Russ Fulcher (R-ID)
Making National Parks Safer Act
A Republican bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Subcommittee Hearings Held
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Making National Parks Safer Act" directs the Secretary of the Interior to upgrade emergency communications centers within the National Park System. The Secretary must first complete an assessment within one year to determine the implementation status and the costs for purchasing and operating Next Generation 9-1-1 systems. Following this assessment, a report must be submitted to Congress and made public on the Department of the Interior's website. Afterward, the Secretary has one year to develop a plan to install these upgraded systems. This plan requires consultation with state and local officials, stakeholders, and various federal agencies.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +5
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?
The bill enhances safety and emergency response capabilities within the National Park System.
- Scored +4
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
Upgrading emergency communications in national parks provides better safety protections for those visiting or living near these remote areas.
- Scored +3
Does this get reliable internet to more people?
The bill focuses on implementing advanced Next Generation 9-1-1 data and location-sharing technologies.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill requires new spending for the purchase and operation of upgraded communication systems.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Emergency Response: The bill aims to upgrade existing emergency communications centers to Next Generation 9-1-1 systems (Section 3 and Section 4). This could improve the ability of centers to receive and process requests for emergency assistance, including data like location and callback numbers (Section 2).
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Enhanced Interoperability: The transition to Next Generation 9-1-1 systems is intended to allow centers to share information with other emergency response providers without needing proprietary interfaces, regardless of jurisdiction or equipment (Section 2).
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Informed Planning and Transparency: The Secretary is required to submit a report to Congress and make it available on a public website, which identifies issues such as jurisdictional, technological, and legal problems facing these systems (Section 3).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Cost Burdens: The bill identifies the need for estimated costs to purchase and maintain Next Generation 9-1-1 systems across all emergency communications centers in the National Park System (Section 3).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — The bill enhances safety and emergency response capabilities within the National Park System. Does this improve buses, trains and other public transport? — The bill improves the communication infrastructure necessary for public safety in national parks.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Upgrading emergency communications in national parks provides better safety protections for those visiting or living near these remote areas.
- Education And Technology
- Does this get reliable internet to more people? — The bill focuses on implementing advanced Next Generation 9-1-1 data and location-sharing technologies.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the Secretary to make a report on emergency communication assessments available on a public website.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill requires new spending for the purchase and operation of upgraded communication systems.
- 3/18/2026
- Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 3/11/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
- 1/30/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/13/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Harriet HagemanRepublican · Wyoming