Coalition Logo

July 9, 2020

Dear Representatives,

We are writing on behalf of over 1,800 members of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition), a non-profit organization composed of retired, former, or current employees of the National Park Service (NPS). The Coalition studies, educates, speaks, and acts for the preservation of America’s National Park System. As a group, we collectively represent over 40,000 years of experience managing and protecting America’s most precious and important natural and historic resources. Among our members are former NPS directors, regional directors, superintendents, resource specialists, rangers, maintenance and administrative staff, and a full array of other former employees, volunteers, and supporters.

We, the undersigned, strongly support the passage and subsequent enactment of the Great American Outdoors Act (H.R. 7092) as quickly as possible. This act is critical to the continued preservation and protection of our National Park System.

Passage of the Great American Outdoors Act will ensure permanent and full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). This is the necessary next step to fulfill LWCF’s promise to the American people – to preserve nationally significant public lands and provide recreational opportunities in communities across the country.

LWCF is our nation’s most important tool for conservation and public recreation access. It benefits not only national parks and public lands, but communities across the country. Full and permanent funding for LWCF is needed to protect parks and public lands from the threat of development inside their borders; to connect landscapes for wildlife and fire management; to preserve water quantity and quality; to sustain working landscapes and rural economies; and to increase access for recreation for all Americans no matter where they live.

The Great American Outdoors Act will also address the crippling $12 billion maintenance backlog in our national parks. Our parks and public lands have been suffering from crumbling roads, visitor centers, and trails. Deteriorating infrastructure, exacerbated by increasing visitation pressures and inconsistent annual funding, has led to this large backlog in repair needs in America’s national parks, and the total increases to over $20 billion when backlog maintenance needs on other public lands are included.

With our extensive experience working in national parks, we know firsthand what a difference this funding can make on the ground. We believe that the Great American Outdoors Act will protect our parks today and ensure their continued preservation for future generations. This bipartisan legislation is a landmark opportunity to ensure that we safeguard our nation’s heritage and recreation opportunities, and help local communities and economies continue to flourish.

We urge you to pass the Great American Outdoors Act and continue to support our national parks and public lands.

Sincerely,

The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks Executive Council:

Phillip A. Francis, Chair
Maria Burks, Vice Chair
Brenda Barrett
Sarah Bransom
Rebecca Harriett
Don Hellmann
Bob Mackreth
Doug Morris
Michael Murray
Don Neubacher
Jim Northup
Richard Ring
Chris Soller
Sheridan Steele
 
Coalition Members:

Barry T. Sullivan
West Cape May, New Jersey

Larry D Reed
Grand junction, Colorado

Norm Simons
Sequim, Washington

Gilbert Blinn
Eastsound, Washington

Thomas Workman
Santa Ysabel, California

Abigail Miller
Shelburne, Vermont

Adam Isaac Hiscock
Salt Lake City, Utah

Alan D. Hollister
Kingsport, Tennessee

Alan Scot McElveen
Snowflake, Arizona

Alexander McMahon
Sonoma, California

Allan J Jaworski
Lubbock, Texas

Allen Bohnert
Davis, California

Amy Fehir
Washington, DC

Amy Meyer
San Francisco, California

Andrew T. Ringgold
Palmyra, Virginia

Anndevoy Ryan
Loveland, Colorado

Anne Worthington
Cortez, Colorado

Anthony J Bonanno
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Anthony Mark Wagner
Columbia Falls, Montana

Audrey F. Calhoun
Winnfield, Louisiana

Ayn Cole
Kissimmee, Florida

B. J. Griffin
Grass Valley, California

B. Riley McClelland
West Glacier, Montana

B. William Henry
Eugene, Oregon

Barbara E Maynes
Port Angeles, Washington

Barry Sullivan
West Cape May, New Jersey

Bernard Goodman
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Bill Faulkner
Ventura, California

Bill Hafker
Oakton, Virginia

Bob Seibert
Bozeman, Montana

Bonnie Winslow
Guthrie, Oklahoma

Brad Traver
St. David, Arizona

Brian C Kenner
Philip, South Dakota

Bruce D. McKeeman
Prescott, Arizona

Bruce Dombrowski
Pine Grove, California

Bruce MacDougal
Alexandria, Virginia

Bruce W Bytnar
Raphine, Virginia

Caleb G. Cooper
Littleton, Colorado

Carl Douhan
Littleton, Colorado

Carl E. Hinrichs
Harrison, Arkansas

Carl S. Christensen
Sequim, Washington

Carol A. Clark
Glendale, Arizona

Carol F. Aten
Washington, DC

Carol Kruse
Flagstaff, Arizona

Caroline Keinath
Norfolk, Massachusetts

Carolyn Knoll
Orinda, California

Caryn Davidson
Joshua Tree, California

Catherine Wallace
Kanab, Utah

Charles B. Wahler
Colorado Springs, Colorado

Charles D Jacobi
Bar Harbor, Maine

Charles Farabee
Tucson, Arizona

Charles H. B. Arning
Lunenburg, Massachusetts

Charles L Higgins
Hernando, Florida

Charles Schultheis,
San Diego, California

Charles W. Kirby, PhD
Leesburg, Virginia

Cherry Payne
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Cheryl Schreier
Custer, South Dakota

Chris Seymour
Newark, Maryland

Christine L. Korsmo
West Branch, Iowa

Chuck Bloomingburg
Paducah, Kentucky

Clark D. Guy
Somerset, Pennsylvania

Claude A. Duke
Grand Canyon, Arizona

Claudia L Galagan
Warwick, Rhode Island

Clyde Stonaker
Fort Collins, Colorado

Craig C Axtell
Estes Park, Colorado

Cynthia M Holda
Manns Harbor, North Carolina

D. Scott Hartwig
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Dan Moses
New Bern, North Carolina

Daniel A. Puskar
Washington, DC

Daniel Aaron Brown
Grovetown, Georgia

Daniel J. Jenner
Grove, Oklahoma

Daniel M O'Brien
Central Point, Oregon

Daphne Hatch
Novato, California

Darlene M Koontz
Durango, Colorado

Darwina L. Neal
FASLA,
Washington, DC

David A. Buccello
Bar Harbor, Maine

David B. Boggs
Monroe, Virginia

David C. Hartman
Stevensville, Maryland

David Donohue
Santa Fe, New Mexico

David H Wallace
Frederick, Maryland

David Holmes
Volcano, Hawaii

David L. Moffitt
Williamsburg, Virginia

David M. Graber
Three Rivers, California

David Manski
Bar Harbor, Maine

David Mills
Gustavus, Alaska

David Nathanson
Frederick, Maryland

David R. Stuart
Sacramento, California

David Roberts
Montrose, Colorado

Dean Reeder
Salt Lake City, Utah

Deborah O. Liggett
Tucson Arizona

Debra Levie
Chicago, Illinois

Delora M. Loope
Munising, Michigan

Denis Davis
Montrose, Colorado

Denis Michael Osowski
Seville, Ohio

Denis P. Galvin
Mc Lean, Virginia

Dennis Burnett
Orleans, Massachusetts

Dennis Hanson
Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Denny Huffman
Ridgefield, Washington

Diane E. Banta
Chicago Heights, Illinois

Dixon B. Freeland
Luray, Virginia

Don D Bachman
Bozeman, Montana

Don H Castleberry
Maumelle, Arkansas

Donald A Falvey
Lakewood, Colorado

Donald Bruce Fladmark
Kalispell, Montana

Donald L. Jackson
Weaverville, California

Donovan Rafferty
Olympia, Washington

Douglas Denio
Loveland, Colorado

Doyle Nelson
Grants Pass, Oregon

Dr. David N. Given
Port Townsend, Washington

Edie Shean-Hammond
Pottstown, Pennsylvania

Edward D Carlin Sr
Omaha, Nebraska

Edward Peter Walzer
Hesperia, Michigan

Edward S. Kalbach
Schwenksville, Pennsylvania

Edwin Hession
Los Angeles, California

Eileen Loughran
Las Vegas, Nevada

Elayn Marie Briggs
Carson City, Nevada

Elizabeth Janes
Mancos, Colorado

Elizabeth Knight
Sandpoint, Idaho

Elizabeth Snyder
Williamsburg, Virginia

Elizabeth Van Zandt
Indio, California

Ella S. Rayburn
Scranton, Pennsylvania

Elwood Lynn
Talkeetna, Alaska

Emilee Martell
Somerset, Wisconsin

Emily Prud'homme
Bernard, Maine

Emily Thompson
Dayton, Ohio

Erik R. Hauge
Erie, Colorado

Evan M. Raskin
Asheville, North Carolina

Florence Townsend
Newman Lake, Washington

Fred J Fagergren
Santa Clara, Utah

G. Gilbert Soper
Novato, California

Gail C Menard
Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Gary E. Davis
Westlake Village, California

Gary Frank Barbano
Honolulu, Hawaii

Gary G. Brandow,
Columbia Falls, Montana

Gary Johnston
Annandale, Virginia

Gary T Cummins
Port Townsend, Washington

Gene Casey
Ashford, Washington

Lizbeth Casey
Ashford, Washington

George Alderson
Catonsville, Maryland

George B. Hartzog
Bloomington, Indiana

George Bowen
Hoodsport, Washington

George Buckingham
Chiloquin, Oregon

Ginny Rousseau
Tucson, Arizona

Glenn Clark
Hanover, Massachusetts

Gordon Vincent Gay
Winchester, Virginia

Gretchen Luxenberg

H. Bryan Mitchell
Reva, Virginia

Hal Grovert
Tucson, Arizona

Harry A. DeLashmutt
DeLand, Florida

Henry C. Wilson
Santa Fe, New Mexico

J Douglas Cuillard
Arvada, Colorado

J. Michael Greenfield
Spotsylvania, Virginia

J.W. Howard
Emmitsburg, Maryland

Jack E Stark
Wichita, Kansas

Jack Ramsden
Syracuse, New York

James & Joan Wimberly
Fayetteville, Arkansas

James Brent Pennington
Winston-Salem, NC

James Channing Redford Jr.
Williamsburg, Virginia

James Groton
Oak Ridge, Tennessee

James M. Brady
Highlands Ranch, Colorado

James M. Brandi
Salt Lake City, Utah

James M. Ridenour
Wabash, Indiana

James Phillip Corless
Nokomis, Florida

James R. Perkins
Helena, Montana

James W. Stewart
Annandale, Virginia

James Zinck
Hardy, Virginia

Jane C Anderson
Dolores, Colorado

Jane M. Sundberg
Yorktown, Virginia

Janes C Roach
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Janet Pletcher Campbell
Lakewood, Colorado

Janet Wise
Lakewood, Colorado

Janis Kozlowski
Anchorage, Alaska

Jason Tillotson
Indianapolis, Indiana

Jay Eickenhorst
River Ridge, Louisiana

Jeffrey D. Manley
Boise, Idaho

Jeffrey Eaton Heywood
Golden, Colorado

Jeffrey Sussman
Ennis, Montana

Jennifer L Dems
Granby, Colorado

Jerry Freilich PhD
Bend, Oregon

Jerry L. Rogers
Sante Fe, New Mexico

Jerry R. Yarbrough
San Angelo, Texas

Jervis D Swannack
Mesa Verde NP, Colorado

Jim Burnett
Pinehurst, North Carolina

Jim Hammett
John Day, Oregon

Jim Pepper
Washington, DC

Jim Stratton
Eugene, Oregon

Jim Vekasi
Southwest Harbor, Maine

Jimmy Groton
Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Joan Anzelmo
Jackson, Wyoming

Bohn Bielenberg
Berkeley, California

John Chao
Bellevue, Washington

John E. Hunter
Lovettsville, Virginia

John F Byrne
Oakton, Virginia

John Howard
Emmitsburg, Maryland

John J Reynolds
Crozet, Virginia

John P Bauer
Three Rivers, California

John P. Debo, Jr.
Hudson, Ohio

John Richard Erisman
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

John Ritenour
Boulder City, Nevada

John W. Foster
Orangevale, California

John W. Wade,
Tucson, Arizona

Jon Boyce
Seattle, Washington

Larry D Reed
Grand junction, Colorado

Norm Simons
Sequim, Washington

Gilbert Blinn
Eastsound, Washington


Thomas Workman
Santa Ysabel, California


Abigail Miller
Shelburne, Vermont


Adam Isaac Hiscock
Salt Lake City, Utah


Alan D. Hollister
Kingsport, Tennessee


Alan Scot McElveen
Snowflake, Arizona


Alexander McMahon
Sonoma, California


Allan J Jaworski
Lubbock, Texas


Allen Bohnert
Davis, California


Amy Fehir
Washington, DC


Amy Meyer
San Francisco, California


Andrew T. Ringgold
Palmyra, Virginia

Jonathan D Lewis
Carpinteria, California

Joseph H. Finan
Greenwich, New York

Joseph P Hudick
Taylors Falls, Minnesota

Joseph Sovcik
Fort Collins, Colorado

Ross and Nancy Hopkins
Tucson, Arizona

Karen Rehm
Williamsburg, Virginia

Kate Faulkner
Ventura, California

Katherine C. Ziegenfus
Lakewood, Colorado

Katherine Stevenson
Potomac, Maryland

Kathleen Clossin
Middlefield, Ohio

Kathryn Thomas
Anchorage, Alaska

Kathy Tustanowski
Moab, Utah

Keith B. Dunbar
Kirkland, Washington

Kenneth E. Apschnikat
Bowling Green, Kentucky

Kenneth Kehrer, Jr.
Teasdale, Utah

Kenneth M. Hawkins
Page, Arizona

Kenneth Shea
Wellfleet, Massachusetts

Kevin D. McMurry
Roca, Nebraska

Kim E. Sikoryak
Golden, Colorado

Kim Watson
Flagstaff, Arizona

L. Edward Gastellum
Anacortes, Washington

Larry D Walling, FASLA
Littleton, Colorado

Larry Edwin Henderson
Carlsbad, New Mexico

Larry Frederick
Estes Park, Colorado

Larry Johnson
Van Buren Missouri

Larry Lee Hakel
Luray, Virginia

Larry N. Kilborn
Evergreen, Colorado

Larry Thomas
Moab, Utah

Larry Walling
Littleton, Colorado

Laura Rotegard
Indianola, Washington

Lawrence Beal
Littleton, Colorado

Leon Lamar Folsom, Jr.,
Atlanta, Georgia

Leonard Emerson
Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania

Leslie Starr Hart
Fredericksburg, Texas

Linda Alick
Gunnison, Colorado

Lois Neff
Atwater, Ohio

Lucinda Stafford
Page, Arizona

Lucy Lawliss
Bradenton, Florida

Luke Elbert Dalton Jr
Ogden Utah

Lynda Doucette
Waynesville, North Carolina

Lynn D. Jamison
Louisville, Kentucky

Lynn R. Wightman
Penney Farms, Florida

M Susan Hurst
San Rafael, California

Malena Kay Vik
Cathlamet, Washington

Maria Abonnel
Cortland Manor, New York

Mark Butler
Washoe Valley, Nevada

Mark David Black
Yucca Valley, California

Mark Kelleher
Jackson, Wyoming

Mark Ruggiero
Buckeye, Arizona

Marshall Gingery
Helena, Montana

Mary Ann Dowd-Sussman
Ennis, Montana

Mary Anne Richards
Cortez, Colorado

Mary Bradford
Destin, Florida

Mary D. Jones
Pensacola, Florida

Mary E Caress, PhD
Laguna Woods, California

Mary E. Elms
Henderson, Nevada

Mary G Martin
Palo Cedro, California

Mary Graves
International Falls, Minnesota

Mary Miller Chapman
University Place, Washington

Maureen Finnerty
Haymarket, Virginia

Max Old Bear
Traverse City, Michigan

Meg Weesner
Tucson, Arizona

Melissa Warner
Manteo, North Carolina

Meredith M Kaplan
California

Michael Adlerstein
New York, New York

Michael Elliott
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Michael Gurling
Olympia, Washington

Michael Molling
Asheville, North Carolina

Michael S. Piraino
Bainbridge Island, WA

Michael Sutton
Carmel Valley, California

Michael Tollefson
Scottsdale, Arizona

Michael. K. Johnson
Fredericksburg, Virginia

Mike Wrigley
Littleton, Colorado

Milford Fletcher
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Monika Mayr
St. Augustine, Florida

Nancy A Nelson
Concord, Massachusetts

Neil Korsmo
West Branch, Iowa

Nelson Willis Siler
Pueblo, Colorado

Nicholas J Eason
Moab, Utah

Norman D. Hellmers
Valparaiso, Indiana

O.V. Olsen
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Oron L. Bass, Jr.
High Springs, Florida

Patricia E. Bentley
Elkton, Florida

Patrick J. McCabe
Caledonia, New York

Patrick Reed
Fort Collins, Colorado

Paul B Cole III
Kissimmee, Florida

Paul Henderson
Moab, Utah

Paul R. Anderson
Tucson, Arizona

Paulette Mullinax
Bedford, Virginia

Peggy Dolinich
Colorado Springs, Colorado

Peter C Fitzmaurice
Mazama, Washington

Peter E Baril
Colorado Springs, Colorado

Peter Fitzpatrick
Laguna Niguel, California

Peter K. Nigh
Prescott, Arizona

Philip A. Selleck
Falls Church, Virginia

Philip R. Brueck
Saratoga Springs, Utah

Philip S. Heckman
Annandale, Virginia

Phyllis Ellin
Chicago, Illinois

R.C. Cunningham
Cody, Wyoming

Ralph G. Mihan
San Rafael, California

Randall C. Thomas
Spokane, Washington

Randi Sue Smith
Spearfish, South Dakota

Randolph E. Elmquist
Gaithersburg, Maryland

Rebecca M. Post
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Rebecca Mills
Berkeley, California

Richard Bryant
St. Augustine, Florida

Richard D Falb
Lakewood, Colorado

Richard E Wells
Palm Springs, California

Richard Ernenwein
Littleton, Colorado

Richard G Danielsen
Clovis, California

Richard Martin
Palo Cedro, California

Rick Jones
Ridgway, Colorado

Rick Mossman
Mt. Vernon,
Washington

Richard Smith
Tucson, Arizona

Ries Collier
Bedford, Virginia

Robbyn Jackson
Hancock, New Hampshire

Robert Arnberger
Tucson, Arizona

Robert G Burns
Orem, Utah

Robert Joseph Abrell
Nevada City, California

Robert K Whaley
Osceola, Wisconsin

Robert King
Silver Spring, Maryland

Robert R. Martin
Dunbar, Pennsylvania

Robert Valen
Grand Coulee, Washington

Robert W Reynolds
Medford, Oregon

Robert W. Blythe
Chicago, Illinois

Robert White
Squaw Valley, California

Roberta Barrows
Colorado Springs, Colorado

Roberta D'Amico
Boise, Idaho

Roger A. Rudolph
Bend, Oregon

Roger J. Siglin
Alpine, Texas

Roger Moder
Page, Arizona

Ronald E Everhart
Lakewood, Colorado

Ronald G. Warfield
Eatonville, Washington

Ronald H. Walker
Jackson, Wyoming

Ronald Thoman
Denver, Colorado

Rosalie Chilcoat
Durango, Colorado

Russ Ludwick
Luray, Virginia

Russell P. Smith
New Castle, Delaware

Samuel Weddle
Front Royal, Virginia

Sandra Vequist
Belgrade, Montana

Sanford P. Rabinowitch
Anchorage, Alaska

Scott Chapman
University Place, Washington

Scott Sticha
Hereford, Arizona

Sharon C. Miles
Denver, Colorado

Sharon Paris
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Sherry V. Justus
Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

Shirley M. Clark
Issaquah, Washington

Stephen R. Bruner
Amherst, Massachusetts

Stephen W. Hastings
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

Steve Bruner
Amherst, Massachusetts

Steve Pittleman
Rockville, Maryland

Steve Whitesell
Tacoma, Washington

Steven Kesselman
Albemarle, North Carolina

Stuart Croll
Tucson, Arizona

Sue Consolo-Murphy
Wapiti, Wyoming

Terrence D. Moore
Shamong, New Jersey

Terry Michael Di Mattio
Driggs, Idaho

Terry Swift
Petaluma, California

Thomas Wilson
Napa, California

Thomas A. Cherry
Loveland, Colorado

Thomas Griffiths
Clinton, Missouri

Thomas L. Habecker
Bozeman, Montana

Thomas Patterson,
Redlands, California

Thomas Ritter
Eastsound, Washington

Thomas W. Sweeney
Lynchburg, Virginia

Timothy J. Oliverius
Mancos, Colorado

Timothy M Harvey
Canton, Michigan

Timothy Manns
Mount Vernon, Washington

Todd Bolton
Smithsburg, Maryland

Tom Haraden
Castle Valley, Utah

Tom Wolfe
Arlington, Virginia

Travis T Poulson
Flagstaff, Arizona

Vaughn Baker
Estes Park, Colorado

Virginia A Rousseau
Orleans, Massachusetts

Vito Spinale
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Walter J Chavez
Placitas, New Mexico

Warren Brown
Annapolis, Maryland

Warren E Bielenberg
Maryville, Tennessee

Warren Hill
Omaha, Nebraska

Wayne T. Jipsen
Saint George, Utah

Wendy Artz
King Salmon, Alaska

Wendy Poinsot
San Francisco, California

William Rice
Eagle River, Alaska

William C Walters
Nashville, Indiana

William F. Loftus
Vero Beach, Florida

William H DeBerry
Longview, Washington

William J Carroll
Hudson, Ohio

William L Jackson
Fort Collins, Colorado

William R. Morris
Dolores, Colorado

William Reid
Manassas, Virginia

William Sanders
Birdsboro, Pennsylvania

William Strain
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

William Walters
Nashville, Indiana

Yeva Cifor
Seattle Washington