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SENATE RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING CONGRESS TO

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PASS RECOMMENDED LEGISLATION ON NATIONAL

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PARKS

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2015 GENERAL SESSION

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STATE OF UTAH

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Chief Sponsor: Jim Dabakis

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8     LONG TITLE
9     General Description:
10          This resolution of the Senate encourages the United States Congress to approve
11     legislation granting all children in the fourth grade, and their families, free admission to
12     the national parks of the United States during the 2015-2016 school year.
13     Highlighted Provisions:
14          This resolution:
15          ▸     encourages the United States Congress to approve legislation granting all fourth
16     grade children in the United States, and their families, free admission to the national
17     parks of the United States during the 2015-2016 school year; and
18          ▸     invites President Obama to travel to Utah during the coming months with the First
19     Family to experience the natural beauty of the "Mighty Five" national parks within
20     the state of Utah.
21     Special Clauses:
22          None
23     

24     Be it resolved by the Senate of the state of Utah:
25          WHEREAS, a 2010 Kaiser Family Foundation study found that young people now
26     devote, on average, more than seven hours per day to electronic media use;
27          WHEREAS, President Obama has taken significant steps to promote the use of

28     America's national parks;
29          WHEREAS, on February 19th, 2015, President Obama established the "Every Kid in a
30     Park" initiative;
31          WHEREAS, the "Every Kid in a Park" initiative would grant all fourth grade students
32     in the United States, and their families, free admission to all national parks and federal lands
33     and waters during the 2015-2016 school year;
34          WHEREAS, President Obama has stated that the purpose of the initiative is to inspire
35     the next generation to discover all that America's public lands and waters have to offer;
36          WHEREAS, the "Every Kid in a Park" initiative coincides with the 100th Anniversary
37     of the establishment of the National Park Service in 2016;
38          WHEREAS, President Obama has visited 48 countries during his seven years of
39     presidency, including two separate trips to the country of India;
40          WHEREAS, President Obama has visited 47 states since taking office in January 2009,
41     leaving out only the states of South Carolina, South Dakota, and Utah;
42          WHEREAS, the state of Utah holds five national parks, known commonly as "The
43     Mighty Five," which is more than any other state except California and Alaska; and
44          WHEREAS, Utah's tourism industry employs 132,000 Utahns and provides over $1
45     billion in revenue to the state of Utah:
46          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the state of Utah
47     encourages the United States Congress to approve legislation granting all children in the fourth
48     grade in the United States, and their families, free admission to the national parks of the United
49     States during the 2015-2016 school year.
50          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate of the state of Utah invites President
51     Obama to travel to Utah during the coming months with the First Family to experience the
52     natural beauty of Utah's five national parks, known commonly as "The Mighty Five."
53          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Majority
54     Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives,
55     and the members of Utah's congressional delegation in accordance with JR4-1-303.
56          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the President of
57     the United States, inviting him and his family to explore the five national parks in Utah.







Legislative Review Note
     as of 2-26-15 1:41 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel