WASHINGTON, D.C. – The nation’s leading voice for the national parks, the nonprofit National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) today praised action by a committee in the House of Representatives, which approved legislation to create more service opportunities in national parks and other public lands.
“This well-designed effort to provide full-time service opportunities in our national parks can help to address the deteriorating condition of many parks, while also providing unique job training opportunities for many Americans,” said NPCA Senior Vice President for Government Affairs Craig Obey.
The House Committee on Natural Resources today marked up H.R.1612—the Public Lands Service Corps Act. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), builds upon the recently-passed Serve America legislation and the existing Public Land Corps Act of 1993 to create thousands of new, long-term service positions for young people and older Americans in national parks, national forests, and other public lands.
In the national parks, which have a backlog of maintenance projects that exceeds $8 billion, new Service Corps members might rehabilitate campgrounds, restore historic structures, eradicate invasive species, and help conduct science and research projects in the park system. They might also reach out to communities and help enhance interpretation and education of national park visitors.
The bill now goes to the House floor for a vote. Companion legislation has not yet been introduced in the U.S. Senate.
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Please click here to contact your members of Congress to share your stories about service, and the opportunities to give back to our national parks and public lands.
For more information about Public Lands Service Corps, see NPCA's fact sheet here.
