[Senate Report 117-243]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                                                  Calendar No. 620

117th Congress}                                           { Report
                                 SENATE
  2d Session  }                                           { 117-243

======================================================================
 
                   VETERANS' SPECIAL USE PERMIT FEES

                                _______
                                

               December 12, 2022.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

         Mr. Manchin, from the Committee on Energy and Natural
                   Resources, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                         [To accompany S. 3240]

    The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 
referred the bill (S. 3240), to waive the application fee for 
applications for special use permits for veterans' special 
events at war memorials on land administered by the National 
Park Service in the District of Columbia and its environs, and 
for other purposes, having considered the same, reports 
favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that the 
bill do pass.

                                PURPOSE

    The purpose of S. 3240 is to waive the application fee for 
special use permits for veterans' special events at war 
memorials on land administered by the National Park Service in 
the District of Columbia and its environs.

                          BACKGROUND AND NEED

    The National Park Service often authorizes events honoring 
veterans, veteran groups, and their families for commemorations 
and events recognizing military service and sacrifice. 
Applications for special park use permits from the National 
Park Service typically require applicants to pay a fee to 
offset the initial costs of processing the application. 
National Park superintendents, who administer the permits, have 
the authority to waive a special use permit application fee if 
the proposed use will promote the mission of the National Park 
Service; promote public health, safety, or welfare; or if 
charging and collecting the fees is not cost effective.
    The National Park Service has a longstanding practice of 
waiving application fees for special use permits for special 
events commemorating veterans at war memorials. S. 3240 would 
codify the National Park Service's policy by waiving special 
use permit application fees for special events at national war 
memorials located in the District of Columbia and its environs 
when the majority of attendees are veterans or Gold Star 
Families.

                          LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

    S. 3240 was introduced by Senators Rubio on November 18, 
2021. Senators Gillibrand, Cotton, Scott, Braun, Risch, 
Blackburn, and Barrasso are also cosponsors. The Subcommittee 
on National Parks held a hearing on S. 3240 on May 11, 2022.
    Similar legislation, H.R. 1029, was introduced by 
Representative Steube and 22 cosponsors on February 11, 2021 
and passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 421-3 on 
October 19, 2021.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in an 
open business session on July 21, 2022, by a voice vote of a 
quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 3240.

                                SUMMARY

    S. 3240 provides that the application fee for a special use 
permit application the sole purpose of which is to hold a 
veterans' special event (defined as a special event in which 
the majority of attendees are veterans or members of Gold Star 
families) at a war memorial located on Federal land in the 
District of Columbia and its environs shall be waived.

                   COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS

    The Committee has requested, but has not yet received, the 
Congressional Budget Office's estimate of the cost of S. 3240 
as ordered reported. When the Congressional Budget Office 
completes its cost estimate, it will be posted at www.cbo.gov.

                      REGULATORY IMPACT EVALUATION

    In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following 
evaluation of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in 
carrying out S. 3240. The bill is not a regulatory measure in 
the sense of imposing Government-established standards or 
significant economic responsibilities on private individuals 
and businesses. No personal information would be collected in 
administering the program. Therefore, there would be no impact 
on personal privacy. Little, if any, additional paperwork would 
result from the enactment of S. 3240, as ordered reported.

                   CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING

    S. 3240, as ordered reported, does not contain any 
congressionally directed spending items, limited tax benefits, 
or limited tariff benefits as defined in rule XLIV of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate.

                        EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

    The testimony provided by the Department of the Interior at 
the May 11, 2022, hearing on S. 3240 follows:

   Statement of Michael A. Caldwell, Acting Associate Director, Park 
Planning, Facilities and Lands, National Park Service, U.S. Department 
                            of the Interior

    Chairman King, Ranking Member Daines, and members of the 
Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to present the 
Department of the Interior's views on S. 3240, to waive the 
application fee for any special use permit for veterans' 
special events at war memorials on Federal land administered by 
the National Park Service in the District of Columbia and its 
environs.
    The Department supports S. 3240.
    The Department welcomes opportunities to commemorate and 
honor the brave men and women in uniform and their families who 
sacrifice so much in service to our country, and we are proud 
to host veterans, veterans' groups, and their families for 
commemorations and events recognizing that service and 
sacrifice. S. 3240 codifies the National Park Service's 
longstanding practice of not requiring application fees for 
special use permits for veterans' special events at war 
memorials.
    The National Park Service generally waives application fees 
for special use permits for special events commemorating 
veterans at war memorials. Park Superintendents, who administer 
the permits, have the authority to waive a special use permit 
application fee if the proposed use will promote the mission of 
the National Park Service; promote public health, safety, or 
welfare; or if charging and collecting the fees is not cost 
effective. Once a permit is issued, the National Park Service 
may charge additional fees or recover costs associated with the 
permitted activity.
    S. 3240, which addresses only application fees, would 
codify the requirement of a waiver of the application fee for 
any special use permit solely for a veteran's special event at 
war memorials on Federal land administered by the National Park 
Service in the District of Columbia and its environs. The 
National Park Service retains the ability to collect additional 
cost recovery or fees related to permitted activities.
    Chairman King, this concludes my statement. I would be 
pleased to answer any questions you and other members of the 
Subcommittee may have.

                        CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

    In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee notes that no 
changes in existing law are made by the bill as ordered report.

                            [all]