Bill To Boost National Parks Funding

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sleepingbear

National Parks in Michigan and around the nation could get some TLC if Congress Acts. U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke is promoting bipartisan legislation that would address the $12 billion maintenance backlog at parks across the country. Yaron Miller with the Pew Charitable Trusts Restore America’s Parks campaign says many of the problems at the parks impact access and safety.

“These repairs include deteriorating historic buildings, unsafe roads, eroding trails, outdated campgrounds and broken bathrooms, crumbling monuments and degraded water, sewer and electrical systems.”

Michigan parks are struggling with $52 million deferred maintenance. The U.S. Senate is considering the Restore Our Parks Act, which would provide up to $6.5 billion over five years to address the backlog. Michigan Republicans Fred Upton and Jack Bergman are co-sponsors of companion legislation in the House.