Summary#
This bill would change the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act so the Secretary of the Interior and National Park superintendents can charge a surcharge to certain international visitors who enter units of the National Park System. "International visitor" is defined as a nonimmigrant admitted under a B visitor visa or the Visa Waiver Program. Superintendents would set the surcharge amount by regulation, aiming to maximize revenue while keeping international visitation. The bill requires rules for charging per-vehicle fees and allows collection by the Park Service or by third-party travel vendors under agreement. The Secretary may suspend, modify, or set minimum increases for surcharges. The surcharge must be separate from immigrant visa fees and not run by the State or Homeland Security departments. Money from a surcharge at a park would be kept at that park for maintenance, visitor services, staffing, and related needs. The bill also requires a surcharge on the sale of National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes to the same international visitors; proceeds from that pass surcharge would go to the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund.
What it means for you#
- If you are admitted to the United States on a B visitor visa or under the Visa Waiver Program, you may be charged an extra surcharge when you pay entrance fees at some National Park units or when you buy certain passes.
- Park superintendents can set the surcharge amount by regulation for their unit, and the Secretary can change or suspend surcharges.
- The Park Service can collect the surcharge directly or use third-party travel vendors under agreement.
- The law treats these surcharges as separate from visa fees.
Expenses#
- The bill does not provide dollar amounts, cost estimates, or revenue projections. No publicly available information.
- It specifies that all proceeds from a park entrance surcharge would be retained by the park unit where collected and used for maintenance, visitor services, staffing, and related needs as determined by the Secretary.
- It specifies that proceeds from the surcharge on passes sold to qualifying international visitors would be deposited in the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund.
Proponents' View#
- The bill creates a mechanism to raise and direct additional money from certain international visitors to park units for maintenance, visitor services, staffing, and related needs. It also channels pass surcharge revenue to the Legacy Restoration Fund.
Opponents' View#
No publicly available information.