On Monday, May 22, Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Will Hurd (R-TX), Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI), and Dave Reichert (R-WA) introduced a bipartisan bill to address overdue maintenance projects in national parks. The National Park Service Legacy Act would reduce the nearly $12 billion backlog by allocating revenue the government receives from oil and gas royalties back into a restoration fund.

In response to the new legislation, Stephanie Meeks, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation issued the following statement:

“We commend Representatives Hurd, Kilmer, Hanabusa, and Reichert for introducing bipartisan legislation that will help fund the much needed repair and preservation of historic and cultural resources in our national parks.

“From Texas’ San Antonio Missions National Historical Park to Olympic National Park in Washington, historic buildings and sites at our national parks and monuments tell the story of America.

“Along with the Senate companion bill introduced by Senators Mark Warner and Rob Portman, this legislation will address the almost $12 billion critical maintenance backlog plaguing our national parks and allow these special places to continue to tell our stories to future generations of Americans.”