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This section captures a floor statement or debate entry. It mentions legislation such as National Park System Long-Term Lease Investment Act, members such as Bruce Westerman.
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September 14, 2026
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Download official House Record PDFReturn to issue contextMr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4931) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to extend certain leases within units of the National Park System without opening the lease to bidding, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4931
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SEC. 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “National Park System Long-
Term Lease Investment Act”.
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION TO EXTEND CERTAIN LEASES.
(a) In General.—The Secretary of the Interior, acting
through the Director of the National Park Service (in this
section referred to as the “Director”), may extend a lease
entered into under part 18 of title 36, Code of Federal
Regulations (as in effect on January 3, 2025), without
issuing a request for bids or a request for proposals, if the
Director makes a written determination that—
(1) the lessee entered into the lease not less than 5 years
before the date on which the extension takes effect;
(2) the lessee is in compliance with the terms and
conditions of the lease; and
(3) an extension of the lease is consistent with the
purposes of the applicable unit of the National Park System.
(b) Limitation on Extension.—
(1) In general.—The Director may not grant more than one
extension under this section without issuing a request for
bids or a request for proposals under part 18 of title 36,
Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on January 3,
2025).
(2) Extension length.—The Director shall ensure that, for
any lease extended under this section, the cumulative length
of such lease complies with part 18 of title 36, Code of
Federal Regulations (as in effect on January 3, 2025).
(c) Revision of Regulation.—Not later than 90 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the
Interior shall revise part 18 of title 36, Code of Federal
Regulations, to reflect the authority granted under
subsection (a).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
General Leave
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4931, the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4931, the National Park System Long-Term Lease Investment Act, introduced by Representative Murphy of North Carolina.
lease buildings and other historic facilities, investing in these properties while providing important services to park visitors. These public-private partnerships can help put underutilized properties to productive use while supporting the long-term stewardship of park assets.
public-private partnerships can transform local economies, create jobs, improve access, and enhance the visitor experience. Through historic leasing on Bathhouse Row, once dilapidated bathhouses have been transformed into a brewery, a modern spa and bathhouse facility, and a hotel. Ongoing renovations financed under the Great American Outdoors Act will open up even more opportunities to lease historic bathhouses to more small businesses in this community.
can limit the National Park Service's flexibility to extend a successful lease without starting a new competitive process.
H.R. 4931 provides a targeted solution. To qualify for an extension, the original lease must be at least 5 years, the lessee must be in good standing, and the extension must be in the National Park Service's best interests. If those requirements are met, the bill allows a lease to be extended once for up to 10 years without issuing a new request for bids or proposals.
certainty to continue investing in park facilities while reducing unnecessary administrative burdens on the National Park Service. Just as importantly, it creates important safeguards by limiting the authority to lessees who have already demonstrated a successful track record.
the National Park Service fully leverages potential private-sector partners. The Senate version of this legislation includes a commonsense provision allowing leases to extend up to 99 years, which will attract greater investment and create greater economic opportunity nationwide. Although we were unable to reach an agreement in committee with our minority to include a similar provision in the House bill, I look forward to working with my bipartisan and bicameral colleagues on this concept as the bill continues through the legislative process.
I thank Representative Murphy for his leadership on this legislation. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4931, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4931 would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to extend certain
lease has been in place for at least 5 years, the tenant is complying with the terms of the existing lease, and the National Park Service determines that the extension is consistent with the purposes of the park unit.
more than 340 structures. This leasing authority has helped the service put underutilized historic properties to use through public-private partnerships while directing lease revenues toward historic preservation, infrastructure, and maintenance.
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As introduced, this legislation raised serious concerns. Current law requires a public competitive bidding process and fair market value, helping ensure that taxpayers receive a fair return on public assets and that businesses have a fair opportunity to compete.
number of times the lease could be renewed, creating the risk of a continuous cycle of extensions that effectively locks out the competition.
markup, with technical assistance from the National Park Service. The amended bill limits the authority to a single extension and makes it clear the total term of the lease cannot exceed the existing 60-year regulatory limit. That includes the extension.
These guardrails are important. We should make sure the Park Service has the flexibility it needs to manage these properties well, while also protecting competition, transparency, and the interests of the American taxpayer.
the Reflecting Pool and the suspension of leases for Federal golf courses in D.C., we need to ensure robust statutory guardrails.
cannot be a back door that leads to the privatization of our national parks.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the sponsor of the bill for working in a bipartisan way to address the concerns that many of us had, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Murphy), the lead sponsor of this bill.
Director of the National Park Service, the authority to extend the lease if the lease has been entered into less than 5 years before the date of extension is to take effect.
extending the lease is in the best interests of the applicable unit of the National Park Service.
and we work very well with them. We have a model of an excellent public-private partnership at Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, where the National Park Service works with a local vendor to provide necessary marine services.
My bill is simple and straightforward. It gives the National Park Service the authority to give an extension of a lease, if the National Park Service thinks it is in the best interests of the National Park Service, for a total duration up to 60 years.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my Democratic colleagues and appreciate the opportunity to attend to any concerns that they have.
encourage other private investors to invest wisely in the hope of being considered for this opportunity to make a win-win with a public-private partnership. Current law does not allow this to happen.
Mr. Speaker, I ask your consideration of this bill, and I ask my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 4931.
Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I once again commend Representative Murphy for his leadership on this legislation, and I look forward to working with the Senate and in a bipartisan manner. As this moves forward, I urge my colleagues to support the bill today, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4931, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.