{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://mceachin.house.gov/media/press-releases/mceachin-urged-secretary-zinke-abandon-proposed-nps-fee-hikes", "McEachin Urged Secretary Zinke to Abandon Proposed NPS Fee Hikes", "2017-11-27", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "A. McEachin", "M001200", "mceachin.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Richmond, Va. \u2013 Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) wrote a letter to Secretary Zinke cautioning him that increasing park entrance fees could price American families out of access to our shared public lands and parks.\n\u201cYour plan \u2013 nearly doubling or tripling entrance fees at some of the nation\u2019s most loved and picturesque parks during their busiest months \u2013 will limit access to our shared public lands, and it will hurt the economies of surrounding communities,\u201d wrote Congressman Donald McEachin. \u201cAs you know, the National Park System (NPS) was created to preserve and protect national treasures so that all Americans could enjoy them in perpetuity. The proposed rate increases directly contradict that mission, putting a visit to these parks beyond the means of countless families.\u201d\nEarlier this month, Congressman McEachin signed a letter with more than 85 colleagues challenging Secretary Zinke about the misguided proposal.\n\u201cOur parks belong to everyone, and these new, exorbitant fees are irreconcilable with your Department\u2019s stated mission of improving access to our public lands,\u201d said Congressman McEachin.\nLast month the National Park Service announced entrance fee increases at 17 national parks, including the Commonwealth\u2019s Shenandoah National Park. Congressman McEachin submitted the enclosed letter to the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website during the public comment period on this topic.\nFull letter text is available here and below.\n###\nContact: Jamitress Bowden  \n\t(202) 225-6365\n\u00a0\nThe Honorable Ryan Zinke  \n\tSecretary, Department of Interior  \n\t1849 C Street NW  \n\tWashington, D.C. 20240\nDear Secretary Zinke:\nLast month, you published a request for information and comments on proposed per-vehicle and per-visitor fee increases at seventeen of our premiere national parks, including the Commonwealth of Virginia\u2019s Shenandoah National Park. In response, I joined dozens of my colleagues in sending you a letter opposing that\u00a0proposal. Your plan \u2013 nearly doubling or tripling entrance fees at some of nation\u2019s most loved and picturesque parks during their busiest months \u2013 will limit access to our shared public lands, and it will hurt the economies of surrounding communities.\nAs you know, the National Park System (NPS) was created to preserve and protect national treasures so that all Americans could enjoy them in perpetuity. The proposed rate increases directly contradict that mission, putting a visit to these parks beyond the means of countless families. In particular, a disproportionate number of low-to-moderate-income families, young people, and families of color would essentially be priced out of access to the public lands that their tax dollars help maintain. For example, a parent working a minimum-wage job would have to spend more than a day\u2019s pay to get his or her family into these parks. Our parks belong to everyone and these new, exorbitant fees are irreconcilable with your Department\u2019s stated mission of improving access to our public lands.\nThe proposed change would also be an economic disaster for gateway regions \u2013 the communities within a 60-mile radius of a national park. In 2016, our national parks attracted a record 331 million visits \u2013 a 7.7% increase from 2015 \u2013 and trip-related spending produced considerable economic benefits.[1] Last year, visitors spent as much as $18.4 billion in these gateway regions; their spending resulted in \u201c318 thousand jobs, $12 billion in labor income, $19.9 billion in value added, and $34.9 billion in economic output.\u201d[2] Many of these communities lack the economic diversification of more developed areas; any fall-off in visits will inflict severe and immediate pain. Instead of creating a new barrier to entry, we should be encouraging more people to visit both our parks and the surrounding regions.\nAmerica\u2019s parks must remain open and accessible for all. I urge you to not to adopt the proposed fee hikes.\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://mceachin.house.gov/media/press-releases/mceachin-urged-secretary-zinke-abandon-proposed-nps-fee-hikes"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0145220439881086, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}