Coalition Statement on President Biden’s FY2022 Budget Date: 6.3.2021 Contact: Emily Thompson; Em************@********ps.org Last week, the Biden administration released its budget proposal for fiscal year 2022. The proposal calls for significant investments in the National Park System, including an increase of nearly $381 million (a 12% increase) to the National Park Service (NPS) budget.
Coalition Supports President Biden’s America the Beautiful Conservation Plan
The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks Says Biden’s Ambitious Plan is Needed to Address America’s Climate Crises and Help Protect Our Parks WASHINGTON, DC — Today, President Biden announced his Administration’s new conservation plan, laying out an ambitious effort to conserve more of America’s majestic and beautiful lands, waters, and wildlife, and increase
Coalition Applauds Secretary’s Orders to Repeal Energy Dominance Policies
Release Date: April 16, 2021 Media Contact: Emily Thompson, Em************@********ps.org, 202-758-3936 Coalition Applauds Secretary’s Orders to Repeal Energy Dominance Policies Today, Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland, issued two Secretarial Orders (SO) to prioritize action on climate change throughout the Interior Department and to restore transparency and integrity in the Department’s decision-making processes. Secretary
Coalition Urges Senate to Confirm DOI Leadership Nominees
Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks Says Experience of Beaudreau and Estenoz Will Help Advance Biden’s Ambitious Conservation and Climate Agenda WASHINGTON, DC — The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks is urging the Senate to confirm Tommy Beaudreau as Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Shannon Estenoz as Assistant Secretary
Coalition Urges Secretary Haaland to Protect Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments
Ahead of Haaland’s Visit to Utah’s Monuments, the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks Says These Lands Need Stronger Protections. WASHINGTON, DC — Later this week, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland will travel to Utah to meet with stakeholders, Tribes, and elected leaders as part of the national monuments review announced by President Biden. Ahead
Coalition Applauds President Biden’s American Jobs Plan
WASHINGTON — During his speech in Pittsburgh, PA, President Biden outlined his economic vision for building back better with the American Jobs Plan – a path forward that will deliver on jobs, justice, and climate solutions through more than $2 trillion in investments in people and the economy. The plan invests in public lands
Coalition Comments on DOI Public Forum
“We strongly agree with Secretary Haaland’s Interior Department; our nation’s federal oil and gas leasing system is in need of holistic reform,” said Phil Francis, Chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks. “It is an outdated system that threatens our climate, wildlife, clean air and water, public lands, and national parks.” President
Coalition Celebrates Deb Haaland’s Confirmation as Interior Secretary
“We applaud today’s historic confirmation of Deb Haaland as the new Secretary of the Interior. We look forward to having a public lands champion in the office and will work to support her efforts to combat the challenges facing our national parks and public lands,” said Phil Francis, Chair of the Coalition to Protect
Coalition Supports Senate Bill to Reform Fiscal Aspects of Leasing System
Wednesday, March 10, 2021 Contact: Pr***@**********te.gov (Rosen) Contact: Ka*************@*************te.Gov (Grassley) Rosen, Grassley Introduce Bipartisan Fair Returns for Public Lands Act to Ensure Taxpayers Get Fair Share for Oil and Gas Leasing on Public Lands Legislation Would Reform Antiquated Law That Governs Royalties And The Leasing Of Public Land To Ensure Oil And Gas Companies Pay
Coalition Continues to Support Haaland as Interior Secretary Nominee
Coalition Continues to Support Haaland as her Nomination for Interior Secretary Heads to a Full Senate Confirmation Vote WASHINGTON, DC — Earlier today, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources voted to advance the nomination of Rep. Deb Haaland for Secretary of the Interior Department to a full Senate confirmation vote. In reaction
Coalition Encourages More Diversity Within National Park System
Black History Month provides us with an opportunity to honor and celebrate the accomplishments of African Americans. It is also a time to reflect on the work we must do to address the historic, substantial challenges facing people of color in our country today. This is especially true in our national parks, which should
Coalition Statement On NPS Employees And COVID-19
Phil Francis, Chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, issued a statement regarding the safety of National Park Service (NPS) frontline employees as the country continues to navigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic: “We applaud the Biden administration’s decision to require the Federal workforce and individuals interacting with the Federal workforce to
Coalition Praises DOI’s Actions To Restore Intent Of LWCF
WASHINGTON, DC — Moments ago, the Department of the Interior repealed former Secretary David Bernhardt’s Secretarial Orders on the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) which imposed unnecessary, top-down requirements that delayed the National Park Service’s ability to address its over $5 billion backlog of land acquisition needs. The Interior Department’s action today restores
Coalition Applauds Biden’s Executive Actions on Climate Crisis
Moments ago, President Biden took bold executive action by signing a slate of executive orders that would help to protect America’s national parks and public lands and tackle the climate crisis. Specifically, the president ordered a pause on new oil and gas leasing on federal land and laid out a ten-year goal of conserving
NPCA and Coalition Submit Recommendations on GAOA and Deferred Maintenance Implementation
Great American Outdoors Act: Deferred Maintenance Implementation Considerations and Recommendations January 2021 The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) was an extraordinary accomplishment for repairing and conserving our national parks. It is critical that implementation of the law is successful to ensure wise, efficient, transparent use of federal dollars; to meet congressional intent; and to
Second Century Action Coalition Releases Priorities for National Parks
Priorities for the National Parks Second Century Action Coalition For more than a century, our national parks have remained America’s favorite places, important pieces of our natural and cultural heritage set aside for future generations to explore and enjoy. In 2019, 328 million park visitors spent an estimated $21 billion in local gateway communities while
Former NPS Director Gary E. Everhardt Passes Away
December 29, 2020 Former NPS Director Gary E. Everhardt Passes Away Gary Everhardt, former director of the National Park Service (NPS), passed away on the evening of December 27, 2020. His death followed the passing of his wife Nancy, on December 23, 2020. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of both Gary and
Coalition Weighs In on Bernhardt’s Reckless Behavior
By Washington Post – Juliet Eilperin and Darryl Fears Interior shuts Washington Monument after interior secretary tests positive for the coronavirus Park Service staff say they may have been exposed when David Bernhardt led a private, after-hours tour Officials have taken the extraordinary step of closing the Washington Monument starting Friday as a precaution after
Coalition Praises Representative Haaland’s Historic Nomination for Interior Secretary
WASHINGTON, DC — Moments ago, it was reported that President-elect Joe Biden plans to nominate Representative Deb Haaland to serve as Secretary of the Interior. She would be the first Indigenous person to serve in that position. In reaction to the announcement, Phil Francis, Chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, said:
Coalition Speaks Out On NPS Alaska Jurisdiction Rule
For immediate release: 11/16/20 Contact: Emily Thompson; Em************@********ps.org; (202) 819-8622 The National Park Service (NPS) has issued a final rule that has gone far beyond a precedent set in Sturgeon v. Frost, a case in which the Supreme Court held that the NPS could not enforce a System-wide regulation prohibiting the operation of a hovercraft
Coalition: The Secretary Bernhardt’s Attempt to Undermine LWCF is Unacceptable
WASHINGTON, DC — Moments ago, Secretary David Bernhardt announced that the Interior Department would issue new orders that will impose unnecessary, top-down requirements that will potentially delay the National Park Service’s ability to address its over $5 billion backlog of land acquisition needs. In reaction to the announcement, Phil Francis, Chair of the Coalition
Coalition Slams DOI Over Its LWCF Funding Projects List
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 10, 2020 WASHINGTON, DC — This morning, the Department of the Interior published a list of projects it intends to allocate with the Land and Water Conservation Fund’s support. The list comes a week after the deadline, which the Trump administration inexplicably missed. As per the guidance laid out in
Coalition: NEPA Directive a “Waste of Taxpayer Money.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 11/10/20 MEDIA CONTACT: Emily Thompson; Em************@********ps.org; 202-758-3936 Coalition Calls NEPA Directive a “Waste of Taxpayer Money.” The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo directing federal agencies to prioritize aligning their National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures with the finalized Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations.
Coalition Talks Parks Post-Election
Phil Francis spoke with Conde Nast Traveler about how the election results could impact the travel industry. “Our national parks and public lands are meant to be enjoyed by all Americans and they will always need advocates, regardless of the election results. As a non-partisan organization, we will continue to fight to protect our
Coalition Concerned Over Failure to Hit LWCF Project Deadline
As per the guidance laid out in the Dingell Act of 2019 and the Great American Outdoors Act of 2020, the Department of the Interior was required to publish a list of allocations for the full and permanent funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund by November 2, 2020. The Trump Administration missed this