NPCA sent the following letter ahead of a legislative hearing held by the U.S. House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands scheduled for November 9, 2021.
H.R. 268 - To provide for the boundary of the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Park to be adjusted, to authorize the donation of land to the United States for addition to that historic park, and for other purposes: NPCA supports this boundary adjustment, recognizing that the Palo Alto Battlefield is the only National Park Service site to interpret the U.S.-Mexican War, where visitors experience the land almost exactly as it stood during the two-year conflict. The inclusion of the Fort Brown resource to the current site will enable the Park Service to more fully interpret the story of Palo Alto, engaging more of the public in the natural, cultural and historic significance of the site.
H.R. 1469 – York River Wild and Scenic River Act of 2021: NPCA supports this bill, which would promote better access and protect the York River’s natural resources that so many communities depend on for clean water and outdoor recreation like fishing, paddling and more. As a convergence of salt and freshwater, the York River and its many tributaries are home to rare spawning fish like smelt and vast wildlife from spotted salamanders to the long-eared bat. Its wetlands improve the overall health of the watershed and serve as a natural barrier to help absorb storm surges and filter nutrients, combatting the threats of climate change. We welcome the additional protection this designation provides and the benefits it will have for generations to come.
