PATRIOT Parks Act
- senate
- house
- president
Last progress July 16, 2025 (4 months ago)
Introduced on July 16, 2025 by James E. Banks
Sponsors (4)
House Votes
Senate Votes
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Presidential Signature
AI Summary
This bill lets national parks add an extra charge on some international visitors, on top of the normal entrance fee. It applies to tourists in the U.S. on a visitor visa or through the Visa Waiver Program. Park superintendents can set the amount, aiming to raise money while still keeping international visitors coming. The Secretary of the Interior can pause, change, or use tiered pricing for the surcharge and set future increases. The fee can be collected at park entrances or through third‑party travel vendors. If a park charges per vehicle, there must be a fair way to charge only the international visitors in that car. Money from this entrance surcharge stays with the specific park to support maintenance, visitor services, staffing, and related needs .
The bill also adds a surcharge when international visitors buy the America the Beautiful (national parks and federal lands) pass. Money from that pass surcharge goes to the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund, which pays for repairs and upgrades on public lands .
| Who is affected | What changes | Where the money goes | When/How set |
|---|---|---|---|
| International tourists on visitor visas or Visa Waiver | Extra surcharge on park entry; extra surcharge on annual federal lands pass | Park-entry surcharge stays at the park; pass surcharge goes to the Legacy Restoration Fund | Amounts set by park superintendents and the Interior Department through regulations; can be adjusted or paused by the Secretary |