National Park Foundation Commends Inclusion of $5 Million Appropriation for Foundation in Senate Fiscal Year 2020 Funding Bill

WASHINGTON—Will Shafroth, president of the National Park Foundation, the official nonprofit partner to the National Park Service, issued the following statement following unanimous committee passage of the Senate Committee on Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies bill for Fiscal Year 2020:

“The National Park Foundation applauds Committee on Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby, Ranking Member Patrick Leahy, as well as Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Chairman Lisa Murkowski and Ranking Member Tom Udall for their leadership to provide robust funding for the National Park Service, including $5 million for the National Park Foundation as authorized under the National Park Service Centennial Act (PL-114-289, Section 402). The Foundation thanks members of the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies and the full Committee on Appropriations for their support of this important investment in our national parks.

The Foundation looks forward to matching federal funds at least $1:$1 with philanthropic support to invest in priority projects and programs across the National Park System. As the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, the Foundation welcomes the opportunity to leverage support from our growing community of national park champions to ensure our treasured parks continue to thrive.

We commend Chairman Murkowski and Ranking Member Udall for their leadership to move this important funding through the legislative process, and look forward to its eventual passage into law.”

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION
The National Park Foundation is the official charity of America’s national parks and nonprofit partner to the National Park Service. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation raises private funds to help protect more than 84 million acres of national parks through critical conservation and preservation efforts and connect all Americans with their incomparable natural landscapes, vibrant culture, and rich history. Find out more and become a part of the national park community at www.nationalparks.org.