[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 16, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2793-S2794]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 645--DESIGNATING THE WEEK OF APRIL 20 THROUGH APRIL 
                  28, 2024, AS ``NATIONAL PARK WEEK''

  Mr. KING (for himself, Mr. Daines, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Coons, 
Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Tester, Mr. Graham, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Budd, Mr. 
Bennet, Ms. Lummis, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Cramer, Ms. Hassan, Ms. 
Collins, Ms. Stabenow, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Hickenlooper, Mr. Braun, Ms. 
Cantwell, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, 
Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Barrasso, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Tillis, Mr. 
Whitehouse, Mr. Young, Mr. Peters, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Hoeven, 
Ms. Butler, Mr. Cotton, Ms. Smith, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Welch, Mr. Wicker, 
Ms. Hirono, Mr. Romney, Mr. Warner, Mr. Marshall, Ms. Rosen, Mr. 
Kennedy, Ms. Sinema, Mr. Cruz, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. 
Heinrich, Mr. Van Hollen, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Reed, Mr. Lujan, Mr. 
Cardin, Mr. Booker, Mr. Wyden, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Carper, 
Mr. Kaine, Ms. Warren, and Mr. Murphy) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 645

       Whereas, on March 1, 1872, Congress established Yellowstone 
     National Park as the first national park for the enjoyment of 
     the people of the United States;
       Whereas, on August 25, 1916, Congress established the 
     National Park Service with the mission to preserve unimpaired 
     the natural and cultural resources and values of the National 
     Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of 
     current and future generations;
       Whereas the National Park Service continues to protect and 
     manage the majestic landscapes, hallowed battlefields, and 
     iconic cultural and historical sites of the United States;
       Whereas the units of the National Park System can be found 
     in every State and many territories of the United States, and 
     many of those units embody the rich natural and cultural 
     heritage of the United States, reflect a unique national 
     story through people and places, and offer countless 
     opportunities for recreation, volunteerism, cultural 
     exchange, education, civic engagement, and exploration;
       Whereas, in 2023, the national parks of the United States 
     attracted nearly 325,500,000 recreational visits, an increase 
     of 4 percent over 2022 visitation levels;
       Whereas visits and visitors to the national parks of the 
     United States are important economic drivers, responsible for 
     contributing $50,300,000,000 in spending to the national 
     economy in 2022;
       Whereas the dedicated employees of the National Park 
     Service carry out their mission to protect the units of the 
     National

[[Page S2794]]

     Park System so that the vibrant culture, diverse wildlife, 
     and priceless resources of these unique places will endure 
     for perpetuity; and
       Whereas the people of the United States have inherited the 
     remarkable legacy of the National Park System and are 
     entrusted with the preservation of the National Park System 
     throughout its second century: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week of April 20 through April 28, 2024, 
     as ``National Park Week''; and
       (2) encourages the people of the United States and the 
     world to responsibly visit, experience, recreate in, and 
     support the treasured national parks of the United States.

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