National Park Service Centennial Act Passes Senate

Above, one of the entrance gates to Yosemite National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The U.S. Senate today passed the National Park Service Centennial Act. This means that the lifetime senior pass fee will jump from the current $10.00 to $80.00. Persons 62 year of age or older are eligible to buy a pass. To avoid the price hike, now is the time to buy it for $10.00.

The National Parks Conservation Association reported:

WASHINGTON – Below is a statement by Theresa Pierno, President and CEO for National Parks Conservation Association, following the U.S. Senate’s passage of the National Park Service Centennial Act that also passed the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this week. 

Championed by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) the bill will expand the Centennial Challenge, a public-private funding partnership, establish and fund a national parks endowment, and provide additional opportunities for young people and volunteers to serve in and learn from our parks. 

This bill includes provisions proposed to Congress by the Obama Administration and passed with broad bipartisan support by the U.S. House of Representatives and by unanimous consent in the U.S. Senate.

To read more, go here.

Above, Lower Yellowstone Falls. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

According to a report last week on the House vote by National Park Traveler:

The House of Representatives moved quickly Tuesday to pass legislation designed to provide the National Park Service with badly needed funds to help the agency chip away at a staggering $12 billion maintenance backlog. However, without concurrence by the Senate by week's end, the measure could die. 

As passed by the House, the National Park Service Centennial Act would increase the price of a lifetime pass for senior citizens 62 and older to $80 from its current $10 lifetime fee. Seniors who don't want to pay the $80 could purchase an annual pass for $20. 

Park Service staff estimate that the increase in the cost of a senior pass would generate $20 million a year.

To read more, go here.

Even at $80.00, the lifetime Senior Park Pass is still a bargain. I visited Yosemite twice and the Grand Canyon once this year since receiving my pass, saving $90.00 in entrance fees. It costs $30.00 for private passenger cars to enter either park.