Washington, D.C.-The nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) today recognized 57 senators and 179 representatives for their voting record in the 111th Congress with a Friend of the National Parks Award.

“These honored members of Congress have demonstrated a solid commitment to preserving our national parks for future generations to enjoy,” said NPCA President Tom Kiernan. “As the National Park Service approaches its 100th birthday in 2016, the support of our members of Congress will be essential to the restoration and preservation of our national parks, and it is with enormous gratitude that I present these awards.”

Recipients of the award receive a framed reproduction of a color poster of Acadia National Park in the style of the Works Progress Administration posters produced for the National Park Service in the 1930s.

The Friend of the National Parks award was established in 1999 to track and publicize congressional members’ votes on significant national park issues. NPCA examined twelve key House votes and six key Senate votes from the 111th Congress. Senators who voted pro-park four out of six times received the award as did House members who supported parks on at least seven out of twelve votes.

A complete list of the winning members of Congress and vote descriptions is available online at http://www.npca.org/protecting-our-parks/policy-legislation/park-policy/friend-award.html .

Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice of the American people in protecting and enhancing our National Park System. NPCA, its 600,000 members and supporters, and many partners work together to protect the park system and preserve our nation’s natural, historical, and cultural heritage for our children and grandchildren.
For more information, visit: www.npca.org. 

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