1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I write as a Washington state constituent to express concern about the recent announcement from the U.S. Department of the Interior regarding sweeping changes to national park access, scheduled to take effect January 1, 2026 — including new pass structures that differentiate between U.S. residents and non‑residents, significant price hikes for non‑residents, and revised fee‑free holidays. While I support maintaining and improving our national parks, I believe this policy undermines the principle of equal access to America’s public lands. By charging non‑residents up to three times the rate and adding per‑person surcharges at popular parks, the policy risks excluding many families, immigrants, and visitors who may contribute to local economies and cultural exchange. Moreover, the removal of historically important fee‑free days (like MLK Day and Juneteenth) in favor of politically‑charged dates raises serious concerns that public lands are being politicized rather than preserved as a shared national heritage. I respectfully urge you to: 1. Request a full review and public hearing on this new fee structure, examining its impact on access, equity, and the mission of the National Park Service. 2. Advocate for amendments or legislation ensuring that all people — regardless of residency status or citizenship — have fair access to national parks, especially those funded in part by American taxpayer dollars. 3. Push for reinstatement of previously fee‑free days that honored civil‑rights history and inclusivity, rather than replacing them with partisan or exclusionary dates. 4. Ensure transparent criteria and identification requirements so that lawful, long‑term U.S. residents (permanent residents, visa holders, etc.) are not unfairly burdened or excluded under “non‑resident” rules. Public lands are part of our shared heritage — they should unite, not divide. I ask you to stand for access, equity, and inclusive stewardship of our national parks. Please respond with your position and any planned actions. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.