Protect U.S. National Parks and Brand USA!
June 12, 2025
Your Action is Urgently Needed!
As you may know, the U.S. Congress is in the middle of debate key pieces of legislation: the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations. There are many proposals that may harm inbound and outbound tourism, but there are four that require NTA members’ immediate attention and action:
- A proposal in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to reduce Brand USA funding by a devastating 80%.
- A proposal, also in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, that reduces U.S. national park funding by approximately $267 million
- A proposal in the president’s FY 2026 National Park Service budget that would cut NPS funding by 30%
- Another proposal for the upcoming fiscal year that would create an extra “recreation fee” for international visitors at U.S. national parks.
What is The One Big Beautiful Bill Act?
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is legislation that uses a special procedure called Reconciliation, whichcan enact significant budgetary changes, such as making permanent the tax cuts and jobs act that President Trump signed in his first term. It also can reduce federal funding for things such as the National Park Service and Brand USA.
Reconciliation allows the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster threshold to be bypassed, so that legislation is passed by a simple majority.
What are FY 2026 appropriations?
Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations are part of the annual process of funding the federal government. Each year, the president submits a budget request to Congress, which Congress then uses to draft legislation, setting the budgets for federal departments and agencies for the upcoming year.
What Can You Do?
The U.S. House of Representatives has already passed its version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Send a letter to your Senators urging them to reject cuts to the National Park Service and to Brand USA, and to reject the addition of tourism-harming international visitor recreation fees.
Use the links below to access suggested letters to your senators; you can personalize one or both letters and send them as emails. Know that most senators require you to complete a form to contact them. Go here to find your senators, and beneath their photo, click on “Contact.” Follow the instructions and paste the letter into the message box.