Norton Announces Senate Lands Package Includes Her Bill to Allow D.C. to Work with NPS to Make Improvements to Franklin Park

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that a federal lands package introduced by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) contains Norton's bill that clarifies that the District of Columbia and the National Park Service (NPS) have the authority to enter into cooperative management agreements (CMAs) to maintain and operate NPS properties in the District, such as Franklin Park. Last Congress, Murkowski introduced the Senate companion to Norton's bill. The rehabilitation of Franklin Park would be funded through a public-private partnership between NPS, the D.C. government and the Downtown Business Improvement District. Under current federal law, NPS has the authority to enter into CMAs with states and cities, and Norton's bill makes clear that D.C. is included under this authority.

"I thank my friend Senator Murkowski for her hard work on this sweeping federal lands package and including our legislation to ensure D.C. can work with NPS to maintain and improve the many NPS-owned parks here in the nation's capital," Norton said. "This bill is a win-win for the District and the federal government by allowing the rehabilitation of a major NPS-owned park in downtown D.C., Franklin Park, to benefit residents, workers and visitors alike."

Last Congress, the House passed Norton's bill and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee passed it, too, but it was tied up in negotiations over unrelated lands bills and did not go to the Senate floor.