{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://rileymoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-moore-and-zinke-introduce-legislation-codify-executive-order-national", "Reps. Moore and Zinke Introduce Legislation to Codify Executive Order on National Parks", "2025-07-22", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "House", "WV", "Riley M. Moore", "M001235", "rileymoore.house.gov", "rileymoore", "https://rileymoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Riley M. Moore (WV-02) and Congressman Ryan Zinke (MT-01) introduced the PATRIOT Parks Act \u2014 which codifies President Trump\u2019s Executive Order \u201cMaking America Beautiful Again by Improving Our National Parks.\u201d\n\nCurrently, the National Parks System faces more than $23 billion in deferred maintenance, including more than $200 million on parklands in West Virginia. This legislation implements increased entrance fees for foreign visitors at National Parks, with the additional funds being reinvested back into parks for maintenance and other basic operating costs. Senator Jim Banks of Indiana and Senator Tim Sheehy of Montana introduced companion legislation in the Senate.\n\nThe bill is supported by the American Conservation Coalition Action (ACC Action) and the Property and Environment Research Center (PERC). Both organizations were instrumental in helping craft the President\u2019s executive order. The Bull Moose Project and American Prairie are also supportive of the legislation.\n\nCongressman Moore issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cFrom the New River Gorge in my home state to Shenandoah, the Great Smoky Mountains, the Everglades, and the Grand Canyon - God blessed our nation with a tremendous natural heritage. We owe it to future generations to ensure these natural marvels are protected.\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, the National Park System currently faces a backlog of more than $23 billion in deferred maintenance, including more than $200 million on properties across the Mountain State. Our commonsense legislation keeps entry fees static for Americans while charging more for foreigners visiting our National Parks. This will allow us to finally start tackling this extensive maintenance backlog.\u201d\n\nHere\u2019s what others are saying:\n\n\u201cNational Parks are America\u2019s best idea and maintaining that legacy for future generations means making smart investments in the management of the parks,\u201d said Congressman Zinke. \u201cAmericans already pay for parks in our tax dollars as well as at the gates. It\u2019s unfair to American taxpayers to foot the bill for millions of foreign visitors. Almost every other country charges foreign visitors more, it\u2019s common sense. President Trump and Secretary Burgum did the right thing directing the National Park Service implement a foreign visitor fee. This legislation will codify the policy and ensure Americans are put First in our own parks.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmericans already pay for our parks through federal taxes on top of standard admission fees, so it\u2019s fair to ask foreign visitors to chip in more,\u201d said Senator Banks. \u201cThis bill codifies President Trump\u2019s executive order and helps protect our national treasures for future generations.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur national parks drive Montana\u2019s tourism economy by bringing in visitors from all over the world and define our way life by offering an experience you can only find in America,\u201d said Senator Sheehy. \u201cImplementing a foreign visitor fee is an America First, commonsense way to secure affordable access for American families, improve our national parks for all visitors, and better manage our treasured public lands. It\u2019s not too much for Americans to ask that their government puts them first, and that\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to support the PATRIOT Parks Act so more American families can enjoy our national parks for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur national parks are America\u2019s best idea and a crucial part of our natural heritage, but in recent decades, they have fallen into disrepair with a multibillion-dollar maintenance backlog,\u201d said ACC Action President Chris Barnard. \u201cAn increased entry fee for international visitors would raise needed revenue to steward our national treasures and ensure that everyone who enjoys them contributes to protecting them. The American Conservation Coalition Action and our thousands of members are proud to support this effort to bolster the National Park Service.\u201d\n\n\u201cVisitors from across the globe come to see the wonder of America\u2019s national parks, and this proposal offers them a way to give back,\u201d said PERC CEO Brian Yablonski. \u201cCharging a modest fee to international tourists\u2014something many countries already do\u2014provides a steady source of funding to improve park infrastructure, enhance visitor experiences, and invest in long-overdue restoration. Drawing on years of PERC research, we\u2019re grateful to Sen. Banks and Rep. Moore for championing efforts to conserve these iconic places for future generations.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"]], "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://rileymoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-moore-and-zinke-introduce-legislation-codify-executive-order-national"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8836961351335049, "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"}