HR-10128-119
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Sponsored by Tom McClintock (R-CA)
What it does
This bill would give the force of law to Secretary's Order 3434, issued by the Department of the Interior on June 25, 2025, which addresses coordination between the Department and "gateway communities" (towns near national parks and other public lands). The bill text does not specify the order's detailed provisions beyond directing that it "shall have the force and effect of law," meaning its policies would become statutory rather than subject to change or repeal at the Secretary's discretion.
Who benefits
Local governments and businesses in communities adjacent to national parks and other Interior-managed public lands, who would gain a more durable, legally binding framework for consultation with the Department. Tourism-dependent local economies near federal land units may benefit from more predictable federal coordination.
Who is hurt
Future Interior Secretaries and administrations would lose flexibility to modify or rescind the coordination policy administratively, since it would require an act of Congress instead. Environmental or land-management groups who might prefer case-by-case administrative discretion could see reduced agency flexibility to adjust the policy in response to changing conditions.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that codifying the order gives gateway communities durable legal certainty about their coordination relationship with the Department of the Interior, rather than leaving it subject to reversal whenever a new Secretary takes office. They contend this stability helps local governments and businesses near national parks plan long-term investments and infrastructure that depend on consistent federal engagement.
Opponents argue
Opponents argue that converting an internal administrative order into binding statute removes the executive branch's flexibility to update or refine the policy as circumstances change, potentially locking in a possibly imperfect framework indefinitely. They contend that Congress is enacting agency-level guidance without the scrutiny given to typical legislation, since the underlying order's substantive text is not before Congress in this bill.