superintendents in the parks. And so, you know, 10 or 15
years ago, there were maybe eight or ten organizations that
were raising, you know, more than a million or $2 million a
year. Now that number is dramatically higher. And so, frankly,
we have more organizations with whom we can work to do good in
parks all over the country.
I want to acknowledge that we have a very active role in
Katahdin. We are the managers of the $3 million endowment. And
we are able to contribute to projects using our federal dollars
now that--this organization did not exist six years ago. And
so, there are lots of groups like this all over the country
with whom we now have a partnership and are helping them build
their capacity so they can be responsible partners to the Park
Service and their local communities. And so, this is done at
the right time. I mean, even five years ago, we probably
couldn't have spent $15 million a year that effectively, but
now, we really could.
Senator Daines. And with Chairman King's commitment to
match that personally----
[Laughter.]
Mr. Shafroth. We are inviting you to our fundraiser, Mr.
King.
Senator Daines. Let the record stand, please. So, anyway,
sorry.
So, you know, shifting gears and thinking about the smaller
parks because, of course, you know, our big marquee parks get a
lot of attention and rightfully so, but our smaller parks--
think about the Little Bighorn Battlefield in Montana. How can
the foundation continue to support our smaller and sometimes
lesser-known parks?
Mr. Shafroth. Thank you for the question.
It is really critical, and I am sure Mike will want to
weigh in on this as well, but you know, roughly half of the
visitation of the national parks occurs on 25 or 30 national
park sites. So, you know, roughly 160 or 165 million people go
to 25 of the 425 parks. And that is just, kind of,
unsustainable and it is actually increasing. I was in Acadia
this summer with our board for four days and you know,
everywhere it was crowded. It was late July, early August and
you know, you couldn't find a parking space. It was--there were
a lot of folks there. Part of what we are trying to do is to
drive more visitation to some of the lesser-known parks. And
one of the ways in which we think we can do that, by working
with the Park Service, is around technology, is to give people,
you know, kind of one-stop shopping on their phone, you know,
an app that would give them information, not only about the
park that they are in, but other places that are close by. I
mean, I would never tell people not to go to Yellowstone, but I
would say instead of staying for five days, maybe stay for
three days, go see Little Bighorn, go to Devils Tower, go to
Teddy Roosevelt, you know, within a day's drive of where you
are. And I think that if we had those kinds of tools to better
do that, we could make that happen.
And the other part of it is to help those parks, those
lesser-known parks, Senator Daines, to have more to show for
themselves. The work that we have done, as you acknowledge, at
Little Bighorn is critical to wanting people to go there and
come back by improving the visitor experience of the visitor
center. It is also a great example of where we can provide
funding from a foundation and match those with the federal
dollars that we receive from Congress.
Senator Daines. Yes, I know, I think it is a great, great
response and just providing visibility and awareness of some of
these smaller parks that, you know, the big parks have the draw
and then they don't realize that within a couple hours' drive
are amazing hidden jewels there, that we could improve the
visitor experience.
Lastly, I want to think about the future here for a moment.
If the foundation is reauthorized until 2030, what are some
projects you would like to see the foundation support, and how
do you see the foundation adapting to what you just mentioned,
and that is the increase in visitation we have seen? You
mentioned technology as one. Any other thoughts come to mind?
Mr. Shafroth. Well, I think we need to--like you said,
thinking about the future, and we are in regular contact with
Mike and the leadership of the Park Service about some of the
challenges they are facing around housing, for instance.
Housing is not something that we were hearing a lot about five
years ago, but now, it is all we hear about. Every time I talk
to a superintendent, it is on their mind. And so, how can we
help the Park Service address these long-term issues that are
not going to go away? Housing, I think that visitor experience,
I talked about the digital and technological experience there.
I think, you know, certainly, our changing climate is going to
affect a lot of different parks in different ways, and I think
getting ahead of some of those issues with them, understanding
how to be more resilient and more sustainable, are ways in
which I think we can help the Park Service going forward.
Senator Daines. Thank you.
And Chairman King, that is all I have, but just as a
closing comment, we have discussed a number of times in front
of this Committee, the challenge you just described there, Mr.
Shafroth, that is these gateway communities that are
landlocked, and how do we solve that problem. It relates to
housing and the need just for additional real estate as we
increase the visitation numbers, the staffing requirements, and
housing, and good housing is an important part of employee
morale. I know Cam has worked a lot on that in Yellowstone
Park, but I know we face this in a number of gateway
communities across our country. Chairman King and I have talked
about it and I think it will be something in the next Congress
we will have to address and take some action on.
Senator King. In fact, one of the bills we approved at a
previous Committee meeting involved a little parcel at Acadia
to transfer to an adjacent town for housing. So that is the
kind of thing that we have to be thinking about.
Mr. Caldwell, I want to send a message back. This is not
directed at you, but at the Department. I have been
disappointed in the maintenance budget. Senator Daines and I
and many others moved heaven and earth to pass the Great
American Outdoors Act to take a bite out of the maintenance
backlog, which was successful, but we have to quit digging the
hole. There are national standards about percentage of asset
value that should be dedicated to maintenance--between two and
four percent. We are not doing that. So I hope the message will
go back to the Department that as they are working out budgets
for future years, that they cannot rely on Congress bailing
them out periodically. That has to be part of the mentality
of--oh, okay, maintenance. That is base. Will you carry that
message, please?
Mr. Caldwell. Duly noted. I will carry that message. Thank
you.
Senator King. Thank you.
Well, I appreciate all the witnesses joining us. Is there
anything any of the witnesses would like to share before we
close the hearing?
Mr. Shafroth.
Mr. Richardson.
[No response.]
Senator King. Well, thank you again for your testimony. Mr.
Richardson, again, I appreciate your coming down from Maine and
look forward to working with you and Senator Daines, and I and
the Committee will be working on these bills, hopefully, in the
very near future.
Without anything further, we have two weeks from today for
submission of additional information and comments. The hearing
is adjourned.
Again, thank you to our witnesses and to my esteemed Vice
Chair.
[Whereupon, at 11:35 a.m., the hearing was adjourned.]
APPENDIX MATERIAL SUBMITTED
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