WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Angus King was confirmed yesterday as the Ranking Member of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources' Subcommittee on National Parks for the 116th Congress, making him the subcommittee’s highest ranking member of the Democratic Caucus. Senator King has served as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee since January 2018.

“Our national parks are a uniquely American treasure that reflect our country’s limitless natural potential, diversity of experience, and commitment to preserve and pass on a better world to our children,” said Senator King. “Whether it’s the Grand Canyon’s breathtaking size, Yellowstone awe-inspiring wildlife, or the magnificent coastal scenery of Maine’s own Acadia National Park, these public lands are America’s best idea and drive local economies, allow millions of Americans to better connect to their natural surroundings, and serve as the sites for priceless memories that last lifetimes. It’s an immense privilege to continue playing a leading role in the Senate’s efforts to preserve, protect, and promote these beautiful parks.”

Senator King is a prominent supporter of the National Parks System, and is a lead sponsor of the Restore Our Parks Act, a bipartisan bill that would address the $12 billion deferred maintenance backlog at the National Park Service (NPS). Senator King has led this legislation along with Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), and the consensus bill was praised by witnesses at a Subcommittee on National Parks hearing in July. In September he joined Acting Director of the National Park Service, Dan Smith, on a tour of Acadia National Park to assess the park’s critical maintenance needs.

National Parks are also a key driver of Maine’s economy, as the tourism economy brings in approximately $6 billion to Maine, making it one of the state’s largest industries. During the government shutdown, Senator King sent a letter to Acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt underscoring the adverse impacts of the government shutdown the National Parks System, and just this week it was reported that Acadia National Park (ANP) is “scrambling” to hire seasonal employees for the park’s peak season. Senator King has also pushed for modernizations to make the parks more accessible to future generations, including the implementation of a pilot program to make entrance passes for parks available online, that was lauded in a Subcommittee hearing in September 2017. The program has been particularly successful in ANP; Acadia accounts for 72% of total sales in the pilot program, and online purchases accounted for 10% of the park’s total entrance fee receipts in 2016.