1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I urge you to vote no on Senator Mike Lee's Amendment 3972 to the interior appropriations bill. This amendment would remove protective language that currently requires the federal government to maintain national parks as federal lands and ensure adequate funding and staffing. If passed, this dangerous proposal would open the door to selling America's national parks and strip away critical protections that have safeguarded these treasured places for generations. Nobody asked for this change. Americans across party lines overwhelmingly support protecting our landscapes, wildlife, and historical sites through the national park system. In 2024 alone, nearly 332 million visitors flocked to our parks, monuments, seashores, battlefields, and historic sites. These over 430 locations preserve nationally significant stories from the American Revolution, Civil War, Civil Rights Movement, and other pivotal moments in our history. The economic argument against this amendment is equally compelling. The National Park Service comprises less than one-fifteenth of 1 percent of the federal budget yet delivers a $15 boost to our economy for every dollar invested. National parks generate billions of dollars for local economies and create thousands of jobs. Dismantling protections for the park system could devastate communities that depend on tourist dollars, particularly in rural areas. The timing of this amendment is especially troubling. Just weeks before America's 250th anniversary, we should be celebrating our national park legacy, not threatening its existence. These parks represent a promise to preserve nature and history for future generations. Removing these unique places from National Park Service protection would betray the American people and break faith with those who fought to establish these protections. I strongly urge you to oppose Amendment 3972 and protect our national parks from being sold or stripped of essential federal funding and staffing.