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Expressing support for maintaining the designation of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
Expressing support for maintaining the designation of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
Summary
- Expresses the sense of the House that the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area should remain designated as a national recreation area, not be redesignated as a national park and preserve
- States that Congress should continue to support national recreation areas to protect local access to outdoor recreational opportunities
- States that Congress should continue to foster cooperative relationships with communities surrounding natural and tourism resources
- Declares that no funds should be used to support redesignation of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area as a national park and preserve
- Expresses concern that redesignation would limit recreational activities, increase centralized federal management, and cause economic strain on surrounding communities
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
1 cosponsor
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Thomas H. Kean’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- NULL $19,727
- VETERANS GUARDIAN $13,200
- ULINE $13,200
- BRODIE GENERATIONAL CAPITAL PARTNERS, $13,200
- TC SERVICES $13,200
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Thomas H. Kean → · Outside spending →
Actions (2)
- Jul 21, 2026 Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources. · house
- Jul 21, 2026 Submitted in House · house
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 21, 2026
Mr. Kean (for himself and Mr. Gottheimer) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
RESOLUTION
Expressing support for maintaining the designation of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
Whereas the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area—
(1) is a national recreation area located in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, encompassing nearly 70,000 acres;
(2) provides numerous opportunities for recreation to visitors and local residents, including fishing, hunting, hiking, boating, camping, canoeing, and others;
(3) is home to numerous rare, threatened, and endangered species of plants and animals;
(4) is managed as a national recreation area, a unit of the National Park System established by Congress to promote recreation and public access in close cooperation with surrounding municipalities and gateway communities; and
(5) has at times been the subject of proposals to change the designation of the Delaware Water Gap from a national recreation area to a national park and preserve;
Whereas, if enacted, a redesignation of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area as a national park and preserve would—
(1) limit or prohibit access to certain recreational activities in certain areas of the park currently enjoyed by visitors and local residents;
(2) result in more centralized Federal management and a corresponding reduction in the longstanding cooperative relationship with surrounding municipalities and gateway communities; and
(3) cause significant strain on the infrastructure and resources surrounding the Delaware Water Gap and financial and economic losses to the surrounding area; and
Whereas it is fitting and proper for the House of Representatives to express opposition to proposals, such as those to change the designation of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area from a national recreation area to a national park and preserve, in order to—
(1) protect the freedom of local residents and visitors to enjoy all of the recreational activities the Delaware Water Gap has to offer;
(2) preserve the longstanding cooperative relationship between the surrounding communities and Federal agencies in managing this area; and
(3) prevent further strain on local resources and economic losses that may result: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that—
(1) the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area should remain designated as a national recreational area;
(2) Congress should continue to support this and other national recreational areas to protect local access to outdoor recreational opportunities;
(3) Congress should continue to foster strong, locally driven relationships with communities surrounding and nearby our natural and tourism resources; and
(4) no funds should be used to support the redesignation of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area as a national park and preserve. <all>
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