Ranking Member Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) delivers opening remarks during a National Parks Subcommittee hearing, Dec. 9, 2025. Courtesy photo

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — During a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks hearing to consider 26 pending bills, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the full committee, delivered opening remarks on the role national parks play in boosting our country’s economy and the importance of protecting public lands as the Trump Administration continues to divest from National Park Service sites.

Heinrich also sounded the alarm on the Trump Administration’s recent announcement to remove fee-free admission on Juneteenth and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, both federal holidays, and instead implement a fee-free day on President Trump’s birthday, a move that reflects the Administration’s ongoing commitment to erasing our nation’s history.

“Every single day, the public lands recreation economy contributes over $350 million a day to our nation’s economic health,” began Heinrich, citing the economic impact of our nation’s public lands. “And that’s not a typo. It’s a testament to just how deeply Americans value time outdoors and their nation’s history and how crucial our public lands are to supporting job growth, supporting small businesses, rural communities.” 

“The Administration recently announced that Martin Luther King Day and Juneteenth would no longer be fee-free days on our public lands, despite being federal holidays,” said Heinrich, pointing out the latest move the Trump Administration has made to denigrate our public lands. “Instead, Flag Day will be fee-free. And it’s a coincidence, I’m sure, that while Flag Day isn’t a federal holiday, it is the President’s birthday.”

“Rest assured folks…when this President is in the past, Martin Luther King Day and Juneteenth will not only have fee-free National Park admission, but they will occupy again incredible places of pride in our nation’s history,” closed Heinrich.

A video of Heinrich’s opening remarks is here.