Press Release

WASHINGTON– Congressman Rob Bishop (UT-01), Chairman of the House Natural Resources Public Lands and Environmental Regulation Subcommittee, today held a legislative hearing to examine bills pertaining to state and federal management of national parks and other public lands. Utah’s Lieutenant Governor Spencer Cox was among the guests testifying at the hearing today.

“The common thread among the legislation we considered and of the testimony we heard today was that the centralized soviet-style management of our public lands and resources should be abandoned. It’s the ‘old’ way of doing things and we’re in an era where that simply no longer works. I’m not sure that it ever worked and we need to reevaluate how we go about managing federal land. States have proved that they are better equipped with regards to land and resource management. The notion that the federal government is the only entity that can oversee our resources is asinine and is regularly debunked. I am grateful to those who testified today about these important issues and was especially thankful for the testimony of Utah’s new Lieutenant Governor Cox,” said Congressman Bishop.

The following bills were reviewed today by the subcommittee:

Protecting States, Opening National Parks Act [H.R. 3286] introduced by Congressman Steve Daines (MT-At Large): To direct the Secretary of the Treasury to reimburse States that use State funds to operate National Parks during the Federal Government shutdown, and for other purposes.

State-Run Federal Lands Act [H.R. 3294] introduced by Congressman Don Young (AK- At Large): To establish a streamlined process through which a State may claim authority over and responsibility for management of Federal lands located in the State without claiming ownership of the land, and for other purposes.

Providing Access and Retain Continuity (PARC) Act [H.R. 3311] introduced by Congressman Chris Stewart (UT-02): To direct the Secretary of the Interior to enter into agreements with States to allow continued operation of facilities and programs that have been determined to have a direct economic impact on tourism, mining, timber, or general transportation in the State and which would otherwise cease operating, in whole or in part, during a Federal Government shutdown that is the result of a lapse in appropriations, and for other purposes.

River Paddling Protection Act [H.R. 3492] ​ introduced by Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis (WY- At Large): To provide for the use of hand-propelled vessels in Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and the National Elk Refuge, and for other purposes.

[H.R. 915] introduced by Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy III (MA-04): To authorize the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes.