NATIONAL PARKS: Bipartisan lawmakers offer bill to enhance partner groups' roles
Jessica Estepa, E&E reporter
Greenwire: Friday, May 9, 2014
A bipartisan pair of House lawmakers yesterday introduced legislation meant to make it easier for the National Park Service to work with outside groups.
H.R. 4614, sponsored by Reps. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), would allow the Interior secretary to enter into agreements with nonprofits, educational institutions and other "park partners" in order to advance Park Service programs and projects. Further, the measure would allow the department to recognize volunteer work done by these groups as in-kind contributions if the agreements stipulate cost-sharing measures.
The bill also includes language that would allow both the department and its partners to accept and keep funds for projects, a provision that would allow money to accumulate over a number of years for major restoration and rehabilitation programs.
The legislation is meant to provide a clearer framework for these partnerships and to use such agreements to their full potential, the sponsors said.
"Citizens continue to look for ways to personally invest in the mission of the parks, generously donating their time and money," Lummis said in a statement. "We can maximize the use of our culture of volunteerism to help support the National Park Service as it approaches its centennial. Our bill augments the ongoing work of local park partners, which enhances our national parks and the visitor experiences within them."
According to the sponsors, nonprofit partners contributed more than $150 million in funds and in-kind services, as well as 6.4 million hours of volunteer time, valued at $142 million.
The legislation has already received support from outside groups, including the Association of Partners for Public Lands and the Friends Alliance.
"America's national parks have benefited from citizen philanthropy and strong public-nonprofit partnerships since before the Park Service was founded," APPL Executive Director Dan Puskar said in a statement. "This legislation builds upon that legacy of private investment and recognizes the Park Service's long track-record of robust and vibrant partnerships."
