III
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 161
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 18, 2023
Mr. King (for himself, Mr. Daines, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Cramer, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Reed, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Barrasso, Ms. Hassan, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Coons, Mr. Budd, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Rubio, Ms. Sinema, Ms. Collins, Mr. Warner, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Wicker, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Graham, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. Markey, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Luján, Mr. Hoeven, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Braun, Mr. Tester, Mr. Boozman, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Cotton, Ms. Warren, Mr. Young, Mr. Hickenlooper, Mr. Kennedy, Ms. Cantwell, Ms. Lummis, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Murphy, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Manchin, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Peters, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Carper, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Welch, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. Scott of South Carolina) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to
RESOLUTION
Designating the week of April 22 through April 30, 2023, as National Park Week
.
Whereas, on March 1, 1872, Congress established Yellowstone National Park as the first national park for the enjoyment of the people of the United States;
Whereas, on August 25, 1916, Congress established the National Park Service with the mission to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of current and future generations;
Whereas the National Park Service continues to protect and manage the majestic landscapes, hallowed battlefields, and iconic cultural and historical sites of the United States;
Whereas the units of the National Park System can be found in every State and many territories of the United States and many of those units embody the rich natural and cultural heritage of the United States, reflect a unique national story through people and places, and offer countless opportunities for recreation, volunteerism, cultural exchange, education, civic engagement, and exploration;
Whereas, in 2022, the national parks of the United States attracted nearly 312,000,000 recreational visits, an increase of 5 percent over 2021 visitation levels;
Whereas visits and visitors to the national parks of the United States are important economic drivers, responsible for contributing $42,500,000,000 in spending to the national economy in 2021;
Whereas the dedicated employees of the National Park Service carry out their mission to protect the units of the National Park System so that the vibrant culture, diverse wildlife, and priceless resources of these unique places will endure for perpetuity; and
Whereas the people of the United States have inherited the remarkable legacy of the National Park System and are entrusted with the preservation of the National Park System throughout its second century: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate—
designates the week of April 22 through April 30, 2023, as National Park Week
; and
encourages the people of the United States and the world to responsibly visit, experience, recreate in, and support the treasured national parks of the United States.