H.R. 845·High School Beginner
A Bill to Make National Parks Free for Students Under 22
Rep. Becker (D-WA)
Free national park admission for any student under 22 with valid school ID.
Sec. 1 — Mandate
The National Park Service shall waive admission fees for students under 22 presenting valid school identification.
Sec. 2 — Funding
$48 million per year to offset lost fee revenue.
Sec. 3 — Enforcement
NPS regulations.
Sec. 4 — Effective Date
Beginning the next fiscal year.
Tournament Prep
Mechanical parts, sourced & timed
Use this as your pre-round checklist. Memorize the source citation. Time yourself to the delivery target.
- Bill / Number
- H.R. 845 — A Bill to Make National Parks Free for Students Under 22
- Funding source
- $48M/yr to offset fee revenue.
- Timeline
- Effective next FY.
- Realistic — extends Every Kid Outdoors precedent.
- Enforcing agency
- National Park Service.
- Yes — NPS fee waiver authority.
- Penalty for non-compliance
- N/A.
- Source citation
- NPS (2023), 'Visitor Survey Findings' — nps.gov.
- Delivery time (read aloud)
- 45s
Strongest counter-argument
Free admission for students reduces park revenue needed for maintenance backlog.
Your pre-emptive answer
Sec. 2 backstops lost revenue. Every Kid Outdoors (4th graders, 2015) modeled this — net visitation rose 8%, lifting concessions and ancillary revenue while ED outdoor-education outcomes improved.