June 20, 2016

President Barack Obama celebrated the National Park Service’s (NPS) upcoming 100^th anniversary at Yosemite National Park this June. The NPS was established on August 25, 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson signed into a law a bill mandating the agency to “conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wildlife therein… [and] leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”  Since then, the NPS has managed the U.S. national park system, providing recreation, conservation and historic preservation programs across the U.S.

In his budget request for fiscal year (FY) 2017, President Obama proposed an increase of $190.5 million to invest in the second century of the NPS, including $20 million for the Centennial Challenge, a program that would match partner donations with federal funds for projects and programs at national parks.

Both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees have included language to increase funding for the National Park Service in FY 2017. The House bill would increase total funding by $71 million above FY 2016 levels The Senate bill would increase total funding by $68 million above the FY 2016 level of $2,851 million.

Sources: E&E News, Greenwire News, National Ocean Service, National Park Service 

Updated 7/11/16