Legislative Resources

NACPRO's Legislative Platform

NACPRO, as an affiliate of NRPA and NACo, has the opportunity to influence the legislative agendas of these organizations. We consider legislative concerns of county, regional and special park districts, and make sure their interests are represented through the lobbying strength of the larger NRPA and NACo organizations.

Among NACPRO’s major areas of concern are: LWCF, UPARR, RTCA, CDBG, children and nature initiatives, natural resources preservation programs, and funding for physical activity and nutrition promotion programs. The NACPRO Board of Directors invites all members to review and utilize the NACPRO Legislative Agenda (updated November 16, 2023).

2023 Policy Briefs

• Direct America the Beautiful initiative resources to county and regional partnerships
• Improve efficiencies of the LWCF program
• Reducing local match requirements for federal environmental restoration projects
• Refining the local match land value credit for federal environmental projects
• Support for full funding of the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP) 
• Support for Rails-with-Trails
• Support the Outdoors For All Act
• Support for the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act of 2023

We welcome your concerns and comments.

NACPRO Legislative Activity and Resources

January 10, 2020 - NACPRO urges members to support S. 3060/H.R. 4028 - RPPA Commercial Recreation Concessions Pilot Program Act of 2019. Many counties across the western US may have acquired parkland through the Recreation and Public Purposes Act (RPPA) from the US Bureau of Land Management. Currently the RPPA does not allow private concessions on these lands. This bill would allow government entities to seek appropriate recreation concessionaires to generate additional revenues for further maintenance and improvements in the park. Read the Legislative Alert for more information.

December 20, 2017 - the NACPRO Board submitted comments to the National Park Service, regarding their proposal to increase entrance fees during peak season at 17 major national parks across the United States.

May 30, 2017 - The NACPRO Board sent letters opposing the inclusion of the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA) in the U.S. Coast Guard Authorization Act to US Senators Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer. VIDA would dramatically weaken the Clean Water Act and undermine our nation's ability to combat the spread of invasive aquatic species.

March 17, 2017 - The NACPRO Board sent a letter expressing support for the RPPA Commercial Recreation Concessions Pilot Program Act, which was mailed to Senator Jeff Flake.

March 15, 2015 - The NACPRO Board sent a letter stating NACPRO's position on the LWCF Reauthorization, which was mailed to Chairman Rob Bishop and Representative Raul Grijalva.