Weber Times

WASHINGTON – On June 13, 2023, Congressman Blake Moore’s Lodging Options Developed for Government Employees (LODGE) Act passed the House Committee on Natural Resources. Reintroduced for the 118th Congress with Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), the LODGE Act will cut red tape and provide the National Park Service (NPS) with new authorities and increased flexibility to enter into innovative housing partnerships. It will also reduce costs to the taxpayer, provide modern housing for both NPS employees and the private sector to rent, and improve NPS employee morale and the agency’s ability to hire and retain staff. This model is similar to those used successfully by other federal agencies, such as at Falcon Hill Aerospace Research Park at Hill Air Force Base.

“I am thrilled the LODGE Act passed through the House Natural Resources Committee today. Our National Park Service employees and volunteers are on the front lines of ensuring our beautiful national parks are ready for visitors and remain in pristine condition,” said Congressman Blake Moore. “We must pursue creative solutions to the housing challenges around our national parks so we can recruit and retain top-tier talent in the NPS. This legislation will also relieve skyrocketing housing prices in these communities. I thank Chairman Bruce Westerman for his support in moving this bill through the legislative process, and I look forward to pushing it through to the president’s desk.”

“H.R. 1314 is a bipartisan piece of legislation that addresses overcrowding and lack of affordable housing in gateway communities near national parks,” said Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee Bruce Westerman (R-AR). “I want to thank Representative Moore for his leadership on this effort and look forward to working with him to get this bill signed into law.”

The bill text can be viewed here.

This legislation is supported by the National Park Foundation. 

Background

In 2021, 44 units of the NPS set a record for recreation visits. Utah’s national parks experienced record levels of visitation, with rates up nearly 80% since 2011. While a surge in tourism is beneficial to local economies, it poses major challenges for housing options in national park communities and their neighboring areas, known as gateway communities. In addition to this problem, property owners are using short-term rental services to rent their homes to vacationers rather than leasing them to NPS and private sector service employees. As a result, housing costs in many gateway communities have skyrocketed. The rapidly rising cost of housing is impacting recruitment and retention of both NPS and private sector service employees that rely on available and affordable housing.  

Original source can be found here.