Protecting America’s Treasures by Raising Inflow from Overseas Tourists (PATRIOT) Parks Act

This bill, the PATRIOT Parks Act, would let national parks that already charge an entrance fee add an extra charge for international visitors—people visiting on a tourist visa or through the Visa Waiver Program. Each park’s superintendent could set the amount to raise money while still keeping overseas visitors coming, with the Secretary of the Interior able to approve, pause, or change the surcharge and use tiered pricing based on how busy a park is. The surcharge could be collected the usual ways or by travel vendors, and there would be special rules for parks that charge per vehicle.

Money from these park surcharges would stay at that park to fund maintenance, visitor services, staffing, and related needs. There would be no surcharge at the Washington Monument, and certain international peace parks would not charge it to nationals of the partner country entering from the U.S. side. The bill would also add a surcharge when an international visitor buys a National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass; that money would go to the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund.

Key points:

• Who is affected: International visitors on tourist visas or the Visa Waiver Program.
• What changes: Parks could add an extra fee for these visitors; pass purchases by these visitors would also include a surcharge .
• Exceptions: No surcharge at the Washington Monument; limited exception for certain international peace parks.
• Where the money goes: Park-entry surcharges stay at the park; pass surcharges go to a national restoration fund.