Cortez Masto Introduces Legislation to Codify Fee-free DAYS of Public Service on Federal Lands

Last Week, Donald Trump Removed MLK Day and Juneteenth from List of Fee-Free Days, Included His Birthday Instead
Washington, D.C. –Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced theEncouraging Public Service in Our National Parks and Public Land Actto codify six days where visitors to National Parks and other federal lands can enter free-of-charge. This legislation would direct the Secretary of the Interior to officially designate Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday, the first day of National Park Week, Juneteenth, Great American Outdoors Day, National Public Lands Day, and Veterans Day as fee-free entry days.
“Free entry days were created as a way for our National Parks to encourage public service and volunteer work,”said Senator Cortez Masto.“It’s our national responsibility to protect and maintain our public lands – so let’s recommit to ensuring free entry days promote this patriotic act of service, not stroke the President’s ego.”
Since the National Park System and other land management agencies began collecting entry and recreation fees,the Department of the Interior has offered fee-free days to promote America’s public lands and encourage visitors to volunteer in the National Parks, especially on select federal holidays where many Americans already have the day off. Last week, the Trump Administration cut Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday and Juneteenth, two holidays honoring Black history, from its listof free entrance days next yearand replaced them with his birthday.
Cortez Masto’s legislation would restore these two holidays to the list of free entrance days and make a list of public service days permanently fee-free. Additional free entry days would be possible at the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior.The dates are as follows:
Read the billhere.Additional co-sponsors include Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
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