AJR 9: National parks: federal funding.

WHEREAS, In 1864, Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant Act, setting aside parkland in California for public use and preservation; and

WHEREAS, California is home to nine of the nation’s most iconic national parks: Channel Islands, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Kings Canyon, Lassen Volcanic, Pinnacles, Redwood, Sequoia, and Yosemite, which preserve the state’s unique natural beauty, biodiversity, and cultural heritage; and

WHEREAS, The National Park Service manages national historical parks, national monuments, national seashores, and national recreation areas throughout California, all constituting units of the National Park System and enjoyed by millions of visitors; and

WHEREAS, National park units in California attract millions of visitors annually, contributing significantly to the state’s economy and fostering appreciation for outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship; and

WHEREAS, In 2023, 36,200,000 park visitors spent an estimated $3,200,000,000 in local gateway regions while visiting National Park Service lands in California, supporting a total of 39,700 jobs, $2,000,000,000 in labor income, and $5,100,000,000 in economic output in the California economy; and

WHEREAS, Recent federal personnel decisions have included the firing of over 1,000 National Park Service employees, including park rangers, a hiring freeze on vacant positions, and the planned closure of park offices, significantly diminishing critical services and operations; and

WHEREAS, These decisions have led to the reduction of park hours, the closure of essential facilities, and the inability to adequately address resource management, wildfire prevention, and visitor safety, as demonstrated by camping reservations being delayed in Yosemite due to staffing shortages; and

WHEREAS, The federal administration’s “reduction in force” initiatives could lead to additional cuts that may result in a 30-percent total reduction in funding for National Park Service staffing; and

WHEREAS, The federal administration and Congress have recently proposed transferring public lands, including lands within the National Park System, out of federal ownership; and

WHEREAS, Fully funding and staffing the National Park Service is essential to restoring park operations, addressing the maintenance backlog, and ensuring the long-term sustainability and accessibility of national parks; and

WHEREAS, The Public Lands in Public Hands Act (H.R. No. 718, 119th Cong., 1st Sess. (2025).) would prohibit the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture from transferring certain federal lands; and

WHEREAS, The Public Lands Workforce Stability Act (H.R. No. 8523, 119th Cong., 2d Sess. (2026).) would prohibit any reduction in force or involuntary separation at the United States Department of the Interior and the United States Forest Service; and

WHEREAS, Investing in national parks aligns with California’s leadership in sustainability, conservation, and innovation, serving as a model for environmental responsibility nationwide; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature urges the President of the United States and Congress of the United States to immediately restore full and consistent funding and staffing for the National Park Service, including the restoration of positions to protect and enhance the nation’s irreplaceable natural and cultural heritage; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature urges the California delegation in the Congress of the United States to cosponsor the Public Lands in Public Hands Act (H.R. No. 718, 119th Cong., 1st Sess. (2025).) and the Public Lands Workforce Stability Act (H.R. No. 8523, 119th Cong., 2d Sess. (2026).); and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature supports the rehiring of park rangers and staff, enhancement of visitor services, and the continued preservation and protection of California’s and the nation’s treasured landscapes; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States, and to the author for appropriate distribution.