March 26, 2019 Dear Senator, I am writing on behalf of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition). With more than 1,600 members, the Coalition consists mainly of retired National Park Service (NPS) employees, including: Former NPS directors; associate and regional directors; superintendents; rangers, and a wide variety of specialists. The Coalition was founded
President Trump’s Proposed Budget Will Harm National Parks and Public Lands
President Trump’s Proposed Budget Will Harm National Parks and Public Lands For Immediate Release: 11 March 2019 The Trump Administration’s FY 2020 budget proposes huge cuts across the federal government. It calls for a 14.9% cut to the National Park Service budget, when compared to the budget passed by Congress for FY19. This budget
Coalition Urges NPS to Prepare Proper NEPA Analysis for Atlantic Coast Pipeline
March 8, 2019 Mr. P. Daniel Smith Acting Director National Park Service 1849 C Street NW Washington, DC 20240 Dear Mr. Smith: The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (“Coalition”) is writing with regard to the National Park Service’s (“NPS”) environmental review of the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline (“Pipeline”) that will cross the Blue Ridge
Success Story: James River Powerline Ruling
Success Story Update: Persistence pays off—court rules Army Corps acted improperly in approving James River powerlines without Environmental Impact Statement. On March 1, 2019, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia reversed a lower court’s decision and ruled that the Army Corps of Engineers acted improperly in allowing the Dominion Energy
Coalition’s Advocacy Efforts Pay Off in District of Columbia Circuit Ruling
The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, in partnership with NPCA and other conservation groups, entered legal objections to an Army Corps of Engineers Project that erected nearly 300-foot-high towers through the James River within sight of Historic Jamestowne and Colonial National Historical Park. A federal appellate court, holding that the U.S. Army Corps of
Coalition Testifies Before Congress on DOI Budget Needs
Statement of Richard G. Ring Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Committee on Appropriations House of Representatives Hearing on FY 2020 Budget for the National Park Service February 26, 2019 Rep. McCollum, Rep. Joyce, and members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before
Coalition Celebrates Passage of S. 47, Natural Resources Management Act
Coalition Celebrates Passage of S. 47, Natural Resources Management Act For Immediate Release: 12 February 2019 The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks is celebrating the passage of S. 47, the Natural Resources Management Act, a bipartisan package that includes over 100 parks and public lands bills. Many of these bills have been pending
Media Interest Surrounds Coalition’s Shutdown Impact Survey on National Parks
Coalition Executive Council Member Maria Burks Speaks with The Cape Cod Times on the shutdown impact survey at Cape Cod National Seashore – click here to read the article. Coalition Chair Phil Francis Speaks with CBS-19 on the impacts of the shutdown at Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway – click here to
Coalition Releases Summary of Shutdown Impact Survey
Park Impact Survey Summary of Results The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition) represents over 1,600 current, former, and retired employees and volunteers of the National Park Service. The Coalition counts among its members former National Park Service directors, deputy directors, regional directors, superintendents, park rangers (law enforcement and interpretive), maintenance professionals, administrative
Coalition Testifies on Use of Fee Money During Shutdown
Statement of Philip A. Francis, Jr. Chair of the Executive Council, Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks The Power of the Purse: A Review of Agency Spending Restrictions During a Shutdown Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Committee on Appropriations House of Representatives February 6, 2019 Rep. McCollum, Rep. Joyce, and members of
Coalition Issues Statement on Need to Fund and Reauthorize LWCF
Coalition Chair Phil Francis issued the following statement on the future of the Land and Water Conservation Fund: “The U.S. Senate’s action to make the Land and Water Conservation Fund permanent is a big step in the right direction for the future of our national parks and public lands. At a time when our
Coalition Expresses Concern Over Bernhardt Nomination
February 4, 2019 Statement of Phil Francis, Chair of The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, on the Nomination of David Bernhardt as Secretary of the Interior: “The Coalition is extremely concerned about the nomination of David Bernhardt as the new Secretary of the Interior. Secretary-designate Bernhardt was a lobbyist for oil and gas
Coalition Chair Phil Francis Speaks to Use of Fee Money and Losses from Shutdown
Coalition Chair Phil Francis was quoted in a recent article from The Hill, addressing the struggle in national parks to cope with the loss of over a month of work time and up to $11 million in revenue thanks to the recent government shutdown.
Opinion: Congress must fund land, water conservation program
Many of our public lands are at risk if lawmakers don’t reinstate the half-century-old deal. Click here to read commentary by Jon Jarvis, 18th director of the U.S. National Park Service, in the Mercury News, San Francisco, CA.
Shutdown Damage Assessment Is Only Just Beginning
For Immediate Release: 31 January 2019 Shutdown Damage Assessment Is Only Just Beginning Though the federal government is now open under a continuing resolution, Phil Francis, Chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, urges continued government expediency and offers a note of caution. “We are happy to have National Park Service employees back
Coalition Joins 146 Groups in Comments on Proposed DOI FOIA Changes
The Southern Environmental Law Center, The Wilderness Society, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice, Environmental Defense Fund, National Wildlife Federation, Animal Welfare Institute, the Center for Urban and Environmental Reform, and the Sierra Club submitted these comments on their own behalf and on behalf of the undersigned 135
Coalition’s Letter to Sen. McConnell – Reopen the Dept. of the Interior
January 21, 2019 Dear Leader McConnell, On behalf of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, a non-profit organization representing over 1,600 current and former National Park Service employees, we urge you to do everything in your power to fully reopen our national parks and public lands by ending this government shutdown and passing appropriations
Letters to the Editor Opinion: The real shutdown ‘charade’
Coalition member and former superintendent of Joshua Tree National Park Mark Butler submitted his Op-Ed to the Washington Post – Letters to the Editor.
Former Great Smoky Mountains Superintendent: Phil Francis park should be closed until shutdown ends
Watch Phil Francis, Chairman of The Coalition to Protect Americas National Parks and former Great Smoky Mountains Superintendent explain why the park should be closed until shutdown ends.
Statement of Coalition Executive Council Member Richard Ring
Statement of Richard G. Ring Executive Council Member, Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks concerning the impact of the federal government shutdown on the National Park System and the National Park Service. Democratic Steering & Policy Committee House of Representatives January 15, 2019 Rep. DeLauro, Rep. Swalwell, and members of the Steering and Policy
Coalition Joins Groups Calling Trump to Close Parks during Shutdown
January 9, 2019 President Donald J. Trump The White House Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear President Trump: We respectfully ask that you agree to fully fund the government and reopen agencies currently closed. Otherwise, we strongly urge that you close units of the National Wildlife Refuge System, the National Parks, and other public lands, until sufficient
Coalition’s Statement on Continuing Government Shutdown
Statement of Phil Francis, Chair of The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, on the Continuing Partial Government Shutdown: “This partial government shutdown needs to end. As our elected leaders fail to do their jobs and fully fund the government, there’s discussion that more NPS employees may be asked to work without pay to
Coalition Statement on the Partial Government Shutdown
Statement of Phil Francis, Chair of The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, on the Partial Government Shutdown: “We are deeply concerned about the decision by the Trump Administration and this Republican-led Congress to partially shut down the federal government. Adding insult to injury, Secretary Zinke is directing select national parks to remain open with
Coalition Joins Public Lands Advocates in Telepresser on Government Shutdown
With a potential shutdown of the federal government looming, former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) staff and public lands and environmental advocates hosted a press call to discuss the ramifications of a shutdown. It was very apparent from the call that this decision would have a serious and negative impact on federal employees, and critical public
Congress Fails to Reauthorize and Fully Fund LWCF
Republican-Controlled Congress Fails to Save LWCF FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 20 December 2018 Following the passage of a continuing resolution bill, the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks released the following statement calling out the massive failure by the Republican-controlled Congress to include a provision to permanently reauthorize and fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund