Washington, D.C.– Legislation authored by Congressman Erik Paulsen (MN-03) to mint coins honoring the 100^th anniversary of the National Parks Service was approved in a vote by the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill, which passed the House in an earlier vote in April, was included as a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act. Proceeds will go to the National Park Foundation, a charitable organization that supports the management of national parks. Minted coins will consist of a five dollar gold coin, a silver dollar, and a clad half dollar.  

“In Minnesota, we are blessed to be able to enjoy the beauty and history of places like Voyageurs National Park in the north and the Mississippi River and Recreation Area in the Twin Cities,” said Paulsen. “These commemorative coins will raise funds with no cost to taxpayers to preserve and protect our National Parks.”  

In Minnesota, national parks are visited by 650,000 people and contribute $34 million to the economy annually. Each year, National Parks across the country are visited by over 278 million people. Since its creation in 1916, the National Park System has come to include our most cherished monuments, battlefields, lakeshores, recreation areas, and pristine rivers and trails.

Paulsen, a champion of small business and advocate of free enterprise, entrepreneurship, and innovation, serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, the bicameral Joint Economic Committee, and is co-chair of the Congressional Medical Technology Caucus.

For more information on Congressman Paulsen’s work in Congress visit paulsen.house.gov. 

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