{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912212422/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-sends-letter-to-forest-service-urging-them-to-open-private", "Shea-Porter Sends Letter to Forest Service Urging Them to Open Private Campgrounds in New Hampshire", "2013-10-09", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nContact: Ben Wakana, 202-295-7608\n\u00a0\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Following multiple reports that 22 privately run campgrounds in the White Mountain National Forest are closed as part of the ongoing government shutdown, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) sent a letter to the United States Forest Service urging the agency to allow these campgrounds to reopen and continue operation during the shutdown.\n\u201cThere is really no reason to close these campgrounds down,\u201d Shea-Porter wrote. \u201cNo federal money is spent to run these locations, as the private operators pay for maintenance, upkeep, and insurance.\u201d\nAccording to a report by the New Hampshire Union Leader, campground operators were told that all facilities operating on federal lands are closing \u201cbecause of consistency.\u201d Shea-Porter noted that this is hardly an acceptable reason to close private facilities during one of their busiest periods.\n\u201cThe economic damage to these private campgrounds could be considerable,\u201d Shea-Porter wrote. \u201cThe Columbus Day weekend is one of the busiest weekends of the year for tourists visiting New Hampshire to view our wonderful fall foliage, and closing these campgrounds would have a significant economic impact on these private businesses. Beyond that, you will see losses from nearby businesses that provide supplies, gas, and meals to visitors.\u201d\nAllowing the private campgrounds to remain open would not only be good for local businesses, it would decrease the deficit because a percentage of the campground revenue is paid to the government. Not only are visitors denied the ability to stay at these campgrounds and enjoy New Hampshire\u2019s great outdoors, but each day these facilities are closed, the government loses money.\nShea-Porter has repeatedly called on House Leadership to allow a vote on a clean Continuing Resolution that would fund the government at existing levels, put people back to work, and get our economy moving again.\nFull text of Shea-Porter\u2019s letter to Tom Tidwell, Chief of the U.S. Forest Service is below.\n\u00a0\n+++\nOctober 9, 2013\nChief Tom Tidwell  \n\tUnited States Forest Service  \n\tU.S. Department of Agriculture  \n\tYates Building, 5th Floor NW Wing  \n\t201 Fourteenth Street, SW  \n\tWashington, DC 20250\n\u00a0\nDear Chief Tidwell,\nI am writing to you to express my concern with the recent decision to close 22 privately run campgrounds in New Hampshire\u2019s White Mountain National Forest. This closing, which the agency has justified as part of the government shutdown, does not make sense from a financial perspective for the government and will inflict undue economic hardship on local campground operators. That is why I believe the United States Forest Service should allow these private campgrounds to reopen and continue to operate for the duration of the shutdown.\nThere is really no reason to close these campgrounds down. No federal money is spent to run these locations, as the private operators pay for maintenance, upkeep, and insurance. This has led to some confusion among the operators of these campgrounds, who wonder why they are being required to shut down. According to a report in the New Hampshire Union Leader, these operators have been told that all facilities operating on federal lands are closing \u201cbecause of consistency.\u201d This is hardly an acceptable reason to close private facilities during one of their busiest periods.\nThe economic damage to these private campgrounds could be considerable. The Columbus Day weekend is one of the busiest weekends of the year for tourists visiting New Hampshire to view our wonderful fall foliage and closing these campgrounds would have a significant economic impact on these private businesses. Beyond that, you will see losses from nearby businesses that provide supplies, gas, and meals to visitors.\nIn fact, not only would closing the campgrounds not save money and hurt the local economy, the closure of these facilities is actually costing the government money. While no federal funds are used to run these campgrounds, a percentage of their revenue goes directly to the government. Each day that these facilities are closed costs the government money. Not only are visitors denied the ability to stay at these campgrounds and enjoy New Hampshire\u2019s great outdoors, but the government loses revenue it desperately needs.\nI realize that the government shutdown has put particular strain on the Forest Service and that, given your reduced staff, maintaining operations is difficult. However, given that these campgrounds do not require federal funds and actually pay a percentage of their revenue to the government, I strongly urge you to consider allowing them to continue operations in spite of the government shutdown.\nSincerely,\nCarol Shea-Porter  \n\tMember of Congress\n\u00a0\n###", 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://web.archive.org/web/20140912212422/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-sends-letter-to-forest-service-urging-them-to-open-private"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.6362181156873703, "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"}