S.Hrg.119-238

1[Senate Hearing 119-238]2[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]34                                                      S. Hrg. 119-23856                          PENDING LEGISLATION7=======================================================================89                                HEARING1011                               BEFORE THE1213                     SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS1415                                 OF THE1617                              COMMITTEE ON18                      ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES19                          UNITED STATES SENATE2021                    ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS2223                             FIRST SESSION2425                                   on2627S. 290                                      S. 1131                             S. 227028S. 332                                      S. 1135                             S. 230829S. 446                                      S. 1280                             S. 236930S. 573                                      S. 1353                             S. 238531S. 601                                      S. 1377                             S. 254632S. 730                                      S. 1518                             S. 270833S. 791                                      S. 1777                             S. 297034S. 858/H.R. 186                             S. 1870                             H.R. 24935S. 1088                                     S. 19263637                               __________3839                            DECEMBER 9, 20254041                               __________4243[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]4445                       Printed for the use of the46                Committee on Energy and Natural Resources4748        Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.govinfo.gov49                               __________5051                    U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE5262-251                      WASHINGTON: 202653=======================================================================5455               COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES5657                        MIKE LEE, Utah, Chairman58JOHN BARRASSO, Wyoming               MARTIN HEINRICH, New Mexico59JAMES E. RISCH, Idaho                RON WYDEN, Oregon60STEVE DAINES, Montana                MARIA CANTWELL, Washington61TOM COTTON, Arkansas                 MAZIE K. HIRONO, Hawaii62DAVID McCORMICK, Pennsylvania        ANGUS S. KING, JR., Maine63JAMES C. JUSTICE, West Virginia      CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO, Nevada64BILL CASSIDY, Louisiana              JOHN W. HICKENLOOPER, Colorado65CINDY HYDE-SMITH, Mississippi        ALEX PADILLA, California66LISA MURKOWSKI, Alaska               RUBEN GALLEGO, Arizona67JOHN HOEVEN, North Dakota68                                 ------6970                     Subcommittee on National Parks7172                         Steve Daines, Co-Chair7374JOHN BARRASSO                        ANGUS S. KING, JR., Co-Chair75BILL CASSIDY                         MAZIE K. HIRONO76LISA MURKOWSKI                       RUBEN GALLEGO7778                  Wendy Baig, Majority Staff Director79    Chris Prandoni, Majority Deputy Staff Director and Chief Counsel80           David Gardner, Majority Professional Staff Member81                 Jasmine Hunt, Minority Staff Director82                 Sam E. Fowler, Minority Chief Counsel83            Rachel Lentz, Minority Professional Staff Member8485                           C O N T E N T S8687                              ----------8889                           OPENING STATEMENTS9091                                                                   Page92Daines, Hon. Steve, Subcommittee Co-Chair and a U.S. Senator from9394  Montana........................................................     195King, Jr., Hon. Angus S., Subcommittee Co-Chair and a U.S.96  Senator from Maine.............................................     697Barrasso, Hon. John, a U.S. Senator from Wyoming.................    1298Heinrich, Hon. Martin, a U.S. Senator from New Mexico............    1399Padilla, Hon. Alex, a U.S. Senator from California...............    14100101                               WITNESSES102                                Panel 1103104Kaine, Hon. Tim, a U.S. Senator from Virginia....................    15105Van Hollen, Hon. Chris, a U.S. Senator from Maryland.............    16106107                                Panel 2108109Caldwell, Michael A., Associate Director, Park Planning,110  Facilities, and Lands, National Park Service, U.S. Department111  of the Interior................................................    18112113          ALPHABETICAL LISTING AND APPENDIX MATERIAL SUBMITTED114115Agenda...........................................................     3116Altamaha Riverkeeper:117    Letter for the Record........................................   117118Anderjaska, Vassiliki:119    Letter for the Record........................................    64120Appalachian Trail Conservancy:121    Statement for the Record.....................................    50122    Consolidated Questions Based on Appalachian Trail Centennial123      Act Overview Factsheet.....................................    57124Barrasso, Hon. John:125    Opening Statement............................................    12126Bloom, Mel:127    Letter for the Record........................................    65128Buckner, Jackie:129    Letter for the Record........................................   191130Caldwell, Michael A.:131    Opening Statement............................................    18132    Written Testimony............................................    20133    Questions for the Record.....................................    46134Cassidy, Chris:135    Statement for the Record.....................................   108136Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates:137    Letter for the Record........................................    66138(The) Conservation Fund:139    Letter for the Record........................................   120140Coppotelli, Heide Catherina:141    Letter for the Record........................................    70142Daines, Hon. Steve:143    Opening Statement............................................     1144Dawson, Mike et al.:145    Statement for the Record.....................................    71146Development Authority of the City of Jeffersonville and Twiggs147  County:148    Letter for the Record........................................   165149Duffy, Jennifer:150    Letter for the Record........................................    82151Englehardt, Tammy:152    Letter for the Record........................................    83153Ensign, Dianne:154    Letter for the Record........................................    84155Esposito, Susan:156    Letter for the Record........................................    85157Georgia Chamber of Commerce:158    Letter for the Record........................................   121159Georgia Conservancy:160    Letter for the Record........................................   123161Georgia Council of Trout Unlimited:162    Letter for the Record........................................   160163Georgia Department of Natural Resources:164    Letter for the Record........................................   125165Georgia Mining Association:166    Letter for the Record........................................   127167Georgia Wildlife Federation:168    Letter for the Record........................................   128169Gheesling, Angie:170    Letter for the Record........................................   140171Giese, Mark M.:172    Letter for the Record........................................    86173Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce:174    Letter for the Record........................................   131175Hamilton Partnership for Paterson:176    Letter for the Record........................................    87177Heinrich, Hon. Martin:178    Opening Statement............................................    13179Heins, Jill M.:180    Letter for the Record........................................    88181Houston County (GA) Board of Commissioners:182    Letter for the Record........................................   136183Ice Age Trail Alliance:184    Letter for the Record........................................    89185Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes:186    Resolution No. 24-11.........................................   143187James-Poole, Diane:188    Letter for the Record........................................   183189Jones, Eva:190    Letter for the Record........................................    91191Justice, Hon. James C.:192    Statement for the Record.....................................    92193Kaine, Hon. Tim:194    Opening Statement............................................    15195Kenney, Raya:196    Statement for the Record.....................................    94197King, Jr., Hon. Angus S.:198    Opening Statement............................................     6199    Side-by-side comparison of the FY25 and FY26 National Park200      Service Budget Justifications..............................     7201    Chart entitled ``NPS Visitation vs. Staffing''...............     9202    ``Scourged Back'' photograph.................................    11203Kivimaki, Jussi:204    Letter for the Record........................................    97205Kman, Christine:206    Letter for the Record........................................    98207Lawrence, John A.:208    Letter for the Record........................................   101209Macaruso Lineberger, Gina Lynn:210    Letter for the Record........................................   103211Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority:212    Letter for the Record........................................   145213Marcil, Joe:214    Letter for the Record........................................    40215Marinakis, Marie A.:216    Letter for the Record........................................   104217Martin, Ted:218    Letter for the Record........................................   105219Middle Georgia Regional Commission:220    Resolution on Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve,221      dated May 9, 2024..........................................   148222Miner, Barry D.:223    Letter for the Record........................................   106224Muscogee (Creek) Nation:225    Letter for the Record........................................   151226National EMS Memorial Foundation:227    Letter for the Record........................................   185228National Parks Conservation Association:229    Statement for the Record.....................................   110230(The) Nature Conservancy:231    Letter for the Record........................................   152232Newtown Macon:233    Letter for the Record........................................   154234North Country Trail Association:235    Statement for the Record.....................................   113236Ogeechee Riverkeeper:237    Letter for the Record........................................   170238Olesen, Antoinette:239    Letter for the Record........................................   173240Outdoor Alliance:241    Statement for the Record.....................................   174242Padilla, Hon. Alex:243    Opening Statement............................................    14244Pallone, Jr., Hon. Frank:245    Letter for the Record........................................   180246(The) Pascrell Family:247    Letter for the Record........................................   181248Perino, Nina:249    Letter for the Record........................................   182250Richardson, Gail C.:251    Letter for the Record........................................   184252Robins Air Force Base 21st Century Partnership:253    Letter for the Record........................................   115254Rosen, Hon. Jacky:255    Letter for the Record........................................    48256Saladino, Susan:257    Letter for the Record........................................   188258Schmitt, Hon. Eric:259    Statement for the Record.....................................   189260Southeast Tourism Society:261    Letter for the Record........................................   157262Thompson, Aves D.:263    Letter for the Record........................................    42264Tiseo, Benedetto:265    Letter for the Record........................................    41266Trust for Public Land:267    Letter for the Record dated February 14, 2024................   163268    Letter for the Record dated December 9, 2025.................   192269United States Department of Agriculture:270    Statement for the Record.....................................   194271Van Hollen, Hon. Chris:272    Opening Statement............................................    16273Visit Macon, Inc.:274    Letter for the Record........................................   167275Wakefield, Marie:276    Letter for the Record........................................   195277Wampfler, Gabriele:278    Letter for the Record........................................   196279Ward, Chip et al.:280    Letter for the Record........................................   197281Werner, Gary:282    Statement for the Record.....................................   206283Wild in North Dakota:284    Letter for the Record........................................   208285286----------287The text for each of the bills addressed in this hearing can be found288on the Committee's website at: https://www.energy.senate.gov/hearings/2892025/12/national-park-subcommittee-to-receive-testimony-on-pending-290legislation291292                          PENDING LEGISLATION293294                              ----------295296                       TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2025297298                               U.S. Senate,299                    Subcommittee on National Parks,300                 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,301                                                    Washington, DC.302    The Subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:00 a.m. in303Room SD-366, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Steve Daines,304Chairman of the Subcommittee, presiding.305306            OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. STEVE DAINES,307                   U.S. SENATOR FROM MONTANA308309    Senator Daines. The Subcommittee will come to order.310    Today's Subcommittee hearing is the first in the 119th311Congress. I want to thank my co-chair, Senator King, as I want312to remind everybody here, we refer to each other as co-chairs313because we want to view this as perhaps the most bipartisan314committee in the U.S. Senate. And so, we don't have a chairman315and ranking member, we have co-chairs, and the gavel has gone316back and forth during our tenure here. And Angus, it's always317great to partner with you.318    I look forward to continuing our long streak of our319bipartisan work. Specifically, I am excited to continue our320work on reauthorizing the Legacy Restoration Fund to address321Park Service deferred maintenance in our very strong,322bipartisan America the Beautiful Act. The Legacy Restoration323Fund has been a historic investment in our parks and our public324lands. I look forward to working with Chairman Lee and Ranking325Member Heinrich, as well as all of my colleagues, to get our326America the Beautiful Act to President Trump's desk before the327country's 250th birthday on July 4th.328    On today's agenda, we have 26 bills, many of which are329bipartisan or have the support from the state delegation. I am330excited to hear more about Senate bill 290, the Making National331Parks Safer Act, led by Senators Barrasso and King. One of the332first hearings I led as Chairman of the Parks Subcommittee was333on encouraging the next generation to visit the parks, where we334talked about technology in the parks, including emergency335communications and digital park passes. We have made progress336since that hearing back in 2015. Senator King and I were337successful in getting our bill signed into law last year to338allow a digital America the Beautiful pass but we still have339significant issues with the emergency communications. I look340forward to hearing how this bill will help expand next-341generation 9-1-1 and other emergency communication systems.342    We will also hear from the Park Service on a number of343bills led by my colleagues, including Senate bill 446, related344to the Big Cypress National Preserve; Senate bill 573,345designating a mountain in Alaska; Senate bill 601, related to a346memorial in Kentucky; Senate bill 858, the National Medal of347Honor Monument Location Act; Senate bill 1135, related to the348Bonneville Shoreline Trail; Senate bill 1280, the Down East349Remembrance Act; Senate bill 1353, to modify the Second350Division Memorial in DC; Senate bill 1377, the Theodore351Roosevelt National Park Wild Horses Protection Act; Senate bill3522270, the Myakka Wild and Scenic River Act; Senate bill 2308,353the PATRIOT Parks Act; Senate bill 2385, the Restoring Truth354and Sanity--it sounds like something we need there, Mr. Co-355Chairman--Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History Act;356and Senate bill 2970, related to Capitol Reef National Park.357    Finally, I want to mention one bill that's not on today's358agenda, but has important Park Service equities. Senate bill3591858 requires national cemeteries, including those administered360by the National Park Service, to be open to visitors during361federal holidays--what a novel concept--so family and friends362can visit their loved ones during special remembrance days.363Senate bill 1858 was referred to the Committee on Veterans'364Affairs, but as it mandates cemeteries administered by the Park365Service to remain open, and specifically, the Custer National366Cemetery in Montana, I wanted to flag this important bill for367the Park Service's review and their support.368    A quick housekeeping item, without objection, today's369complete agenda, as well as all written statements and letters370that have been sent to the Subcommittee, will be included in371the official record, without objection.372    [The agenda for today's hearing follows. Letters and373written statements appear where introduced by a committee374member, or otherwise in the appendix of this hearing document:]375376                       SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY377378                         AND NATURAL RESOURCES379380                     Subcommittee on National Parks381382          HEARING AGENDA FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2025383384    The purpose of this hearing is to receive testimony on the385following bills:386   S. 290, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to387        upgrade existing emergency communications centers in388        units of the National Park System to Next Generation 9-389        1-1 systems, and for other purposes (Barrasso);390   S. 332, to require a study on Holocaust education391        efforts of states, local educational agencies, and392        public elementary and secondary schools, and for other393        purposes (Rosen);394   S. 446, to prohibit Big Cypress National Preserve395        from being designated as wilderness or as a component396        of the National Wilderness Preservation System, and for397        other purposes (Scott);398   S. 573, to designate a mountain in the State of399        Alaska as Denali (Murkowski);400   S. 601, to remove restrictions from a parcel of land401        in Paducah, Kentucky (Paul);402   S. 730, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to403        conduct a study to assess the suitability and404        feasibility of establishing the African Burial Ground405        International Memorial Museum and Educational Center at406        the African Burial Ground National Monument, and for407        other purposes (Gillibrand);408   S. 791, to establish the Justice Thurgood Marshall409        National Historic Site in the State of Maryland as an410        affiliated area of the National Park System, and for411        other purposes (Van Hollen);412   S. 858/H.R. 186, to authorize the National Medal of413        Honor Museum Foundation to establish a commemorative414        work on the National Mall to honor the extraordinary415        acts of valor, selfless service, and sacrifice416        displayed by Medal of Honor recipients (Justice)/(Rep.417        Moore);418   S. 1088, to provide that the memorial to commemorate419        the sacrifice and service of the women who worked on420        the home front to support the efforts of the United421        States military during World War II may be located on422        the National Mall, and for other purposes (Shaheen);423   S. 1131, to establish the Ocmulgee Mounds National424        Park and Preserve in the State of Georgia, and for425        other purposes (Ossoff);426   S. 1135, to amend the National Trails System Act to427        direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study428        on the feasibility of designating the Bonneville429        Shoreline Trail (Curtis);430   S. 1280, to designate six creeks in North Carolina431        in honor of the lives lost in a plane crash in Carteret432        County, North Carolina, on February 13, 2022, and for433        other purposes (Tillis);434   S. 1353, to extend the authority for modifications435        to the Second Division Memorial in the District of436        Columbia (Murkowski);437   S. 1377, to ensure the maintenance of a herd of438        horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and for439        other purposes (Hoeven);440   S. 1518, to redesignate the Saratoga National441        Historical Park as the ``Saratoga National Battlefield442        Park'' (Gillibrand);443   S. 1777, to amend the California Desert Protection444        Act of 1994 to expand the boundary of Joshua Tree445        National Park, to redesignate the Cottonwood Visitor446        Center at Joshua Tree National Park as the ``Dianne447        Feinstein Visitor Center,'' and for other purposes448        (Padilla);449   S. 1870, to adjust the boundary of the Santa Monica450        National Recreation Area to include the Rim of the451        Valley Corridor, and for other purposes (Schiff);452   S. 1926, to encourage reduction of disposable453        plastic products in units of the National Park System,454        and for other purposes (Merkley);455   S. 2270, to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to456        designate the portion of the Myakka River in Sarasota457        County, Florida, as a component of the National Wild458        and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes459        (Scott);460   S. 2308, to amend the Federal Lands Recreation461        Enhancement Act to authorize the Secretary of the462        Interior to collect a surcharge from international463        visitors to units of the National Park System, and for464        other purposes (Banks);465   S. 2369, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to466        remove or permanently conceal the name of Francis467        Newlands on the grounds of the memorial fountain468        located at Chevy Chase Circle in the District of469        Columbia, and for other purposes (Van Hollen);470   S. 2385, to codify Executive Order 14253 relating to471        restoring truth and sanity to American history, and for472        other purposes (Banks);473   S. 2546, to provide for an extension of the474        legislative authority of the National Emergency Medical475        Services Memorial Foundation to establish a476        commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its477        environs (Coons);478   S. 2708, to enhance the preservation, maintenance,479        and management of national historic trails and national480        scenic trails, and for other purposes (Kaine);481   S. 2970, to authorize the use of off-highway482        vehicles in certain areas of the Capitol Reef National483        Park, Utah (Lee); and484   H.R. 249, to redesignate certain facilities at485        Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park in honor486        of Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (Rep. Pallone).487    Senator Daines. We have one witness today, Mr. Caldwell,488the Associate Director of Park Planning, Facilities, and Lands489at the National Park Service. Before hearing your testimony, I490will now turn to Co-Chair King for his opening remarks.491492         OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. ANGUS S. KING, JR.,493                    U.S. SENATOR FROM MAINE494495    Senator King. Thank you, Senator Daines, for your remarks,496and the bipartisan partnership that we have developed over the497years as we trade the gavel back and forth. I want to thank498Mike Caldwell for coming to testify on behalf of the Park499Service. Mike, you are a familiar face in front of this500Committee, and we welcome you back.501    I cannot come to this meeting quietly, however, while I502believe our parks are under what can only be described as an503attack. I want to first talk about staffing and funding levels504for the parks. I have long criticized both Democratic and505Republican administrations over the current underfunding and506understaffing of our national parks. When our full Committee507held a hearing to examine the Department of the Interior's508budget request for FY25, in May of `24, the Department provided509us with a budget justification. Here it is. This is the budget510justification for FY25. And it laid out policy priorities,511funding levels, the requests down to individual program units512of the National Park Service, with detailed information on513staffing. For the Park Service alone, this document, as you can514see, is about 600 pages. And for Fiscal Year 2026, when we had515a hearing on the budget of the Park Service, here is what we516were presented, a pitiful six pages, one of which is blank.517It's a five-page budget justification for the National Park518Service compared to this. Nowhere in this document is there any519reference to staffing levels, whether National Park Service520wide or individual park units.521    [Side-by-side comparison of the FY25 and FY26 National Park522Service Budget Justifications follows:]523[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T2251.001524525    Senator King. Now, I understand that Secretary Burgum and I526may have differences on some of these policies and staffing527levels, but we can't have a serious conversation about this528issue if we don't have the data. If we don't have the data529presented by the Department about where the staffing cuts are,530where the--are there increases? But we don't have any of that531data. What we have is a series of unserious funding requests532for the Park Service, including massive cuts to operations,533staffing, and maintenance. Here is this--a decrease of 31534percent for operations--almost a third--cutting the Park535Service operations budget by a third. Forty-two percent for536construction and major maintenance--cut by 42 percent. A537decrease of 35 percent for construction planning.538    Now, let me just give this graphically about where we are539on staffing in the national parks. Here is where we are about540the year 2000. And you can see the red line is FTEs in the541National Park Service. And you see it sort of goes along at a542fairly consistent level, then it starts to decline. Remember, I543said I criticized both Democratic and Republican544administrations. But look where it is now, compared with back545here, we have cut our staff by almost half. At the same time,546the visitation to the national parks is maintaining. In fact,547last year I think was a record.548    [Displayed chart follows:]549    [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T2251.002550551    Senator King. So, we've got more people coming and less552people to greet them, educate them, and present data about that553National Park. That is a shameful legacy. And what really554bothers me about this is, I can't figure out what the555motivation is. The amount of money saved here is miniscule in556relation to the national budget or to the deficit or to557whatever you want to compare it to, and yet, the damage is558serious to probably the most popular federal program of all.559Why target the national parks? It doesn't make any sense.560    I am also worried and concerned about the effort to561effectively whitewash our history, to rewrite history within562the national park. Our history as a country of 250 years, we563have triumphs, we have great prideful moments, we have564accomplishments, heroism, a lot to be proud of and to relish565and to learn about. But we also have some dark parts of our566history. Like any history, we aren't really too excited about567those, but they have to be addressed--slavery, the internment568of Japanese Americans during World War II, segregation, the569treatment of Native Americans in our history. Those are things570that we can't avoid, we can't forget, and we don't want to571forget them. I recently finished a biography of the Roman572statesman Cicero, and he said something that really stuck with573me. He said, to not know your history, to not know history, is574to live your whole life as a child. In other words, you are575giving away a lot of human knowledge if you don't understand576history. And these chapters in our history, which we aren't577proud of, we have to understand and to learn from them and578never repeat them.579    A couple of years ago, I was in the airport in Frankfurt,580Germany. I met a young man, and we were sort of chatting, and581he shared something that was really amazing that touched582exactly on what I am talking about here today. He said that583when he was in high school in Germany, he was required to go to584a concentration camp. He was required to study the Holocaust.585Talk about a dark portion of a nation's history. We are doing586just the opposite. We are telling people, and young people that587go to our parks, we don't want to bother you about slavery. It588was uncomfortable. It might make you feel uncomfortable. We589need to learn from our history so that we learn from it and590that we don't repeat it. The administration is trying to591rewrite history, and I just, when you compare it to Germany592where young people are required to learn about their dark593history because they don't want to repeat it, because they want594to learn something from it, and we should take a lesson from595that.596    At Fort Pulaski National Monument in Georgia, the597Department ordered the removal of the ``Scourged Back''598photograph.599    [The photograph referred to follows:]600    [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T2251.187601602    Senator King. You have probably all seen it, of the slave603with the awful scars on his back where he had been whipped.604That was removed. For what purpose? Are we trying to erase the605awful legacy of slavery, that it occurred? At Harpers Ferry,606the Department has targeted the removal of several displays on607slavery and the abolitionist movement--Harpers Ferry. That's608why it's a monument. It was all about John Brown and slavery609and abolition. To remove a display about slavery at Harpers610Ferry is like removing model rockets from Cape Kennedy. I mean,611it is astonishing that they should do such a thing.612    The Jamaica Bay National Wildlife Refuge in New York, they613removed signage which addressed Japanese internment and the614forced dispossession of native people from their traditional615homelands. This does not contribute to our citizens'616understanding of their history and appreciation of their617history. It doesn't change the history. It doesn't change what618happened. It only changes our citizens' understanding of those619things. This is what happens under authoritarian governments.620If you go back in history, authoritarian governments, one of621the things they try to do is change their history, to whitewash622it, to change it, to change the story. So, after all that, I623want to appreciate the way Steve Daines--Senator Daines and I624have worked together, and we are going to continue to work625together, but I cannot sit quietly and see America's best idea626gutted for reasons that, to me, make absolutely no sense.627    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.628    Senator Daines. Senator King, thank you for your remarks.629    There are senators, I believe, who want to make opening630statements today. We will start with Senator Barrasso.631632           OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN BARRASSO,633                   U.S. SENATOR FROM WYOMING634635    Senator Barrasso. Well, thanks, Mr. Chairman, thank you636also, Ranking Member King, for holding this important hearing,637and I am grateful for the comments that you just made, both of638the leaders here on the Committee. And I would like to briefly639highlight one of my bills on today's agenda. It is S. 290, the640Making National Parks Safer Act. It is bipartisan. It directs641the Department of the Interior to develop a plan to upgrade642National Park Service 9-1-1 call centers with next-generation6439-1-1 technology. The technology enables call centers to644receive text messages, images, and videos, in addition to phone645calls.646    Our country's national parks receive hundreds of millions647of visitors each year. In 2024, over eight million visitors648came to our national parks in Wyoming. Folks travel from across649the world to enjoy the great American outdoors, and for many650families, these memories last a lifetime. That's why I think it651is so vital that visitors to these great national parks have652access to up-to-date safety and operational technology.653Dispatch centers track bear biologists where they are working654in the field. They support fire response strategies to mitigate655damage to the land. And they ensure operational efficiency so656park rangers can do their jobs. This bill improves the speed657and accuracy of emergency responders in locating and assisting658callers in need of emergency assistance. These moments make a659difference between visitors being able to receive quick care660and continue their trip or facing more serious medical661complications. In the event of a national disaster or technical662issue, the call centers would be equipped to forward 9-1-1663calls to a center that is able to address immediate visitor664needs. Our public safety technology needs improvements and665resources to ensure that visitors can continue to enjoy our666national parks without worry.667    This is a bipartisan bill that ensures visitors who may668need assistance can be reached in an accurate and timely669manner. These much-needed updates will improve the operations670of our national parks and protect the safety of visitors.671Thanks to Senators Hickenlooper and Hyde-Smith for your support672of the bill.673    Thank you.674    Senator Daines. Thanks, Senator Barrasso.675    Senator Heinrich.676677          OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. MARTIN HEINRICH,678                  U.S. SENATOR FROM NEW MEXICO679680    Senator Heinrich. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to thank681you and Co-Chair Angus King for convening today's hearing.682Though I may not agree with every bill on the agenda, I am so683grateful that we have the chance to spend some time talking684about an issue that literally touches every corner of this685country: our national parks and the role they play in America's686incredible outdoor recreation economy. And I particularly look687forward to working with you and the Co-Chair on the America the688Beautiful Act.689    Every single day, the public lands recreation economy690contributes over $350 million--a day--to our nation's economic691health. And that's not a typo, it's a testament to just how692deeply Americans value time outdoors and their nation's693history, and how crucial our public lands are to supporting job694growth, supporting small businesses, and rural communities. Our695national parks and park system units are major contributors to696the economic success that our public lands bring. Parks like697Glacier, White Sands, and Acadia are iconic for a reason. They698are world-class destinations that draw millions of visitors699from around the world. And today's hearing also highlights700something equally important: the hundreds of smaller national701parks, historic sites, seashores, and monuments that really are702the woven fabric of our nation's history and communities across703the United States--places like Petroglyph National Monument or704Pecos National Historical Park in New Mexico. These are places705that make a real difference in people's lives. They preserve706and celebrate our history--the good and the bad. They honor our707heroes, they protect our wildlife and our watersheds, and they708offer outdoor classrooms for students and provide spaces for709families to connect with the outdoors. They offer us710opportunities to escape the pressures of everyday life and711enjoy the outdoors. And unfortunately, recent National Park712Service management directives from this administration,713including the dramatic budget cuts that the Co-Chair714referenced, major staffing reductions, and proposals to divest715of hundreds of National Park Service sites are a significant716threat to the parks that Americans know and love.717    What's more, the administration recently announced that718Martin Luther King Day and Juneteenth would no longer be fee-719free days on our public lands, despite being federal holidays.720Instead, Flag Day will be fee-free. It's a coincidence, I am721sure, that while Flag Day isn't a federal holiday, it is the722President's birthday. Rest assured folks, when this President723is in the past, Martin Luther King Day and Juneteenth will not724only have fee-free national park admission, but they will725occupy, again, incredible places of pride in our nation's726history.727    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.728    Senator Daines. Senator Heinrich, thank you.729    Co-Chair King, I want to recognize the political astuteness730of Senator Heinrich. He recognized Glacier Park and Acadia731Park.732    Senator King. I noticed that.733    Senator Daines. Which, you know----734    Senator Heinrich. That was not by accident.735    Senator Daines. So, if the Senator would like more time, we736certainly will yield to you.737    Senator King. He's a student of geography.738    Senator Daines. All right, that's very good. Thank you. You739have warmed our hearts here.740    Senator Padilla.741742            OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. ALEX PADILLA,743                  U.S. SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA744745    Senator Padilla. Thank you, Mr. Co-Chair.746    I want to associate, first of all, myself with the comments747from my colleagues, Senator King and Senator Heinrich, but want748to also thank you for including in this hearing my Joshua Tree749National Park Expansion Act, which builds on the late Senator750Feinstein's efforts to protect our cherished California751desert--Southern California, more specifically.752    The bill on today's agenda actually combines two bills that753previously passed this Committee by voice vote, one to expand754the boundary of the Joshua Tree National Park, and one to755rename the current Cottonwood Visitor Center at Joshua Tree756National Park as the Senator Dianne Feinstein Visitor Center.757As many of you know, Senator Feinstein was known as a great758protector of the California desert. It is truly a part of her759legacy. Among her many accomplishments, she expanded760protections for nearly ten million acres and transformed the761Joshua Tree National Monument into a national park. So, I can762think of no better way to honor her legacy than by forever763ensuring that visitors to Joshua Tree are reminded and taught764about Senator Feinstein's enduring public lands legacy.765    This bill would also expand the boundary of the national766park to include land that was once part of Joshua Tree National767Monument. In 2016, the National Park Service completed a768comprehensive study that determined the land would indeed be769feasible to be included in the park. The Park Service found770that a boundary adjustment would allow for greater protection771of existing habitat, restoration opportunities, and landscape772connectivity for wildlife, including bighorn sheep. It would773also expand visitor opportunities and access to the park. And774knowing the concerns and priorities for some members of the775Committee and other colleagues in the Senate, let me say the776following: it's important to note that the National Park777Service, through their study, which included a robust public778process, the Park Service found that any pockets of critical779minerals are likely only present in negligible amounts and780would not be economically viable for extraction. I am not781trying to prohibit any development here, just trying to be782realistic and balance our co-equal concerns.783    Finally, I want to highlight another bill on the agenda of784which I am a co-sponsor. Senator Schiff has the Rim of the785Valley Corridor Preservation Act. This is an effort that786started at the local level in the city of Los Angeles back in787the late 1990s that I was a part of in a prior capacity. This788bill would add the Rim of the Valley Corridor to the existing789Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and help790protect some of the last wild and open spaces in the Los791Angeles region. Having grown up in the San Fernando Valley, I792can tell you firsthand how too many communities are denied true793access to the outdoors and the benefit of being in natural794environments. For communities who can look at the mountains,795but feel like it's a world away to have access or try to get796there, this bill would go a long way in improving upon those797conditions. It has strong support from local communities. It798has passed the House with bipartisan support in the previous799two Congresses, and I hope that we can lend our support here in800this Committee and as the Senate this session.801    So, thank you again for including these important measures.802I appreciate your time.803    Senator Daines. Senator Padilla, thank you.804    Back in the old days, when we joined the Senate, we used to805have a mentor assigned to us, a Republican and a Democrat.806Dianne Feinstein was my Democrat mentor. So, thank you for the807kind words about Dianne, and we are grateful for her service,808and I like what you are doing there in naming that center for809her.810    All right, all member statements that were made will be811added to the hearing record.812    We will now proceed to the testimony from Senators not on813this Committee. We will start by recognizing Senator Kaine.814Welcome to the Committee.815816             OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. TIM KAINE,817                   U.S. SENATOR FROM VIRGINIA818819    Senator Kaine. Thank you so much to our Co-Chairs Daines820and King and to Committee members. It's a joy to join you and821to be here together with my friend, Senator Van Hollen. And I822want to thank you for considering S. 2708, the Appalachian823Trail Centennial Act. I am very grateful for the bicameral,824bipartisan collaboration with Senator Tillis on the Senate side825and with Representatives Lawler and Beyer on the House side,826working together on this bill.827    As many of you know, I hiked the entire Appalachian Trail828in Virginia in 2019, 560 miles from Harpers Ferry to the829Tennessee-Virginia border, a few miles south of Damascus,830Virginia. Now, some of you may not know that when you hike the831trail, you don't use your own name, you use a trail name, and832my trail name is Dog Bowl. So, if you hear anyone refer to me833that way, you will know how they met me. The journey that I834undertook in Virginia on the trail in 2019 gave me a deep, deep835appreciation for the partnerships necessary to first initiate,836dream, and then construct and now maintain into the future this837wonderful asset.838    One day, a friend who joined me on the hike who had been839with me for a couple of days, together with his son, said, you840know, this really isn't a trail, it's a community. And I said,841what do you mean by that? And he goes, well, who built that842shelter? Who carried in the picnic table? Who maintains the843trail? Who drives the shuttle? Who runs the trail side hostel?844Who takes the photographs, not only for National Geographic,845but the selfies and Instagram photos that get posted that give846people a sense of this asset even if they have never had a847chance to visit it? It is a community.848    So the bill that we have introduced is an effort to849highlight and deepen the partnerships that have been necessary850to have this trail be such a wonderful thing over its first 100851years. The Act highlights the essential work of the National852Park Service, the Forest Service, state and local partners, the853Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and volunteers and trail clubs854over the 2,200-mile length of the trail. The bill marks the855ATC's 100th anniversary, strengthens their stewardship model,856and supports volunteers and volunteer organizations while857preserving federal oversight. The bill would establish,858``designated operational partners to enhance collaboration on859all the national trails in the United States.'' And860additionally, the legislation would direct agencies to work861with states and communities on land use, recreation, and862donating surplus tools and equipment to volunteer groups to863maintain the trail.864    Senator Tillis, who got his start into public service in a865local battle about a cycling trail in the suburbs of Charlotte,866North Carolina--we introduced this bill because we have seen867firsthand what happens when public and private partners are868aligned. When they do align, our trails thrive. So, I look869forward to working with the Committee, with local communities,870with the National Park Service, and other key federal agencies871and all partners. We have worked together to get the bill to872the place where it is now and we absolutely commit to work873together on any necessary additional improvements that will874enable this bill to successfully reach the President's desk. I875am really happy to be with you today.876    Thank you.877    Senator Daines. Senator Kaine, thank you.878    Senator Van Hollen.879880          OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN,881                   U.S. SENATOR FROM MARYLAND882883    Senator Van Hollen. Well, thank you. Thank you to Co-Chairs884Daines and King, and Senator Heinrich, good to be with you and885thank you for considering these bills.886    I am going to start with a bill that's not on the agenda,887very briefly, and the reason it's not on the agenda is because888this Committee has previously heard the bill. And at about this889time last year, it passed out of the Committee and the Senate890unanimously. And my friend, Senator Kaine, and the Virginia891delegation are on this bill. It's the Chesapeake National892Recreation Area bill. I just urge my colleagues to work with us893to pass that bill again. It was paired last year with Senator894Wicker's bill on Vicksburg, and it really is an effort that has895been years in the making, and we just urge you to move forward896this year, as we did last year, unanimously.897    The two bills that are before you now have also been driven898by community efforts, but also rise to the level, we believe,899to have this kind of a National Park Service participation. The900first is the Justice Thurgood Marshall National Historic Site901Establishment Act, which is co-sponsored by my colleague here902in the Senate, Senator Alsobrooks, and has been introduced in903the House on a bipartisan basis. Congressman Mfume is the lead904sponsor, but Congressman Andy Harris, part of our delegation,905is also on that bill. So, it is bipartisan in the House. The906bill would designate Baltimore's historic Public School 103,907where Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall went to school,908as an NPS affiliated area. Justice Marshall is best known as909the first African American Supreme Court Justice and as the910lead counsel in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case911that ended racial segregation in public schools. And his story,912as we know, is one of perseverance, leadership, and a913commitment to protecting the rights of all Americans. That914story inspired some of the local church groups in Baltimore and915others to come together to put together $50 million of non-916federal funding to help transform what had been P.S. 103 into a917community center dedicated to Thurgood Marshall.918    In 2019, Senator Cardin and I put forward a proposal to ask919for a review of this project to see if National Park Service920participation could help elevate this important story, and the921study indicated that it would be a helpful and useful effort.922And that is why we have the bill that is before you. It's923important, you have to understand, that the affiliated area924designation means that, unlike when a new unit is established,925the site will not transfer to the Park Service, the current926owners will maintain responsibility for the property in line927with federal standards, maximizing access while--and I want to928stress this--minimizing the need for financial support from the929Federal Government.930    The other piece of legislation before you is the Francis G.931Newlands Memorial Removal Act of 2025, which would seek to932remove a memorial to Francis Newlands at Chevy Chase Circle.933For those of you here, if you drive out Connecticut Avenue when934you are crossing from DC into Maryland, you go past Chevy Chase935Circle. The area around Chevy Chase Circle was developed by936Francis Newlands, and that is why this plaque was put in the937circle in his honor at the time. The community on both sides of938the circle wants to remove this plaque. Why? Because he was a939former Senator from Nevada--that's not why--but just so you940know, he is not a Marylander, does not have Maryland roots. He941was a white supremacist and he worked to actively ensure that942the development he built was inaccessible to blacks, jews, and943working-class families. So, this is a memorial plaque that was944put there because he was the developer of this area, but the945development that he put together denied those groups access.946    Just to give you a little flavor of his position, at the9471912 Democratic National Convention, he proposed a ``white948plank'' to the party's platform that, among other things,949called for repealing the 15th amendment, which, of course, is950the amendment which gave African American men the right to951vote. Despite that, the inscription says, and I quote, ``His952statesmanship held true regard for the interests of all men.''953Clearly, that inscription does not fit the individual that it's954there to memorialize. And as I said, the community955organizations, the Montgomery County Council, the DC-Chevy956Chase Association, the Maryland Chevy Chase Village and Town,957they have all voted unanimously to act to have this removed. I958looked at the administration's position here and they are959apparently opposing it for reasons rooted in partisan ideology960or efforts to minimize the significance of historical figures.961I would just say that his name is on there because he was the962developer for this community, a development that, as I said,963excluded individuals that we would all agree should never have964been excluded.965    So I hope the Committee will see to it that the community's966views are represented. The community should not have to forever967see this memorial at Chevy Chase Circle that is in memory of a968person with this kind of record. I thank you all.969    Senator Daines. Senator Van Hollen, thank you, and thanks970to both Senators for testifying today.971    Mr. Caldwell, if you could please join us at the witness972table.973    Mr. Caldwell, your full written testimony will be made part974of the official hearing record.975    Mr. Caldwell, you may proceed.976977 OPENING STATEMENT OF MIKE CALDWELL, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, PARK978 PLANNING, FACILITIES, AND LANDS, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, U.S.979                   DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR980981    Mr. Caldwell. Chairman Daines, Co-Chair King, and members982of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to present983the Department of the Interior's views on 25 bills. I984respectfully submit our full statements for the record and will985summarize the Department's views.986    Many of the bills under consideration have the Department's987support. Consistent with Executive Order 14314, ``Making988America Beautiful Again by Improving our National Parks,''989these proposals would enhance National Park Service operations,990improve park safety and accessibility, and strengthen991management of resources.992    S. 290, the Making National Parks Safer Act, would direct993the NPS to equip its emergency communication centers with next-994generation 9-1-1 technology. We welcome the opportunity to work995with the Subcommittee to create a path to help the NPS meet the996goals of this initiative.997    S. 601 would remove deed restrictions from an NPS parcel998transferred to the city of Paducah, Kentucky, allowing the city999to sell or repurpose the property to meet community needs. The1000Department supports this bill.1001    S. 1088 would authorize a memorial on the National Mall in1002either Area I or the Reserve to honor the women who worked on1003the home front during World War II. The Department supports1004establishing this commemorative work. The National Capital1005Memorial Advisory Commission reviewed S. 1088 and advised the1006memorial sponsor to work with the NPS on a site selection1007study. The Department concurs, and is committed to supporting1008that process.1009    S. 1353 and S. 2546 would extend authorities to modify or1010establish memorials in the District of Columbia to the U.S.1011Army Second Infantry Division and to EMS professionals. We1012support these extensions.1013    S. 1377 directs the Department to maintain a genetically1014diverse horse herd in Theodore Roosevelt National Park and1015develop a cost-effective management plan that protects both the1016herd and park resources.1017    S. 2308, the PATRIOT Parks Act, reflects the President's1018initiative to enact America-first entry fee policies across the1019National Park System.1020    S. 2385, the Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History1021Act, aligns with the Secretary's Order 3431, to ensure NPS1022sites reflect our nation's extraordinary heritage and record of1023advancing liberty and prosperity.1024    S. 2970 would authorize the use of off-highway vehicles in1025designated areas of Capitol Reef National Park, and require the1026NPS to adopt the State of Utah's OHV definition. The Department1027supports the goal of expanding recreational opportunities at1028the park, and would welcome the opportunity to work with the1029Subcommittee on technical amendments.1030    Regarding S. 858, the Hershel ``Woody'' Williams National1031Medal of Honor Monument Location Act, the Department looks1032forward to supporting the building of the proposed monument in1033a place of national honor.1034    Regarding S. 1135, the Bonneville Shoreline Trail1035Feasibility Study, the Department recommends the bill be1036amended to remove NPS as the agency responsible for conducting1037the study, as USDA is better suited to lead it.1038    There are also several bills under consideration that the1039Department opposes.1040    S. 573 conflicts with Secretary's Order 3424, which1041designated the name of Mount McKinley in Alaska.1042    S. 1926 conflicts with Executive order 14208, which directs1043agencies to repeal or revise policies limiting plastic product1044availability without strong scientific or statutory1045justification.1046    S. 2369 conflicts with Executive order 14253, which directs1047the Department to preserve and restore memorials removed or1048altered in recent years due to partisan ideology and efforts to1049minimize the significance of historical figures.1050    S. 2708, the Appalachian Trail Centennial Act, raises1051concern by potentially altering the intent and implementation1052of the National Trails System Map.1053    Other bills on the Subcommittee's agenda would establish or1054expand NPS units or direct new studies, all of which would1055require additional resources. The NPS remains focused on1056addressing critical needs within its existing portfolio. For1057this reason, the Department opposes H.R. 249, S. 730, S. 791,1058S. 1131, S. 1777, S. 1870, and S. 2270. The Department takes1059the position of ``do not oppose'' on S. 446, S. 1280, and S.10601518.1061    Mr. Chairman, this concludes my testimony. I am happy to1062answer any questions you or the Committee have.1063    [The prepared statement of Mr. Caldwell follows:]1064    [GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]10651066    Senator Daines. Mr. Caldwell, thank you.1067    My first question is regarding Senate bill 290, the Making1068National Parks Safer Act. The beauty and the attraction of many1069of our national parks is the ability to get away from the1070world, hiking beautiful trails, which both the Co-Chair and1071myself have done in our national parks, fishing in streams, far1072removed from highways and city lights. However, that also means1073that when an emergency happens, it is difficult, if not1074impossible to contact emergency services. Senate bill 2901075requires the Park Service to develop a plan to install next-1076generation 9-1-1 systems in consultation with state and local1077officials.1078    My question is, how can this bill and next-generation1079technology, like the cell and satellite service that T-Mobile1080recently deployed in Montana, how can that be used to increase1081emergency services while also protecting the natural beauty and1082the ``getting away from it all'' experience we seek when going1083to our parks?1084    Mr. Caldwell. Sure, thank you, Senator.1085    The bill would improve safety by upgrading our1086communications technology, as you have identified, that we rely1087on during emergencies with better location data and better1088situational awareness as to where folks are enjoying their1089parks. These improvements are largely invisible to visitors, so1090they strengthen the emergency response without deterring the1091park's natural beauty or history. Additionally, it may lead to1092improved responsiveness and reports of potential resource1093damage.1094    Senator Daines. Thanks, Mr. Caldwell.1095    As I discussed in my opening statement, Senate bill 18581096requires the Park Service to keep the 14 national cemeteries1097you administer open during federal holidays. This has been a1098persistent issue in Montana, where the Custer National Cemetery1099has been closed on important remembrance days like Christmas1100and Memorial Day itself. My question is, do you agree that1101national cemeteries should remain open so family and friends of1102service members can visit their loved ones, and allow for1103patriotic activities, such as Wreaths Across America, to honor1104fallen service members and warriors on important holidays?1105    Mr. Caldwell. Yes, Senator, thank you for the question. You1106know, we are proud stewards of 14 national cemeteries across1107the system, as you pointed out, and our National Park Service1108cemetery standards require that these sites be maintained in a1109solemn, tranquil, and dignified way as places of remembrance,1110with access and general maintenance practices designed to1111support visitation throughout the year, including holidays. And1112while staffing and site-specific operations may vary, our1113policy and practices are to keep these sacred places open so1114families can pay their respects whenever it is most convenient1115to them.1116    Senator Daines. Thank you.1117    Senate bill 416, this directs the Park Service to expand1118the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park in1119Vermont to include the King Farm. Senator King, we aren't1120enacting your dream of living in a national park in this bill,1121are we?1122    Senator King. Alas, no relation.1123    Senator Daines. Okay, good. Let the record show there is no1124relationship between the Senator and the King in this bill.1125    You may be wondering why a Senator from Montana is asking a1126question on a park in Vermont, however, Fredrick Billings, who1127this park honors, is actually the namesake of Billings,1128Montana, the largest city in Montana. While Mr. Billings never1129lived in Montana, his work on the Northern Pacific Railroad and1130his investments in Montana helped grow the town that would1131become the county seat--Billings, Montana--of Yellowstone1132County. Mr. Billings was also an avid conservationist and1133played a role in the conservation of Yellowstone National Park.1134    My question is, how does the inclusion of King Farm affect1135the mission of this park and help tell the story of America's1136prominent businessman and conservationist?1137    Mr. Caldwell. Thank you for the question, Senator.1138    While I am certainly not prepared to answer specifics on1139the Marsh-Billings expansion bill, I do know that the1140Department's position is generally to take care of the existing1141portfolio in our National Park System with the existing1142resources that we have at hand. Having been to Marsh-Billings,1143having seen the King Farm, I can certainly see why you are1144proud of the story that's represented there. But at this point,1145I am happy to get back to you and the Committee when it comes1146to the specifics of that legislation.1147    Senator Daines. Thank you. It's also a towering moment. My1148dad grew up and literally married the girl next door in1149Billings, Montana.1150    Last question, Mr. Caldwell. It's my understanding that1151Senate bill 1377, the Theodore Roosevelt National Park Wild1152Horses Protection Act, requires the Park Service to maintain a1153genetically diverse herd of wild horses in the Theodore1154Roosevelt National Park. Under the bill, the population of the1155horses should be no fewer than 150. I know how hard species1156management can be. In Montana, we deal with it a lot, from the1157bison managed in our parks, to grizzlies and wolves outside our1158parks, that should be managed by our state. These issues can1159have strong opinions. It's important that you work with local1160stakeholders and our governors before making major decisions.1161    My question: could you tell me how this bill helps give the1162Park Service tools to manage wild horses, and what you have1163already done to manage them in the park?1164    Mr. Caldwell. Sure, thank you, Senator.1165    S. 1377 helps us by providing explicit congressional1166guidance to maintain a healthy, genetically diverse population1167while ensuring that horse management remains fully consistent1168with protecting the park's natural resources. It requires us to1169develop a cost-effective management plan, establish objective1170population and genetic benchmarks, and formalize the monitoring1171and reporting that we have already conducted. It provides1172clearer congressional parameters and greater predictability for1173both the park and the public. Thank you.1174    Senator Daines. Mr. Caldwell, thank you.1175    I will turn now to Co-Chair King.1176    Senator King. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.1177    Mr. Caldwell, you heard me describe my concern about the1178elimination of historical references throughout the park1179system, for example, the photograph at the Fort Pulaski1180National Monument and many other examples. Where are these1181decisions being made? Who is making the decisions? Are they1182being made at the park level? Are they being made here in1183Washington? Who, specifically, says get rid of that photograph1184in Florida or the slavery reference at Harpers Ferry? I would1185like to know where in the Department that decision is being1186made and by whom.1187    Mr. Caldwell. Yes, I appreciate your question, Senator.1188    I don't have that information, nor have I been part of that1189decision-making, but I am happy to follow-up with your office1190and the Committee.1191    Senator King. I would appreciate it if you would take that1192question for the record and give us a written response from the1193Department.1194    Mr. Caldwell. Yes, sir.1195    Senator King. Because it just worries me that there is--1196these are significant decisions, and there should be some1197transparency in terms of how they are being made, who is making1198them, what the criteria is, whether it's being made at the1199local level, all of those kinds of things, so please supply1200that for the record.1201    As you know, I also have concerns about staffing. How were1202the decisions made? We have a hiring freeze. We fired1203probationary employees. We had people take the early fork in1204the road. Has there been any analysis on a park-by-park basis1205or on the overall system of a staffing target? And I am looking1206for data. I am looking for support for a decision that,1207frankly, looks rather arbitrary.1208    Mr. Caldwell. Sure. Senator, I appreciate that question.1209    I don't have the details in terms of FTE number.1210    Senator King. Well, my question is, are there details?1211That's what I am looking for.1212    Mr. Caldwell. I will relay that question to the Department1213to provide you with those responses.1214    I think, as across the National Park System, certainly,1215your interaction with superintendents across the country, we1216rely on their expertise to meet the challenges, and I think we1217are confident that the National Park Service will continue to1218deliver the mission it's responsible to deliver to the American1219people.1220    Senator King. It's hard for me to believe that when you1221reduce the staff by a third from an already diminished level,1222that you are going to be able to deliver the same level of1223service. That's a nice idea, but this isn't--meeting with park1224visitors isn't something that you can just conjure out of thin1225air. So, what I am after is, was there any analysis done of a1226staffing target? If so, how was that target established? What1227is the data background? What kind of research was done? So,1228that's what I am looking for.1229    Similarly, the same thing on the budget. Giving us a six-1230page budget, one of which is blank, as opposed to 600 pages,1231doesn't give us anything to work with. And I guess my question1232is, are we going to get a serious budget document before the1233appropriations process is complete for 2027?1234    Mr. Caldwell. I am unaware of the schedule of the budget1235delivery, but I will certainly relay that question as well.1236    Senator King. Well, again, it's--we want to be partners1237here. We are all on the same team. We are all trying to serve1238the public as effectively as we can. But we can't do our job1239unless you do your job. I don't mean you--but the Department,1240in terms of serious analysis, numbers, background, targets,1241effects, impacts--has any research been done about the impact1242will be of a certain reduction at a particular park? So, I am1243looking for a lot more data and support for these decisions.1244And in terms of these decisions about--I would only call it1245whitewashing our history--I would like to know who is making1246those decisions. So, I appreciate that.1247    Thank you, Mr. Caldwell.1248    Senator Daines. Co-Chair King, thank you.1249    Senator Hoeven, my condolences. It was a tough day in Fargo1250on Saturday.1251    Senator Hoeven. Yeah, understatement there. I was looking1252forward to a Bison-Bobcat rematch.1253    Senator Daines. We were looking forward to it as well.1254    Senator Hoeven. Thank you.1255    Senator Daines. We could have a brief moment of silence, if1256you would like.1257    Senator Hoeven. Yeah, I have had a few between then and1258now.1259    Senator Daines. I'm sure you have.1260    Senator Hoeven. At this point, I am just going to wish the1261Bobcats the very best.1262    Senator Daines. Well, you are very gracious. For a team1263that never loses, it's tough. I know.1264    Senator Hoeven. It's really tough, yes.1265    Senator Daines. All right, Senator Hoeven.1266    Senator Hoeven. All right, thanks to both of you, both to1267the Chairman and to the Ranking Member for holding this hearing1268today. I really appreciate it.1269    And of course, Director Caldwell, thank you for being here,1270I appreciate that very much as well.1271    I am pleased that the Subcommittee is considering a number1272of bills today, including S. 1377, the Theodore Roosevelt1273National Park Wild Horses Protection Act. Horses have long been1274a living, breathing part of the Theodore Roosevelt National1275Park in North Dakota, and they are key to the visitor1276experience. Their presence dates to the early ranching era of1277the Badlands, long before the park was formally established.1278Today, the horses maintain the historic scene that reflects1279what Theodore Roosevelt himself would have seen during his time1280in the Badlands and the Dakota Territory. And these were very1281formative years that shaped the character and conservation1282ethic of our nation's 26th President. Unfortunately, there have1283been multiple attempts over the years, including as recently as12842022, to remove horses from the park. Each one has been met1285with overwhelming--and I mean overwhelming--opposition from the1286public. And that's why we worked to craft a balanced, durable1287solution that provides permanent protection for horses in the1288Park.1289    Under our bill, the National Park Service is required to1290maintain a healthy herd of not fewer than 150 horses, as our1291Chairman referenced, which I appreciate very much, aligned with1292the population levels needed for long-term genetic viability.1293This approach reflects the broad support among those who value1294the heritage of the park and the herd's ties to the legacy of1295Theodore Roosevelt. My colleague from Virginia, Senator Kaine,1296joined me in introducing this legislation. It's bipartisan1297legislation. Senator Kaine knows the importance of wild ponies.1298For example, in--hopefully I will get these names close to1299right--Chincoteague and Assateague Islands, and you can correct1300me, you know, when you get a chance----1301    Mr. Caldwell. I will not correct you, Senator. You did very1302well.1303    Senator Hoeven [continuing]. On federal lands in his home1304state, and I appreciate his willingness to partner with us on1305this bipartisan effort.1306    I appreciate Interior's support of the bill and look1307forward to working with my colleagues to advance it.1308    So, while we appreciate the National Park Service's most1309recent commitment to maintain horses at Theodore Roosevelt1310National Park, my legislation aims to resolve any uncertainty1311by directing the Park Service to maintain a sustainable and1312genetically viable herd at the park on a permanent basis. So,1313my first question is, do you agree that this bill will help1314ensure the horses at Theodore Roosevelt National Park are1315protected going forward?1316    Mr. Caldwell. Yes, the Department agrees with that, sir.1317    Senator Hoeven. Okay, good.1318    Secondly, does establishing, in statute, a requirement for1319a healthy, sustainable herd give the clear direction necessary1320to manage the horses for the long term?1321    Mr. Caldwell. Yes, the Department's support of this--one of1322the primary reasons is that specific congressional direction.1323So, thank you.1324    Senator Hoeven. Good. Thank you again for the support.1325Thank you for being here, and also thanks to Regional Director1326Bert Frost, who was recently out there with me. I worked with1327him on elk issues, and we got to a tremendous solution that has1328been--that was during my Governor days--but for more than a1329decade, it has served the park well, it has served our state1330well, served the country well. And so, I really appreciate his1331willingness to understand the importance of these issues and1332work with us on them.1333    Thanks to you as well.1334    Mr. Caldwell. I will pass your compliments on. Thank you.1335    Senator Hoeven. Thanks to you as well, Director.1336    Mr. Caldwell. Thank you.1337    Senator Hoeven. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.1338    Senator Daines. Senator Hoeven, thank you.1339    Senator Murkowski.1340    Senator Murkowski. Thank you, and I want to thank the Co-1341Chairs this morning for the hearing and for including a couple1342of my bills on the calendar for today. One of them is S. 1353,1343to extend the authority for modifications to the Second1344Division Memorial here in Washington, DC, and the other one is1345S. 573, to designate Denali as Denali.1346    First, on S. 1353, I am very pleased to see the Park1347Service offer supportive testimony for this. This is, really,1348an extremely simple bill. It relates to the Second Division1349Memorial. I thank you for working with us to help shape and1350refine the legislation. What we do here is extend the1351authorization to modify the Second Division Memorial included1352in the NDAA back in 2018. For a whole host of different1353reasons, things got delayed--COVID--but the seven-year initial1354period allowed by the Commemorative Works Act just wasn't1355enough time. So, we provided the standard extension for the1356bill. The modifications come at zero cost to the taxpayers, but1357it effectively honors those who have given their life in recent1358conflicts, such as Afghanistan and Iraq. I was in Anchorage1359just last week and I met with the Chair of the Second Division1360Memorial's Foundation, Aves Thompson. Aves has been working on1361this initiative for a decade-plus now that would install this1362very simple bench on this memorial. I have a couple letters of1363support to add to the record for the hearing, including Mr.1364Thompson's statement. I would ask unanimous consent that they1365be added at the appropriate place.1366    Senator Daines. So approved.1367    [Letters of support for S. 1353 follow:]1368    [GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]13691370    Senator Murkowski. On the second measure, this is something1371that Alaskans feel very, very strongly about, and that is the1372name of North America's tallest peak and a mountain that we1373look to, really, with almost reverence. When I fly into Ted1374Stevens International Airport in Anchorage there, before we1375even get close to looking to landing, people are looking out1376the window to see if they are going to catch a glimpse of1377Denali today. When the mountain is out, we talk about it. We1378talk about it in a way that, people say, ``have you have seen1379the mountain today? Have you seen the Great One today?'' Well,1380my friends, Denali translates as the ``Great One.'' What more1381fitting name for such an incredible peak.1382    On the first day of his second term, President Trump issued1383an Executive Order titled ``Restoring Names that Honor American1384Greatness.'' And that order included the renaming of North1385America's tallest peak from its traditional Koyukon Athabascan1386name of Denali to Mount McKinley. And again, as I say, we have1387called this mountain ``Denali'' in Alaska for decades,1388generations. The Koyukon Athabascan have referred to it as1389Denali for millennia. We are trying to trace exactly how far1390back it goes. The dialects may be different, but effectively,1391it keeps coming back to what do we name the Great One, and1392Denali and Koyukon Athabascan is just that.1393    To me, this is about respecting the original stewards of1394the land who gave this fitting name. Now, I am not surprised by1395the testimony that we have received from the Department today,1396but I would encourage the administration to reexamine the1397position on the bill. The multi-decade effort to name this1398mountain Denali, rightfully, is a bipartisan issue in the1399state. Going back to 1975, our state government first1400petitioned the Federal Government to align with the state's1401designation of Denali. So, this is something that has been1402going on, again, for decades here. And this is nothing to1403denigrate President McKinley and his reputation and the1404contributions that he has provided to this country. He is1405absolutely worthy of recognition. But it's often pointed out1406that he was never to the State of Alaska, whether as President1407or even as an individual.1408    So, as we think about ways to show tribute to his important1409legacy, I think it's important to note that by restoring Denali1410to its rightful name, the McKinley legacy is not erased or1411diminished in any way. It lives on through numerous, numerous1412sites and tributes. You have the McKinley National Memorial,1413the National McKinley Birthplace Memorial, the McKinley1414Presidential Library and Museum. You have statues in Ohio,1415Hawaii, and Illinois, among others. So, this is nothing against1416our former President and the contributions that he has made. It1417truly is focused on recognizing the original stewards of the1418land and the designation that they have given it.1419    I have just one quick question for Mr. Caldwell today.1420Within the Secretarial Order that came out, it directs the1421Board of Geographic Names to reverse Denali's name, as I1422mentioned, but it also requires, and I am reading directly1423here, ``appropriate DOI officials to work with Alaska Native1424entities and state and local organizations to pursue adopting1425names for landmarks to honor the history and culture of the1426Alaskan people.'' So, that was included as part of the1427Secretarial Order. And you know, looking past the fact that the1428Denali renaming is contrary to the direction to honor the1429history and culture of Alaskan people, can you give me any1430update as to how this aspect of the order is being carried out1431in Alaska? Who in the Department may be engaged in this1432objective?1433    Mr. Caldwell. Thank you, Senator, for your question. I1434don't have that information today, but I will relay your1435question and we will get back to you on that.1436    Senator Murkowski. I would appreciate that.1437    Mr. Caldwell. Thank you.1438    Senator Murkowski. I have been asked by others and I1439haven't had the answer for them. So, if you can help us out1440with that, I would appreciate that.1441    Mr. Caldwell. Will do.1442    Senator Murkowski. Mr. Chairman and Mr. Co-Chairman, thank1443you for making sure that these important measures are on the1444docket as well as so many others that are before the Committee1445right now. I appreciate it.1446    Senator Daines. Senator Murkowski, thank you.1447    If there are no more questions for today, members may also1448submit follow-up written questions for the record before 6:001449p.m. tomorrow. The hearing record will be open for one week.1450    I want to thank Mr. Caldwell for his time and his testimony1451today.1452    This hearing is now adjourned.1453    [Whereupon, at 11:04 a.m., the hearing was adjourned.]14541455                      APPENDIX MATERIAL SUBMITTED14561457                              ----------14581459[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]14601461                                [all]