The National Park Service is an agency of the United States federal government that manages all U.S. national parks, many American national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations. It was created on August 25, 1916, by Congress through the National Park Service Organic Act. It was created "to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wildlife therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." It is an agency of the United States Department of the Interior. Most of the direct management of the NPS is delegated by the Secretary of the Interior to the National Park Service Director, who must be confirmed by the Senate. In 2008, there were 21,989 employees of the NPS who oversaw units, of which 59 are designated national parks. National parks must be established by an act of the United States Congress. The first national park, Yellowstone, was signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1872, followed by Mackinac National Park in 1875, and then Sequoia and Yosemite in 1890. Criteria for the selection of National Parks include natural beauty, unique geological features, unusual ecosystems, and recreational opportunities. National Monuments, on the other hand, are frequently chosen for their historical or archaeological significance.
This summary is based largely on the summary provided by the Congressional Research Service, a public domain source. The National Park Service 100th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act would have directed the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue gold, silver, and half-dollar clad coins in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the National Park Service. The bill would have authorized the issuance of coins under this Act only for a one-year period, beginning on January 1, 2016. The bill would have required all sales of coins minted under this Act to include a surcharge of $35 per gold coin, $10 per silver coin, and $5 per half-dollar clad coin. The bill would also have required all of the surcharges received from the sale of such coins to be paid to the National Park Foundation for projects and programs to help preserve and protect resources under the stewardship of the NPS and to promote public enjoyment and appreciation of those resources. The bill would have prohibited the surcharges paid to the Foundation from being used for land acquisition.
Procedural history
The National Park Service 100th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act was introduced into the United States House of Representatives on February 13, 2013 by Rep. Erik Paulsen. The bill was referred to the United States House Committee on Financial Services. On April 29, 2014, the House voted in in a vote of 403-13. Similar legislation was introduced into the United States Senate. Both H.R. 627 and S. 1158 failed to be passed into law by 2016, but Public Law 113–291 contained legislation similar to both acts, allowing the coins to be produced anyway.
Debate and discussion
Rep. Paulsen, who introduced the bill, argued that "even during tough economic times, it's important to find new, cost-effective ways to preserve these treasures for future generations to learn from and enjoy." Paulsen called the National Parks "some of our most treasured natural resources." President and CEO of the National Park Foundation Neil Mulholland said that "the commemorative coins would be a special ways for individuals to mark this significant milestone while simultaneously providing incredible support to these cherished places."
