By an Act of March 1, 1872, Congress established Yellowstone National Park in the Territories of Montana and Wyoming "as a public park or pleasuring ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people."

On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the act creating the National Park Service (NPS), a new federal bureau in the Department of the Interior responsible for protecting the 40 national parks and monuments then in existence and those yet to be established.

Since the establishment of our nation’s first national park over 130 years ago, the National Park System of the United States has grown to comprise 384 areas covering more than 83 million acres in 49 States, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, Saipan, and the Virgin Islands. These areas are of such national significance as to justify special recognition and protection in accordance with various acts of Congress.

Our national parks are God-given jewels and we must ensure that we are responsible stewards of this patrimony, so that it may be preserved for future generations. During the 109th Congress, I chaired a House subcommittee that had jurisdiction over the National Park Service.  Under my leadership, this subcommittee held nine hearings over two years examining the state of the National Park System.  I also serve as co-founder and co-chairman of the Congressional National Parks Caucus.