[House Report 119-207]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
119th Congress } { Rept. 119-207
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session } { Part 1
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LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND FIREFIGHTER RECREATION PASS ACT
_______
July 16, 2025.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Westerman, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 183]
The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 183) to amend the Federal Lands Recreation
Enhancement Act to provide for a lifetime National Recreational
Pass for law enforcement officers, having considered the same,
reports favorably thereon with amendments and recommends that
the bill as amended do pass.
The amendments are as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Law Enforcement Officer and
Firefighter Recreation Pass Act''.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL RECREATIONAL PASSES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND
FIREFIGHTERS.
Section 805(b) of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16
U.S.C. 6804(b)) is amended--
(1) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
``(3) Annual passes.--The Secretary shall make the National
Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass available, at no
cost, to--
``(A) a member of the Armed Forces and their
dependents; or
``(B) a law enforcement officer or firefighter,
who provide adequate proof of eligibility for such pass as
determined by the Secretary.''.
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Firefighter.--The term `firefighter' means any
employee of the Federal Government, a State, a unit of
local government, or an Indian Tribe who performs work
directly related to suppressing fires, including
wildland fires.
``(B) Law enforcement officer.--The term `law
enforcement officer' means any officer, agent, or
employee of the Federal Government, a State, a unit of
local government, or an Indian Tribe authorized by law
or by a government agency to engage in or supervise the
prevention, detection, or investigation of any
violation of criminal law or who is authorized by law
to supervise sentenced criminal offenders.''.
Amend the title so as to read:
A bill to amend the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement
Act to provide for a free annual National Parks and Federal
Recreational Lands Pass for law enforcement officers and
firefighters.
Purpose of the Legislation
The purpose of H.R. 183, as ordered reported, is to amend
the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to provide for a
free annual National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass
for law enforcement officers and firefighters.
Background and Need for Legislation
Currently, the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act
(FLREA) authorizes each of the federal land management agencies
to issue the ``America the Beautiful--the National Parks and
Federal Recreational Lands Pass,'' which covers entrance fees
and standard amenity fees at more than 2,000 federal recreation
areas.\1\ Since FLREA's passage, Congress has enacted several
laws to offer free or discounted recreation passes to senior
citizens, individuals with disabilities, veterans, active-duty
military service members, and Gold Star Family members.\2\ Most
recently, Congress enacted the ``Alexander Lofgren Veterans in
Parks (VIP) Act'' in 2021 to provide free lifetime passes to
veterans and Gold Star Families and free annual passes to
active-duty military servicemembers.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\16 U.S.C. 6804.
\2\Id.
\3\H.R. 4300; became law as part of the National Defense
Authorization Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
H.R. 183, the ``Law Enforcement Officer and Firefighter
Recreation Pass Act,'' would provide free annual recreation
passes to national parks and public lands to federal, state,
Tribal, or local law enforcement officers and firefighters. The
bill seeks to honor the sacrifices of law enforcement officers
and firefighters who put their lives on the line daily to
protect public safety. In many cases, particularly in the West,
local law enforcement officers and firefighters are often the
first line of defense for search and rescue operations,
preventing crime and vandalism, and suppressing wildland fires
that occur on public lands. Providing free access to the lands
that these brave men and women defend and protect is the least
we could do to show our appreciation for their continued
service and sacrifice.
Committee Action
H.R. 183 was introduced on January 3, 2025, by
Representative Tom McClintock (R-CA). The bill was referred to
the Committee on Natural Resources. The bill was also referred
to the Committee on Agriculture. On June 25, 2025, the
Committee on Natural Resources met to consider the bill.
Representative Tom McClintock offered an Amendment in the
Nature of a Substitute designated McClintock_051 ANS. The
Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute agreed to by unanimous
consent. The bill, as amended, was then ordered favorably
reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.
Hearings
For the purposes of clause 3(c)(6) of House rule XIII, the
following hearing was used to develop or consider this measure:
hearing in the 118th Congress by the Subcommittee on Federal
Lands held on March 28, 2023.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1. Short title
Section 1 names the legislation the ``Law Enforcement
Officer and Firefighter Recreation Pass Act.''
Section 2. National recreational passes for law enforcement officers
and firefighters
Section 2 amends FLREA to offer free annual passes to
federal recreation sites that charge an entrance fee for law
enforcement officers or firefighters who provide proof of
eligibility, as determined by the Secretary. This section
further defines `law enforcement officer' and `firefighter' for
purposes of eligibility.
Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.
Compliance With House Rule XIII and
Congressional Budget Act
1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act.
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of House rule XIII and section
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, and pursuant to
clause 3(c)(3) of House rule XIII and section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has requested
but not received from the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office a budgetary analysis and a cost estimate of this bill.
2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or
objective of this bill, as ordered reported, is to amend the
Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to provide for a free
annual National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass for
law enforcement officers and firefighters.
Earmark Statement
This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of
the House of Representatives.
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act Statement
An estimate of federal mandates prepared by the Director of
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the
Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chair of
the Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the
Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee, if such
estimate is not publicly available on the Congressional Budget
Office website.
Existing Programs
Directed Rule Making. This bill does not contain any
directed rule makings.
Duplication of Existing Programs. This bill does not
establish or reauthorize a program of the federal government
known to be duplicative of another program. Such program was
not included in any report from the Government Accountability
Office to Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139
or identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance published pursuant to the Federal Program
Information Act (Public Law 95-220, as amended by Public Law
98-169) as relating to other programs.
Applicability to Legislative Branch
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
Preemption of State, Local or Tribal Law
Any preemptive effect of this bill over state, local, or
tribal law is intended to be consistent with the bill's
purposes and text and the Supremacy Clause of Article VI of the
U.S. Constitution.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no
change is proposed is shown in roman):
FEDERAL LANDS RECREATION ENHANCEMENT ACT
* * * * * * *
DIVISION J--OTHER MATTERS
* * * * * * *
TITLE VIII--FEDERAL LANDS RECREATION ENHANCEMENT ACT
* * * * * * *
SEC. 805. RECREATION PASSES.
(a) America the Beautiful--the National Parks and Federal
Recreational Lands Pass.--
(1) Availability and use.--The Secretaries shall
establish, and may charge a fee for, an interagency
national pass to be known as the ``America the
Beautiful--the National Parks and Federal Recreational
Lands Pass'', which shall cover the entrance fee and
standard amenity recreation fee for all Federal
recreational lands and waters for which an entrance fee
or a standard amenity recreation fee is charged.
(2) Image competition for recreation pass.--The
Secretaries shall hold an annual competition to select
the image to be used on the National Parks and Federal
Recreational Lands Pass for a year. The competition
shall be open to the public and used as a means to
educate the American people about Federal recreational
lands and waters.
(3) Notice of establishment.--The Secretaries shall
publish a notice in the Federal Register when the
National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass is
first established and available for purchase.
(4) Duration.--The National Parks and Federal
Recreational Lands Pass shall be valid for a period of
12 months from the date of the issuance of the
recreation pass to a passholder, except in the case of
the age discount and lifetime passes issued under
subsection (b).
(5) Price.--The Secretaries shall establish the price
at which the National Parks and Federal Recreational
Lands Pass will be sold to the public.
(6) Sales locations and marketing.--
(A) In general.--The Secretaries shall sell
or otherwise make available the National Parks
and Federal Recreational Lands Pass--
(i) at all Federal recreational lands
and waters at which--
(I) an entrance fee or a
standard amenity recreation fee
is charged; and
(II) such sales or
distribution of the Pass is
feasible;
(ii) at such other locations as the
Secretaries consider appropriate and
feasible; and
(iii) through a prominent link to a
centralized pass sale system on the
website of each of the Federal land
management agencies and the websites of
the relevant units and subunits of
those agencies, which shall include
information about where and when a
National Parks and Federal Recreational
Lands Pass may be used.
(B) Use of vendors.--The Secretary may enter
into fee management agreements as provided in
section 6.
(C) Marketing.--The Secretaries shall take
such actions as are appropriate to provide for
the active marketing of the National Parks and
Federal Recreational Lands Pass.
(7) Administrative guidelines.--The Secretaries shall
issue guidelines on administration of the National
Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, which shall
include agreement on price, the distribution of
revenues between the Federal land management agencies,
the sharing of costs, benefits provided, marketing and
design, adequate documentation for discounts under
subsection (b), and the issuance of that recreation
pass to volunteers. The Secretaries shall take into
consideration all relevant visitor and sales data
available in establishing the guidelines.
(8) Development and implementation agreements.--The
Secretaries may enter into cooperative agreements with
governmental and nongovernmental entities for the
development and implementation of the National Parks
and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Program.
(9) Prohibition on other national recreation
passes.--The Secretary may not establish any national
recreation pass, except as provided in this section.
(10) Digital recreation passes.--Not later than
January 1, 2026, the Secretaries shall--
(A) establish a digital version of the
National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands
Pass that is able to be stored on a mobile
device, including with respect to free and
discounted passes; and
(B) upon completion of a transaction for a
National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands
Pass, make immediately available to the
passholder a digital version of the National
Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass
established under subparagraph (A).
(b) Free and Discounted Passes.--
(1) Age discount.--
(A) The Secretary shall make the National
Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass
available to any United States citizen or
person domiciled in the United States who is 62
years of age or older, if the citizen or person
provides adequate proof of such age and such
citizenship or residency. The National Parks
and Federal Recreational Lands Pass made
available under this paragraph shall be
available--
(i) for a period of 12 months from
the date of the issuance, at a cost of
$20; and
(ii) for the lifetime of the
passholder, at a cost equal to the cost
of the National Parks and Federal
Recreational Lands Pass purchased under
subsection (a).
(B) The Secretary shall issue a pass under
subparagraph (A)(ii), for no additional cost,
to any individual who provides evidence, under
policies and guidelines determined by the
Secretary, that the individual has purchased a
pass under subparagraph (A)(i) for each of the
4 years prior to being issued a pass under this
subparagraph.
(2) Lifetime passes.--The Secretary shall make the
National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass
available, without charge and for the lifetime of the
passholder, to the following:
(A) Any United States citizen or person
domiciled in the United States who has been
medically determined to be permanently
disabled, within the meaning of the term
``disability'' under section 3 of the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.
12102), if the citizen or person provides
adequate proof of the disability and such
citizenship or residency.
(B) Any veteran who provides adequate proof
of military service as determined by the
Secretary.
(C) Any member of a Gold Star Family who
meets the eligibility requirements of section
3.2 of Department of Defense Instruction
1348.36 (or a successor instruction).
[(3) Annual passes.--The Secretary shall make the
National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass
available, at no cost, to members of the Armed Forces
and their dependents who provide adequate proof of
eligibility for such pass as determined by the
Secretary.]
(3) Annual passes.--The Secretary shall make the
National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass
available, at no cost, to--
(A) a member of the Armed Forces and their
dependents; or
(B) a law enforcement officer or firefighter,
who provide adequate proof of eligibility for such pass
as determined by the Secretary.
(4) Definitions.--In this subsection:
(A) Firefighter.--The term ``firefighter''
means any employee of the Federal Government, a
State, a unit of local government, or an Indian
Tribe who performs work directly related to
suppressing fires, including wildland fires.
(B) Law enforcement officer.--The term ``law
enforcement officer'' means any officer, agent,
or employee of the Federal Government, a State,
a unit of local government, or an Indian Tribe
authorized by law or by a government agency to
engage in or supervise the prevention,
detection, or investigation of any violation of
criminal law or who is authorized by law to
supervise sentenced criminal offenders.
(c) Site-Specific Agency Passes.--The Secretary may establish
and charge a fee for a site-specific pass that will cover the
entrance fee or standard amenity recreation fee for particular
Federal recreational lands and waters for a specified period
not to exceed 12 months.
(d) Regional Multientity Passes.--
(1) Passes authorized.--The Secretary may establish
and charge a fee for a regional multientity pass that
will be accepted by one or more Federal land management
agencies or by one or more governmental or
nongovernmental entities for a specified period not to
exceed 12 months. To include a Federal land management
agency or governmental or nongovernmental entity over
which the Secretary does not have jurisdiction, the
Secretary shall obtain the consent of the head of such
agency or entity.
(2) Regional multientity pass agreement.--In order to
establish a regional multientity pass under this
subsection, the Secretary shall enter into a regional
multientity pass agreement with all the participating
agencies or entities on price, the distribution of
revenues between participating agencies or entities,
the sharing of costs, benefits provided, marketing and
design, and the issuance of the pass to volunteers. The
Secretary shall take into consideration all relevant
visitor and sales data available when entering into
this agreement.
(e) Discounted or Free Admission Days or Use.--The Secretary
may provide for a discounted or free admission day or use of
Federal recreational lands and waters.
(f) Effect on Existing Passports and Permits.--
(1) Existing passports.--A passport issued under
section 4 of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act
of 1965 or title VI of the National Parks Omnibus
Management Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-391), such as
the Golden Eagle Passport, the Golden Age Passport, the
Golden Access Passport, and the National Parks
Passport, that was valid on the day before the
publication of the Federal Register notice required
under subsection (a)(3) shall be valid in accordance
with the terms agreed to at the time of issuance of the
passport, to the extent practicable, and remain in
effect until expired, lost, or stolen.
(2) Permits.--A permit issued under section 4 of the
Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 that was
valid on the day before the date of the enactment of
this Act shall be valid and remain in effect until
expired, revoked, or suspended.
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