Trump’s Salute to America an Irresponsible Use of National Park Service Resources For Immediate Release: 7-1-19 Media Contact: Emily Thompson; Em************@********ps.org; 202-758-3936 National parks, considered “America’s Best Idea,” are iconic locations to celebrate America’s birthday. Unfortunately, President Trump’s proposed Salute to America celebration on the National Mall will place a huge burden on those tasked
Coalition Comments on Growing Costs of July 4th Celebration on The Mall.
Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks Chair Phil Francis, stated in an email to the Washington Post, “The men and women of the National Park Service have been asked to do more with less for too long. Funds should be directed to the agency’s highest needs such as operation of the parks and the maintenance
Coalition Weighs in On Lack of Law Enforcement Rangers in Parks
Coalition Chair, Phil Francis, discusses how NPS superintendents are having to make tough decisions about what jobs to fill due to inadequate funding. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/06/29/national-parks-rangers-vanishing-putting-visitors-risk/1503627001/
Opinion: Land and Water Conservation Fund benefits South Carolina
As superintendent at Fort Sumter and throughout my 35-year career with the National Park Service (NPS), I worked to protect and preserve our nation’s most treasured natural and cultural resources. I saw firsthand the value of getting Americans outside, into our national parks and connected with their heritage. I also saw the importance of the
Statement on House Natural Resources Committee Passage of Restore our Parks Act
Coalition Statement on the House Natural Resources Committee’s Passage of Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act Release Date: June 27, 2019 Statement of Phil Francis, Chair of The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks: “We are pleased that Congress is taking another step toward addressing the growing maintenance backlog that is crippling our
Coalition Submits Comments on AZ Border Infrastructure Projects
June 26, 2019 Paul Enriquez, Director Border Wall Program Management Office U.S. Customs and Border Protection U.S. Border Patrol Headquarters 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. 6.5E Mail Stop 1039 Washington, DC 20229-1100 Re: Pima and Cochise Counties, Arizona Border Infrastructure Project Dear Mr. Enriquez: The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks is submitting comments regarding the above
CPANP Encourages Funding for Deferred Maintenance in Interview with Public News Service
Coalition Chair Phil Francis recently spoke with the Public News Service about the extensive deferred maintenance backlog in national parks across the country. “Yellowstone and Grand Teton, they’re economic engines, because people love them,” Francis states. “They’re special places, special enough that people will take their vacations and spend their money and spend their time
Coalition Statement on House Natural Resources Committee Markup
Coalition Statement on House Natural Resources Committee Markup Release Date: June 19, 2019 Statement of Phil Francis, Chair of The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks: “We are encouraged by the support shown for national parks and public lands in today’s committee markup. Legislation to require mandatory annual funding for the Land and Water
Coalition Continues to Push for LWCF Funding as Bernhardt visits National Parks
Coalition Executive Council member Doug Morris is interviewed in National Parks Traveler.
Coalition and Partners submit comments to BLM on Dangers of Hydraulic Fracturing
The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (CPANP) – in partnership with The Wilderness Society, the Natural Resource Defense Council, the National Parks Conservation Association and the Los Padres ForestWatch – has recently submitted comments regarding the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Bakersfield Field Office Resource Management Plan, Hydraulic Fracturing Analysis – Draft Supplemental Environmental
Success Story – Speaking Out Against Impacts to Chaco Canyon NHP Helps Change Interior Direction
In February 2017, the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks submitted comments – along with Tribes and several conservation organizations – to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in opposition to mineral leasing proposed on approximately 4.2 million acres of land in San Juan, Rio Arriba, McKinley and Sandoval Counties in New Mexico (NM).
Coalition Supports Rob Wallace Nomination
May 29, 2019 Honorable Lisa Murkowski Chairman Committee on Energy and Natural Resources U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Madam Chairman: We, the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, write this letter in support of Rob Wallace for the position of Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. The Coalition
Letter to the Editor: Tipton should support Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act
Executive Council member Sarah Bransom submitted this letter to the Editor of the Steamboat Pilot & Today in Northwest Colorado. Sarah Bransom: Tipton should support Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act News | May 16, 2019 I was pleased to read Congressman Scott Tipton’s op-ed about celebrating National Park Week. He wrote that he has
Pipeline Proposal a Threat to Nevada’s Public Lands
Former National Park Service Superintendents and current Nevada residents Mark Butler and Alan O’Neill submitted the following Op-Ed to the Reno Gazette-Journal about potential threats to Nevada national park lands. AB30 THREATENS NEVADA’S NATIONAL PARK AND PUBLIC LANDS Pipeline projects across the nation threaten our public lands and natural resources. Unfortunately, Nevada is not immune
OP-ED: Senator Gardner Must Provide Oversight to Keep Colorado’s Public Lands Safe
Coalition member Scot McElveen submitted this Op-ed calling for Senator Gardner to provide real oversight of the Interior Department so that Secretary David Bernhardt’s former clients and special interests are not put ahead of protecting our nation’s public lands. Read Scott’s Op-ed here.
Coalition Interview on LWCF and Maine
Coalition executive council member Mike Murray, a Maine resident explains what the president’s cutbacks would do. Click here to learn more.
Coalition Statement on the House Appropriations Committee draft fiscal year 2020 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Funding Bill
Statement on the House Appropriations Committee draft fiscal year 2020 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies funding bill Release Date: 5/15/19 “We pleased to see that this draft funding bill proposes $3.39 billion for the National Park Service, which is $168 million above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level and $649 million above President Trump’s appalling
LWCF Deserves Full Funding
LWCF has a huge impact in communities and states across the country. Read Coalition Executive Council member Mike Murray’s oped in the Portland Press Herald on the importance of LWCF in his home state of Maine. https://www.pressherald.com/2019/05/15/commentary-program-that-protects-americas-outdoor-places-deserves-full-federal-funding/
Coalition Joins Partners to Advocate for Continued US Engagement in World Heritage Program
May 14, 2019 Dear Chairman Murkowski and Ranking Member Udall: As organizations dedicated to the protection and preservation of the historic and cultural resources of our nation including but not limited to World Heritage Sites, we write in support of the United States’ engagement in the World Heritage Program. We urge you to appropriate $1.926
Coalition Submits Testimony on FY20 Interior Appropriations
Statement of Philip A. Francis, Jr. Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Committee on Appropriations United States Senate FY 2020 Budget for the National Park Service May 13, 2019 Sen. Murkowski, Sen. Udall, and members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony on behalf
Stop Alarming Changes Proposed to National Register
Coalition Executive Council Member Bob Mackreth voices concern about proposed changes to the National Register in this op-ed that appears in National Parks Traveler. https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2019/04/op-ed-alarming-changes-proposed-federal-historic-preservation-rules
Coalition Comments on Proposed Changes to National Register
April 12, 2019 National Register of Historic Places National Park Service 1849 C Street NW, MS 7228 Washington, DC 20240 Re: (RIN) 1024-AE49 I am writing on behalf of over 1,700 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
Disappointing News for National Parks: Bernhardt Confirmed as Interior Secretary
Coalition’s Statement on David Bernhardt’s Confirmation as Interior Secretary For Immediate Release: 12 April 2019 The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks expressed disappointment and concern over the confirmation of David Bernhardt as Secretary of the Interior. The organization represents over 1,700 members consisting of current, former, and retired National Park Service employees with
New Interior Chief Poses Threat to our National Parks
An op-ed from Coalition member Laura Rotegard in the Kitsap Sun. https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/opinion/columnists/2019/04/11/your-turn-trumps-interior-nominee-poses-threat-our-national-parks/3437425002/
Why Bernhardt is Unfit to Serve as Secretary
An op-ed by Coalition member Steve Martin: http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/040419_interior_sec_op/why-david-bernhardt-unfit-serve-as-interior-secretary/