National Park Access Act

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 204.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 80 · Reported to Senate without amendment · Sep 9, 2015

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

National Park Access Act

(Sec. 3) Requires the Director of the National Park Service to refund to each state all of the funds that it used to reopen and temporarily operate a unit of the National Park System during the period in October 2013 in which there was a lapse in appropriations for that unit.

Funds of the National Park Service appropriated after the enactment of this Act shall be used to carry out this Act.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ] · R–AZ

Committees

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

10 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Sep 9, 2015
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 204.
Sep 9, 2015
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 114-124.
Sep 9, 2015
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 114-124.
Jul 30, 2015
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Jun 10, 2015
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 114-338.
Jan 12, 2015
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Jan 12, 2015
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Reported to Senate · Sep 9, 2015 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
Introduced in Senate · Jan 12, 2015 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.145 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.145, 114th Congress: National Park Access Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/145

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 2015-09-09.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s145/BILLS-114s145rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.145 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.145 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss S.145, 114th Congress: National Park Access Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/145

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 2015-09-09.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s145/BILLS-114s145rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.145 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.145 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.145, 114th Congress: National Park Access Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/145

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 2015-09-09.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s145/BILLS-114s145rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.145 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.145 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.145, 114th Congress: National Park Access Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/145

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 2015-09-09.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s145/BILLS-114s145rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.145 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.