California Black Media
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Los Angeles, introduced legislation June 11 that would restore Juneteenth and Martin Luther King Jr. Day as fee-free admission days at national parks and other federal recreational lands.
The measure, known as the Encouraging Public Service in Our National Parks and Public Lands Act, comes after the Trump administration removed the two holidays from its list of fee-free days and replaced them with President Donald Trump’s birthday and other dates centered on patriotic themes.
The bill would amend federal law to permanently designate Juneteenth and MLK Day as free admission days while preserving other long-standing fee-free dates intended to encourage volunteerism and public service on federal lands. Supporters say the change would prevent future administrations from altering the list without congressional approval and restore the program’s original focus on community engagement and stewardship.
“It’s ridiculous that Donald Trump thinks that he deserves more recognition than MLK Jr. or the millions of enslaved Black Americans who realized they had independence on Juneteenth,” Kamlager-Dove said. “Not only do these fee-free days recognize important days in American history, they are also used to promote public service within our public lands.”
Under the legislation, fee-free admission days would include Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the first day of National Park Week, Juneteenth, Great American Outdoors Day, National Public Lands Day and Veterans Day.
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nevada, introduced companion legislation in the Senate. She said free admission days have helped build partnerships between visitors and park staff while encouraging volunteer projects and conservation efforts across public lands.
“Free entry days in our National Parks have promoted cooperation between park rangers and visitors for decades,” Cortez Masto said. “We need to make sure that these days continue to reflect our commitment to working together and being good stewards of our public lands through volunteering and service.”
The legislation has garnered support from more than a dozen House Democrats and several Senate Democrats.
Kamlager-Dove’s district covers parts of Los Angeles County, including Culver City, Ladera Heights, View Park-Windsor Hills, Leimert Park, Baldwin Hills, Crenshaw and West Adams.
