S. 4168

National Park Foundation Reauthorization Act of 2022

STATEMENT OF MICHAEL A. CALDWELL, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, PARK PLANNING, FACILITIES, AND LANDS, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BEFORE THE SENATE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS CONCERNING S. 4168, A BILL TO AMEND TITLE 54, UNITED STATES CODE, TO REAUTHORIZE THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION 

SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 

Chairman King, Ranking Member Daines, and members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to present the Department of the Interior’s views on S. 4168, a bill to amend title 54, United States Code, to reauthorize the National Park Foundation.   

The Department supports the extension of the authorization of appropriations to the National Park Foundation (NPF) and looks forward to working with Congress to ensure continued support for the National Park Service (NPS) in alignment with priorities set forth in the President’s Budget. 

S. 4168 would increase the annual authorization of appropriations to the NPF, enacted in 2016, from $5,000,000 to $15,000,000 and extend the authority for this funding from fiscal year 2024 through fiscal year 2030. 

The NPF was established by Congress on December 18, 1967 (Public Law 90-209) as the official, nonprofit philanthropic partner of the NPS. Over the years, Congress has passed several bills expanding the authorities of the NPF. In 1998, Congress passed legislation directing the NPF to promote local fundraising support and in 2016, Congress passed the National Park Service Centennial Act (Public Law 114-289), which included several provisions related to the NPF. Among them, Section 402 authorized appropriations of $5,000,000 a year, from fiscal year 2017 through fiscal year 2023, to match private contributions to the NPF, with the proviso that the funds not be used for administrative expenses or invested to earn interest. Congress has appropriated the full $5,000,000 each year since 2020. The Administration continues to strongly support the NPF, and requested the full $5,000,000 in fiscal years 2022 and 2023 in the President’s Budget. 

NPS philanthropic partners, including the NPF, provide ways for individuals, corporations and private foundations make contributions to help conserve and preserve the natural, cultural and historical values of the national parks for the enjoyment of future generations. 

Chairman King, this concludes my statement. I would be pleased to answer any questions you or other members of the Subcommittee may have.

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