January 29, 2025
Mr. Barrasso (for himself, Mr. King, Mr. Hickenlooper, and Mrs. Hyde-Smith) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
July 23, 2026
Reported by Mr. Lee, without amendment
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to upgrade existing emergency communications centers in units of the National Park System to Next Generation 9–1–1 systems, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Making National Parks Safer Act
.
Sec. 2. Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress
The term appropriate committees of Congress means—
(A)
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and
(B)
the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.
(2) Emergency communications center
(A) In general
The term emergency communications center means—
(i)
a facility that—
(I)
is designated to receive a 9–1–1 request for emergency assistance; and
(II)
performs 1 or more of the functions described in subparagraph (B); or
(ii)
a public safety answering point (as defined in section 222 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 222)).
(B) Functions described
The functions described in this subparagraph are the following:
(i)
Processing and analyzing 9–1–1 requests for emergency assistance and information and data related to the requests.
(ii)
Dispatching appropriate emergency response providers.
(iii)
Transferring or exchanging 9–1–1 requests for emergency assistance and information and data related to the requests with 1 or more other emergency communications centers and emergency response providers.
(iv)
Analyzing any communications received from emergency response providers.
(v)
Supporting incident command functions.
(3) Interoperability
The term interoperability means the capability of emergency communications centers—
(A)
to receive 9–1–1 requests for emergency assistance and information and data related to the requests, such as location information and callback numbers from a person initiating the request; and
(B)
to process and share 9–1–1 requests for emergency assistance and information and data related to the requests with other emergency communications centers and emergency response providers without the need for proprietary interfaces and regardless of jurisdiction, equipment, device, software, service provider, or other relevant factors.
(4) Next Generation 9–1–1 system
The term Next Generation 9–1–1 system has the meaning given the term Next Generation 911 in section 9.28 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).
(5) Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service.
Sec. 3. Assessment of emergency communications centers located in units of the National Park System
(a) In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete an assessment of emergency communications centers located in units of the National Park System to identify—
(1)
the implementation status of Next Generation 9–1–1 systems at existing emergency communications centers in units of the National Park System;
(2)
estimated costs to purchase Next Generation 9–1–1 systems for emergency communications centers in units of the National Park System that have not begun to implement Next Generation 9–1–1 systems; and
(3)
estimated costs to maintain and operate Next Generation 9–1–1 systems across all emergency communications centers in units of the National Park System.
(b) Report
On completion of the assessment under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress, and make available on the website of the Department of the Interior, a report—
(1)
describing the results of the assessment; and
(2)
identifying issues that may affect the implementation of Next Generation 9–1–1 systems across all emergency communications centers in units of the National Park System, including—
(A)
jurisdictional issues;
(B)
technological issues;
(C)
issues relating to relevant authorities; and
(D)
issues relating to legal agreements.
Sec. 4. Plan to install Next Generation 9–1–1 systems in units of the National Park System
(a) In general
Not later than 1 year after the date on which the report under section 3(b) is submitted, the Secretary shall develop a plan, based on the results of the assessment completed under section 3(a) and subject to subsection (c), to install Next Generation 9–1–1 systems at identified emergency communications centers in units of the National Park System.
(b) Consultation
In developing the plan under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with—
(1)
State and local emergency operations officials to ensure interoperability of the Next Generation 9–1–1 systems;
(2)
State and local stakeholders that the superintendent of the applicable unit of the National Park System determines to be appropriate; and
(3)
relevant Federal agencies, including—
(A)
the Department of Commerce;
(B)
the Department of Transportation; and
(C)
the Federal Communications Commission.
(c) Limitation
Notwithstanding subsection (a), a plan developed under that subsection shall not be required to address emergency communications centers in any unit of the National Park System at which the superintendent of the unit of the National Park System determines that sufficient Next Generation 9–1–1 systems have already been installed or are being installed, as applicable.