CONTACT: Kyle Groetzinger, Press Secretary
media@nationalparksaction.org
WASHINGTON – Today, the National Parks Action Fund released our 2024 Congressional Scorecard, upholding our mission to keep members of Congress accountable for their votes on national parks, wildlife, and conservation.
CONTACT: Angela Gonzales, Press Secretary
media@nationalparksaction.org
Washington, DC – A strong majority (87%) of Arizona voters, regardless of political party, support conserving more lands, open space and waters throughout the country, according to a new poll conducted for the National Parks Action Fund (NPAF). Nearly 9 out of 10 Arizona voters (88%) support preserving more lands around the Grand Canyon in order to better protect the Colorado River and other water sources, which are vital to the health of local communities and national parks. A strong bipartisan majority also thinks that national parks have a range of positive impacts on Arizona when it comes to recreation, wildlife protection, human health and local economies.
The NPAF poll, which surveyed 619 registered voters in Arizona, was conducted from August 23-28, 2022, by Climate Nexus Polling, the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, and the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication. The margin of error for this poll is +/-4.2% at the 95% confidence level.
“Our national parks are powerful places. They have an unparalleled ability to bring people together and bridge political divides. It’s clear that this power resonates with voters in Arizona, who regardless of political affiliation, overwhelmingly believe in protecting their national parks,” said Kristen Brengel, National Parks Action Fund Executive Director. “Arizona voters see the beauty as well as economic and health benefits of national parks. They also understand the need to address climate change and move towards clean energy. Arizona voters agree. There’s no time to waste and lawmakers must act now.”
Arizona is home to not only the iconic Grand Canyon but numerous other parks and monuments that hold some of the country’s most breathtaking landscapes and archaeological and cultural sites like Saguaro National Parks and Lake Mead National Recreation Area. But many of these irreplaceable sites are reaching a breaking point due to the effects of climate change, decades of inadequate budgets and understaffing, and a growing backlog of repair needs.
The poll results reinforce that Arizona residents not only care about their national parks and public lands and waters, but that they also understand the issues impacting them. Most Arizona voters (72%) say investing funds to protect national parks would have a positive impact, including 33% that says it has a very positive impact on the state and communities. And most voters (75%), regardless of political party, would be more likely to support a representative who supported policies designed to protect national parks like the Grand Canyon from the impacts of climate change.
“Arizona voters recognize that national parks like the Grand Canyon are a critical part of their state’s economy and identity,” said Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz, director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. “And they strongly support new investments to protect these treasures from the impacts of climate change.”
The poll also asked Arizona voters about topics such as the last time they visited a national park and the importance of moving forward with climate change solutions. Key findings include:
“Arizona communities have already suffered severe consequences from climate change, from extreme wildfires to megadrought to dangerous heat,” said Dr. Edward Maibach, director of the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication. “This has not gone unnoticed by Arizona voters and helps explain their strong support for transitioning to clean energy.”
For more detail on the poll results, please see the poll toplines. And to learn more about how NPAF is working to protect national parks across the country, please visit: https://nationalparksaction.org/.
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About National Parks Action Fund
National Parks Action Fund (Action Fund) is the affiliated 501(c)(4) of National Parks Conservation Association. The Action Fund’s goals are to protect, restore, and fund the National Park System by informing the public about threats facing our parks, educating members of Congress about proposals to help parks, and influencing candidates’ positions to forward those proposals.
CONTACT: Angela Gonzales, Press Secretary
media@nationalparksaction.org
WASHINGTON – According to the National Parks Action Fund’s 2022 Congressional Scorecard issued today, protecting and enhancing our national parks remained a priority for the majority of the 117th Congress, which passed legislation to expand our National Park System and provide critical funding to hire more park staff and make our parks more resilient to the effects of climate change.
For years, the National Parks Action Fund (Action Fund) has pushed Congress to show their support for our national parks and hold members accountable for their parks’ voting record. Since the Action Fund launched its first Congressional Scorecard in 2016, lawmakers have increasingly voted in support of America’s favorite places. And this year’s scorecard shows that fixing and safeguarding our national parks and public lands remain a critical issue for many, as over half of Congress received an A rating for their pro-park votes.
“Every one of our more than 420 national parks are experiencing the effects of budget cuts, staffing shortages, record visitation and crumbling infrastructure,” said Theresa Pierno, National Parks Action Fund Board Chair. “And this summer, climate disasters wreaked havoc on national parks and surrounding communities like the devastating floods at Yellowstone, historic droughts at Lake Mead and Grand Canyon, and raging wildfires at Yosemite. Fortunately, the majority of the 117th Congress took major steps forward to repair our national parks infrastructure and support the largest investment our country has ever made to combat climate change, including at our national parks.”
The Action Fund, affiliated with the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), evaluated park-related votes taken by the House and Senate during the 117th Congress. The scored votes include a variety of issues affecting parks, including key votes concerning park infrastructure, climate change impacts, cabinet nominations, and protections for water and wildlife.
According to the Action Fund’s 2022 Congressional Scorecard:
This scorecard brings to light the power our national parks have to push the country forward and unify Congress even at a time when it has been bitterly at odds. Lawmakers across the aisle came together to achieve several park victories, including the designation of Amache National Historic Site that preserves the Amache incarceration camp and honors the people who were once imprisoned there based solely on their ethnicity. The House of Representatives also overwhelmingly supported the establishment of the Blackwell School National Historic Site that tells the powerful story of segregated education in the United States.
“In order for our national parks to grow stronger in their second century, it is vital that everyone see themselves reflected in these beautiful places,” added Pierno. “The Action Fund has long urged Congress to expand our National Park System to tell the full American story. And while this Congress made progress, many important stories of American history and our past successes, struggles and injustices remain untold. It’s vital that Congress ensures that everyone, no matter where they live, has access to parks, and these places tell a more complete story of the nation’s rich and diverse history.”
From the volcanic landscapes of Haleakalā to the sacred ancestral home of the Pueblo peoples at Chaco Culture to the rocky coastlines of Acadia, Americans want these places protected and have time and again called on Congress to do so. It’s easy for members of Congress to say they love national parks, but the decisions they make in Washington have profound effects on all national parks. The 117th Congress had ample opportunities to support national parks like safeguarding environmental bedrock laws that give the public a voice in how their public lands are managed and protecting our country’s most iconic wildlife and their habitats. Yet, many members voted against these measures.
“Congress is the caretaker of our National Park System. But as I witnessed during my time on Capitol Hill, partisanship too often gets in the way,” said Rick Healy, National Parks Action Fund Board Member and former staff member of the House Natural Resources Committee. “This scorecard should be a wake-up call for members of Congress to put party aside and work together to make sure national park staff have the resources and support they need to care for our parks. There’s too much at stake.”
Despite the wins national parks received during the 117th Congress, there remains much work to be done. National parks still face challenges like chronic underfunding, a growing backlog of repairs needs and threats from fossil fuel extraction.
“We must hold our federal elected officials accountable for the decisions they make that impact our most iconic places,” added Healy. “We will continue to call on Congress to better staff parks, carry on its work to repair parks and address climate change, and support solutions to overcrowding.”
View the Action Fund’s 2022 Congressional Scorecard here.
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About National Parks Action Fund
National Parks Action Fund (Action Fund) is the affiliated 501(c)(4) of National Parks Conservation Association. The Action Fund’s goals are to protect, restore, and fund the National Park System by informing the public about threats facing our parks, educating members of Congress about proposals to help parks, and influencing candidates’ positions to forward those proposals.
CONTACT: Angela Gonzales, Press Secretary
media@nationalparksaction.org
WASHINGTON – According to the National Parks Action Fund’s 2019-2020 Congressional Scorecard issued today, the majority of the 116th Congress made national park protection and funding a priority, passing two of the biggest conservation bills in the last 50 years — the John Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act and the Great American Outdoors Act – further showing that parks are not a partisan issue, but an American one.
For too long, our national parks and public lands have been underfunded, understaffed and undervalued. But the National Parks Action Fund (Action Fund) has helped turn the tide, holding members of Congress accountable for their national parks record. Since the Action Fund launched its first Congressional Scorecard in 2016, bringing to light the clear partisan divide in the 114th Congress, lawmakers have increasingly voted in support of America’s favorite places.
“Members of congress have long touted their love of our national parks, yet their records haven’t always matched their rhetoric,” said Theresa Pierno, National Parks Action Fund Board Chair. “For years, parks have welcomed record number of visitors, while also dealing with massive decreases in staffing, budget cuts and billions of dollars in needed repairs across the system. Fortunately, the 116th Congress has begun to right these wrongs and cast votes to match their national park rhetoric.”
The Action Fund, affiliated with the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), evaluated park-related votes taken by the House and Senate during the 116th Congress. The scored votes include a variety of issues affecting parks, including key votes concerning park funding, oil and gas development near parks, cabinet nominations, and protections for water and wildlife.
According to the Action Fund’s 2019-2020 Congressional Scorecard:
“This scorecard brings to light the power our national parks have to unify us, even during some of the most divisive times our country has faced,” said Pierno. “Lawmakers across the aisle came together to put national parks and public lands over politics. In doing so, more people will have access to these places, and they will receive many of the protections they deserve. But while there’s much to be proud of, we must also recognize and address the ongoing threats to our parks, from the effects of climate change to funding struggles to fossil fuel extraction that could have a profound and lasting impact on these places.”
Despite the wins national parks received under the 116th Congress, there remains much work to be done. National parks still face cuts to their budget, including reductions in rangers to care for them. All while the current administration and many in Congress continue to attack the laws that protect our public lands, air, waterways and wildlife, even amid a devastating global health pandemic.
“As we prepare for the start of a new Congress next year, we urge members to think hard about the impact their votes could have on our public lands, the air we breathe and the water we drink. And more than ever before, we need a Congress that will stand up to an administration when it counts,” added Pierno. “The American people need and deserve lawmakers who will ensure everyone, no matter where they live, has access to outdoor spaces, and that these places can continue to thrive for generations.” Click here to view the Action Fund’s 2019-2020 Congressional Scorecard.
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About National Parks Action Fund National Parks Action Fund (Action Fund) is the affiliated 501(c)(4) of National Parks Conservation Association. The Action Fund’s goals are to protect, restore, and fund the National Park System by informing the public about threats facing our parks, educating members of Congress about proposals to help parks, and influencing candidates’ positions to forward those proposals.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: January 20, 2018
Angela Gonzales, Press Secretary
P: 202.419.3712 | media@nationalparksaction.org
Washington, DC — The failure of Congress to pass funding legislation and the resulting government shutdown is putting our national parks, and the resources they protect, at risk.
Statement by Kristen Brengel, Executive Director of National Parks Action Fund:
“National parks are some of our country’s greatest treasures. The Trump Administration’s plan to keep parks partially open while minimally staffed during the government shutdown, is an abdication of their responsibility to protect these natural, cultural, and historic resources. Congress and the administration need to work together to end the government shutdown and get our national parks fully open and rangers back on the job.”
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About National Parks Action Fund
National Parks Action Fund (Action Fund) is the 501(c)(4) of National Parks Conservation Association. The Action Fund’s fundamental goal is to protect, restore, and fund the National Park System by informing the public about threats facing our parks, educating members of Congress about proposals to help parks, and influencing candidates’ positions to forward those proposals.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: December 5, 2017
CONTACT: Angela Gonzales, Deputy Press Secretary
P: 202.419.3712 | media@nationalparksaction.org
President Trump Attempts to Dismantle Two National Monuments
WASHINGTON – National Parks Action Fund Executive Director Kristen Brengel reacts to President Trump’s attempt to revoke Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante in Utah:
“Today’s announcement by President Trump to revoke protection for amazing red rock desert canyons, streams and cultural sites is a dangerous path for the future of our national parks and monuments. Americans cherish these memorable and awe-inspiring places in southern Utah. Removing protection and allowing mining, off-road vehicles, and oil and gas drilling will mar Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments, places that share ecosystems with national parks. Today is a terrible day for national parks.”
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About National Parks Action Fund
National Parks Action Fund (Action Fund) is the 501(c)(4) of National Parks Conservation Association. The Action Fund’s fundamental goal is to protect, restore, and fund the National Park System by informing the public about threats facing our parks, educating members of Congress about proposals to help parks, and influencing candidates’ positions to forward those proposals. Learn more at https://nationalparksaction.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: August 24, 2017
CONTACT: Amy Hagovsky, Vice President, Communications
P: 202-365-5912 | media@nationalparksaction.org
Interior Secretary Recommends Dismantling America’s National Monuments
Arbitrary Process Could Result in Hatchet Job on Some of America’s Favorite Places
WASHINGTON – According to a news report today, and after an arbitrary review process lacking in transparency, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is recommending shrinking some of America’s national monuments. The review was conducted in response to an April 26 Presidential Executive Order, which instructed Interior to look at national monuments designated using the Antiquities Act.
Below is a statement by National Parks Action Fund Executive Director Kristen Brengel following today’s news:
“Like most Americans, we are extremely disturbed by Secretary Zinke’s decision to dismantle protections for our public lands and waters. These are places that were protected for very clear reasons, from scientific value to biodiversity to historic preservation. Yet they are being torn apart for very unclear reasons, and in what appears to be a very arbitrary, political process conducted behind closed doors.
“Every member of Congress should be on notice. Americans, their constituents, won’t take this news lightly. More than 2.7 million comments were received by the Administration, in support of park and monument protections. To endorse Secretary Zinke’s plan is to endorse taking away something that belongs to all of us. And in doing so, ignoring the millions of people who spoke up in support of the very places that define us. Protections for places as special and important as national parks and monuments shouldn’t be thrown away in a careless process.”
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About National Parks Action Fund
National Parks Action Fund (Action Fund) is the 501(c)(4) of National Parks Conservation Association. The Action Fund’s fundamental goal is to protect, restore, and fund the National Park System by informing the public about threats facing our parks, educating members of Congress about proposals to help parks, and influencing candidates’ positions to forward those proposals. Learn more at https://nationalparksaction.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: May 25, 2017
Angela Gonzales, Press Secretary
P: 202.419.3712 | media@nationalparksaction.org
Washington, DC — This week, the Trump Administration released its proposed FY2018 budget, which includes serious cuts to the National Park Service and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These cuts, 13 percent to the Park Service and 31 percent to the EPA, would seriously undermine the protection, management, and resilience of our national parks.
The budget proposal includes cuts to historic preservation, interpretative services, and staff positions at the Park Service. The cuts to the EPA include significant reductions or complete elimination of key programs aimed at protecting parks’ air and waters.
Statement by Kristen Brengel, Executive Director of National Parks Action Fund:
“National parks cannot run on nickels and dimes. When Glacier National Park has record visitation for three years in a row, it is a sign that we need to ensure it is protected and maintained for all visitors. This budget is a setback.
“The Administration is proposing the biggest cut to the National Park Service in over 70 years. They are cutting funding for park repairs, operations and even staffing. Critical funding to restore wildlife habitat and clean water to parks like Golden Gate National Recreation Area through programs supporting restoration of the San Francisco Bay should continue to be a priority. Our water and wildlife deserve a chance to thrive, but this budget completely eliminates programs like these.
“These cuts would greatly impact all visitors to our national parks and make our country’s shining crown jewels dull to the world. Congress must prevent this budget from seeing the light of day and they must pass a budget that ensures national parks will be preserved for future generations to explore and enjoy.”
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About National Parks Action Fund
National Parks Action Fund (Action Fund) is the 501(c)(4) of National Parks Conservation Association. The Action Fund’s fundamental goal is to protect, restore, and fund the National Park System by informing the public about threats facing our parks, educating members of Congress about proposals to help parks, and influencing candidates’ positions to forward those proposals.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: April 26, 2017
CONTACT: Angela Gonzales, Social Media Director
P: 202.419.3712 | media@nationalparksaction.org
Washington, DC — Today, President Trump directed the Department of the Interior to review dozens of national monuments — those designated since 1996 and over 100,000 acres — to determine if existing boundaries are “well beyond the areas in need of protection” and to recommend possible changes to the monuments.
The Executive Order puts a bullseye on the Antiquities Act of 1906, an invaluable tool that has been used by Democratic and Republican presidents for more than a century to protect natural, historic and cultural sites across the country. The law has allowed for the preservation of iconic places like Grand Canyon and Acadia National Parks, and for places that have expanded the stories told in our national parks like Stonewall, César E. Chávez and Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monuments.
In addition to preserving some of America’s most majestic landscapes and important cultural history, national park sites drive significant economic activity for their local communities. In 2016, national park sites originally designated by the Antiquities Act contributed over $7.3 billion to the U.S. economy, more than $5.4 billion of which was spent in the local communities around the park sites. Downsizing or changing park designations, as this Executive Order aims to do, would have serious negative impacts on the U.S. economy.
Statement by Kristen Brengel, Executive Director of National Parks Action Fund:
“This Executive Order is a direct attack on our national parks and the value they bring to the lives of all Americans. The Trump administration is reviewing the worthiness of our historic, cultural and natural heritage. This is a sad day for all Americans – our conservation lands and history is on the chopping block.
“America’s national monuments are extraordinary places that are nationally significant historic, sacred, and conservation sites. An arbitrary review to remove protection for these sites is shortsighted and ill-conceived. For more than a century, presidents of both parties have used the Antiquities Act to preserve some of our most treasured sites. To politicize our public lands and threaten their very existence is a betrayal of our nation’s long conservation legacy, and to undermine the Antiquities Act will have a direct impact on future attempts to preserve federally owned public lands worthy of additional protections.”
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About National Parks Action Fund
National Parks Action Fund (Action Fund) is the 501(c)(4) of National Parks Conservation Association. The Action Fund’s fundamental goal is to protect, restore, and fund the National Park System by informing the public about threats facing our parks, educating members of Congress about proposals to help parks, and influencing candidates’ positions to forward those proposals.
Senate Confirms Ryan Zinke as Interior Secretary
WASHINGTON – Below is a statement by National Parks Action Fund Executive Director Kristen Brengel following the Senate’s confirmation of Montana Representative Ryan Zinke to be the nation’s 52nd Secretary of the Interior.
“Today, the Senate voted to confirm Rep. Ryan Zinke as the 52nd Secretary of the Interior. As Secretary, Zinke will need to stand guard on behalf of our national parks, now more than ever. The challenges our parks face, including low funding, record visitation, and protecting park resources and wildlife, are often exacerbated by many members of Congress, who, despite declaring their support for America’s favorite places, routinely work to undermine them.
“Yellowstone, Everglades, and Gettysburg are places that need an advocate and strong ally to ensure their long-term protection. We are counting on Zinke to fight off attacks to drill for oil and gas near park borders. We are counting on him to stand up for the Endangered Species Act to protect park wildlife. We are counting on him to fight for more funding and staff to address parks’ $12 billion repair backlog.
“There will be tremendous pressure on him by some in Congress to not act on these very important issues, but as the Secretary of the Interior, Zinke has America’s public lands in his hands. During his confirmation hearing, Zinke described himself as a ‘Teddy Roosevelt’ Republican. In the spirit of that conservation legacy, we expect and look forward to working with him and Congress to ensure parks are protected and their rangers supported so they can continue providing the best possible experience to the visitors of America’s favorite places.”
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About National Parks Action Fund
National Parks Action Fund (Action Fund) is the 501(c)(4) of National Parks Conservation Association. The Action Fund’s fundamental goal is to protect, restore, and fund the National Park System by informing the public about threats facing our parks, educating members of Congress about proposals to help parks, and influencing candidates’ positions to forward those proposals. Learn more at https://nationalparksaction.org.