National Park Foundation Praises Senate Passage of Fiscal Year 2020 Department of the Interior Funding Bill
WASHINGTON—Will Shafroth, president of the National Park Foundation, the official charity and nonprofit partner to the National Park Service, issued the following statement regarding Senate passage of legislation to provide Fiscal Year 2020 appropriations for the Department of the Interior:
“The National Park Foundation applauds Senate 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 significant funding for the National Park Service in the legislation passed by the Senate today. The Foundation thanks Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer for bringing this bipartisan spending bill to the floor, and appreciates every Senator who voted to support continued investment in the National Park System.
The Foundation commends the legislation’s inclusion of $5 million for the National Park Foundation as authorized under the National Park Service Centennial Act (PL-114-289, Section 402). As the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, the Foundation welcomes the opportunity to leverage federal funding at least $1:$1 with philanthropic contributions. With support from our robust community of national park champions, the Foundation looks forward to deploying funds for priority projects and programs in national parks across the United States.
We thank Senate leaders for their efforts to advance this important funding one step closer toward its final enactment 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.