Parks Group Honors Senator Patty Murray and Representative Mike Simpson

WASHINGTON – The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) today presented its William Penn Mott, Jr. Park Leadership Award to U.S. Senator Patty Murray and U.S. Representative Mike Simpson for their strong leadership in advocating for our national parks.

“On behalf of NPCA’s one million members and supporters, it’s a privilege to present this award to Senator Murray, a true leader in standing up for our national parks,” said NPCA President and CEO Clark Bunting. “Throughout her career in public service, Senator Murray has championed bipartisan, common-sense ideas that protect our parks for present and future generations. Through leading and supporting initiatives in Washington that stand to benefit iconic national parks including Olympic, Mount Rainier, and North Cascades as well as efforts to better fund and support our more than 400 parks across the country, Senator Murray has made a positive and lasting impact.”

“Thank you for this recognition and for the work the NPCA does every day for families and communities across the country,” said Senator Patty Murray. “I look forward to continuing this partnership with NPCA, which is an outstanding advocate for our national parks. I will keep fighting to preserve our nation’s natural treasures to make sure our kids, our grandkids, and generations of Americans to come will share in the incredible experiences we have in America’s most special places.”

“Representative Mike Simpson is a devoted and tireless advocate for our national parks, and has long championed our outdoor spaces that embody America’s cultural and scenic heritage,” said NPCA President and CEO Clark Bunting. “NPCA is honored to celebrate Representative Simpson’s leadership in securing funding for our national parks and for his bipartisan approach to advancing legislation to enhance ‘America’s Best Idea’ for present and future generations. It’s clear that Representative Simpson understands the value of our national parks for Idaho and our nation, and we look forward to his continued work to ensure our national parks have the resources to thrive ahead of their 100th anniversary in 2016.”

“I’m honored to receive this award,” said Representative Mike Simpson. “I am an advocate for our national parks and cultural sites because they have played such an important role in my life. The countless hours I spent in Yellowstone and other parks in my youth instilled in me a deep sense of appreciation for the wild spaces in our country, and that still impacts how I view the world as an adult. It says something important about our culture that we think these things are worth preserving, whether they are pristine natural areas or sites of historical and cultural importance, and I consider it a privilege to be a part of that work.”

NPCA’S William Penn Mott Jr. Park Leadership Award is presented annually to a public official who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the protection of America’s natural and cultural heritage. The award was named for William Penn Mott Jr., a director of the National Park Service and an NPCA Trustee, whose lifelong commitment to the parks embodies the spirit of this award.

Previous winners include President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of the Interior, Bruce Babbitt.

###

About National Parks Conservation Association
Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than one million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s natural, historical, and cultural heritage for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.