What This Bill Does
This bill changes federal law to let law enforcement officers and firefighters get a National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass for free. The pass allows people to visit federal recreation areas. Right now, only military members and their families get free passes.
Who It Affects
Law enforcement officers and firefighters who work for the federal government, states, local governments or Indian Tribes.
Key Provisions
• The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass becomes available at no cost to law enforcement officers and firefighters who prove they are eligible. (Sec. 2)
• A "firefighter" is any worker for the federal government, a state, local government, or Indian Tribe whose job involves directly suppressing fires, including wildland fires. (Sec. 2)
• A "law enforcement officer" is any officer, agent, or employee of the federal government, state, local government, or Indian Tribe who is authorized to prevent, detect, or investigate criminal violations, or who supervises people convicted of crimes. (Sec. 2)
What Changes
Law enforcement officers and firefighters will no longer need to pay for the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass if they provide proof they qualify. Previously, this free pass was only available to military members and their dependents.
Important Definitions
The bill defines "firefighter" and "law enforcement officer" based on their work duties and employers.
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 1642
To amend the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to provide for
an annual National Recreational Pass for law enforcement officers and
firefighters.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 17, 2023
Mr. MCCLINTOCK (for himself, Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana, Mr. STAUBER,
Mr. VALADAO, and Mr. MOYLAN) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the
Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall with-
in the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act
to provide for an annual National Recreational Pass
for law enforcement officers and firefighters.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Law Enforcement Offi-
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cer and Firefighter Recreation Pass Act’’.
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•HR 1642 IH
SEC. 2. NATIONAL RECREATIONAL PASSES FOR LAW EN-
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FORCEMENT OFFICERS.
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Section 805(b) of the Federal Lands Recreation En-
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hancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6804(b)) is amended—
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(1) by amending paragraph (3) to read as fol-
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lows:
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‘‘(3) ANNUAL
PASSES.—The Secretary shall
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make the National Parks and Federal Recreational
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Lands Pass available, at no cost, to—
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‘‘(A) a member of the Armed Forces and
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their dependents; or
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‘‘(B) a law enforcement officer or fire-
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fighter,
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who provide adequate proof of eligibility for such
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pass as determined by the Secretary.’’.
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(2) by adding at the end the following:
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‘‘(4) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection:
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‘‘(A)
FIREFIGHTER.—The
term
‘fire-
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fighter’ means any employee of the Federal
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Government, a State, a unit of local govern-
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ment, or an Indian Tribe who performs work
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directly related to suppressing fires, including
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wildland fires.
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‘‘(B) LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.—The
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term ‘law enforcement officer’ means any offi-
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cer, agent, or employee of the Federal Govern-
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•HR 1642 IH
ment, a State, a unit of local government, or an
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Indian Tribe authorized by law or by a govern-
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ment agency to engage in or supervise the pre-
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vention, detection, or investigation of any viola-
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tion of criminal law or who is authorized by law
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to supervise sentenced criminal offenders.’’.
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Æ
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