A Republican bill with 3 Republican cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-238.
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 PATRIOT Parks Act aims to amend the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. It authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to collect a surcharge from international visitors at National Park System units. This surcharge would apply to specific nonimmigrant individuals admitted under certain sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Superintendents can establish these surcharges to maximize revenue for their specific park units. Additionally, the bill addresses surcharges for National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes.
Yes
- Scored +6
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?
The bill provides more direct funding for the maintenance and staffing of National Park units.
- Scored +5
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill increases funding for the maintenance and needs of National Park System units.
- Scored +3
Does this give the federal government more power?
The bill grants the Secretary of the Interior and park superintendents more authority to levy surcharges.
The opposite
- Scored -5
Would immigrants be better off under this?
The bill imposes new surcharges specifically on certain categories of international visitors/nonimmigrants.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Funding for National Parks: Under Section 2(a)(b)(i)(vii), all proceeds from the surcharge are retained by the specific National Park System unit to be used for maintenance, visitor services, staffing, and related needs.
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Revenue Maximization for Park Units: Section 2(a)(b)(i)(ii) allows superintendents to establish surcharge amounts that maximize revenue for their specific unit of the National Park System.
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Funding for Legacy Restoration: Under Section 2(b)(1)(A), surcharges collected from the sale of certain recreation passes are deposited into the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Additional Costs for International Visitors: Section 2(a)(b)(i)(A) defines international visitors as nonimmigrant individuals admitted under specific legal sections, who would then be subject to an entrance fee surcharge.
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Increased Costs for Recreation Passes: Section 2(b)(1)(A) requires the Secretary to establish a surcharge to be collected from the sale of any National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass to an international visitor.
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Mandatory Surcharges on Vehicle Fees: Section 2(a)(b)(i)(iii) establishes a process for levying and collecting a surcharge even in cases where the entrance fee is a per-vehicle charge.
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 provides more direct funding for the maintenance and staffing of National Park units. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill increases funding for the maintenance and needs of National Park System units.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would immigrants be better off under this? — The bill imposes new surcharges specifically on certain categories of international visitors/nonimmigrants.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill grants the Secretary of the Interior and park superintendents more authority to levy surcharges.
- 12/9/2025
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-238.
- 7/29/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/28/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/16/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
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.
Tom CottonRepublican · Arkansas
Eric SchmittRepublican · Missouri
Tim SheehyRepublican · Montana