I 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3661 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture 
to enter into agreements with States and political subdivisions of States 
providing for the continued operation, in whole or in part, of public 
land, units of the National Park System, units of the National Wildlife 
Refuge System, and units of the National Forest System in the State 
during any period in which the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary 
of Agriculture is unable to maintain normal level of operations at the 
units due to a lapse in appropriations, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 5, 2013 
Mr. GOSAR (for himself, Mrs. KIRKPATRICK, Mr. JONES, Mr. MCCLINTOCK, 
and Mr. FRANKS of Arizona) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the 
Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall with-
in the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary 
of Agriculture to enter into agreements with States and 
political subdivisions of States providing for the contin-
ued operation, in whole or in part, of public land, units 
of the National Park System, units of the National Wild-
life Refuge System, and units of the National Forest 
System in the State during any period in which the 
Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture 
is unable to maintain normal level of operations at the 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:03 Dec 06, 2013
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6652
E:\BILLS\H3661.IH
H3661
tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
units due to a lapse in appropriations, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Public Access to Public 
Land Guarantee Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
(1) public land in the United States is managed 
and administered for the use and enjoyment of 
present and future generations; 
(2) the National Park System (including Na-
tional Parks, National Monuments, and National 
Recreation Areas) is managed for the benefit and in-
spiration of all the people of the United States; 
(3) the National Wildlife Refuge System is ad-
ministered for the benefit of present and future gen-
erations of people in the United States, with priority 
consideration for compatible wildlife-dependent gen-
eral public uses of the National Wildlife Refuge Sys-
tem; 
(4) the National Forest System is dedicated to 
the long-term benefit of present and future genera-
tions; and 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:03 Dec 06, 2013
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3661.IH
H3661
tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(5) the reopening and temporary operation and 
management of public land, the National Park Sys-
tem, the National Wildlife Refuge System, and the 
National Forest System using funds from States 
and political subdivisions of States during periods in 
which the Federal Government is unable to operate 
and manage the areas at normal levels due to a 
lapse in appropriations is consistent with the values 
and purposes for which those areas were established. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) COVERED UNIT.—The term ‘‘covered unit’’ 
means— 
(A) public land; 
(B) units of the National Park System; 
(C) units of the National Wildlife Refuge 
System; or 
(D) units of the National Forest System. 
(2) PUBLIC
LAND.—The term ‘‘public land’’ 
has the meaning given the term ‘‘public lands’’ in 
section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and Manage-
ment Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702). 
(3) 
SECRETARY.—The 
term 
‘‘Secretary’’ 
means— 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:03 Dec 06, 2013
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3661.IH
H3661
tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(A) the Secretary of the Interior, with re-
spect to land under the jurisdiction of the Sec-
retary of the Interior; or 
(B) the Secretary of Agriculture, with re-
spect to land under the jurisdiction of the Sec-
retary of Agriculture. 
SEC. 4. AGREEMENT TO KEEP PUBLIC LAND OPEN DURING 
A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (b), if a 
State or political subdivision of the State offers, the Sec-
retary shall enter into an agreement with the State or po-
litical subdivision of the State under which the United 
States may accept funds from the State or political sub-
division of the State to reopen, in whole or in part, any 
covered unit within the State or political subdivision of 
the State during any period in which there is a lapse in 
available funds for the covered unit as a result of a failure 
to enact a regular appropriations bill or continuing resolu-
tion. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—The authority under subsection 
(a) shall only be in effect during any period in which the 
Secretary is unable to operate and manage covered units 
at normal levels, as determined in accordance with the 
terms of agreement entered into under subsection (a). 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:03 Dec 06, 2013
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3661.IH
H3661
tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(c) REFUND.—The Secretary shall refund to the 
State or political subdivision of the State all amounts pro-
vided to the United States under an agreement entered 
into under subsection (a)— 
(1) on the date of enactment of an Act retro-
actively appropriating amounts sufficient to main-
tain normal operating levels at the covered unit re-
opened under an agreement entered into under sub-
section (a); or 
(2) on the date on which the State or political 
subdivision establishes, in accordance with the terms 
of the agreement, that, during the period in which 
the agreement was in effect, fees for entrance to, or 
use of, the covered units were collected by the Sec-
retary. 
(d) VOLUNTARY REIMBURSEMENT.—If the require-
ments for a refund under subsection (c) are not met, the 
Secretary may, subject to the availability of appropria-
tions, reimburse the State and political subdivision of the 
State for any amounts provided to the United States by 
the State or political subdivision under an agreement en-
tered into under subsection (a). 
Æ 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:03 Dec 06, 2013
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H3661.IH
H3661
tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS