Cruisers Forum
Main Forum => Adventure Anywhere => Topic started by: Pax on April 07, 2017, 12:08:23 pm
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Found this recently on the AARP website....
"Older people can expect a big jump sometime next year in the fee for a lifetime pass to visit national parks, as part of a larger move to pay for major projects and enhanced services.
The fee for a lifetime pass for citizens 62 and older will go from $10 to $80. An annual pass will cost them $20, which they can apply to the cost of a lifetime pass at a later point if they decide they want one.
But if you get a lifetime pass before the change is implemented, it will cost only $10. Passes can be purchased online for an additional service fee of $10 or at any of the parks without an extra charge.
National Park Service officials are unsure how long it will take to implement the change, but it’s expected before the end of 2017. Meantime, they are spreading the word informally.
“We don’t want anyone to feel blindsided and say, ‘Why didn’t anyone tell us about this,’” said Kathy Kupper, a Park Service spokeswoman. “We don’t know whether we’ll get any pushback. It [the higher fee] is still a great deal.”
Earlier this month, Congress approved legislation, the National Park Service Centennial Act, that raises fees and sets up an endowment to help pay for projects and visitor services. The cost of the senior pass has not been increased since 1994, when it jumped to $10.
The move is intended to improve the visitor experience and provide more opportunities to volunteer in parks across the country."
- Mike
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That $10.00 is the best investment we ever made!
Patti
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I've been hoping to turn 62 before they raised the fee, I guess I won't make it. (WH) Oh well, even the $80 is still a great buy.
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I'd have no problem spending multiple hundreds for that pass for we would break even after the first or second season. We have 3 years to go before we can buy one.
Thanks for sharing that information PAX.
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Interesting note on getting the word out. I'm on the National Park Service email list and while they send me email multiple times a week, not a whisper have I seen about the potential increase. I guess that would be too "formal" but I think a note saying it is under consideration would have been nice. I don't make the age jump in time either but John has the card so as long as I don't forget him at a rest area somewhere, we're good to go.
The National Park Service is stlll running their "Every Kid in a Park" program where 4th graders get a free annual pass. If you have friends, kids, grandkids that are eligible, it is a great deal and easy to do. Info here: https://www.everykidinapark.gov/
I also agree that $80 is still a great deal, especially for RVers that wander the parks.
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....and then, you could be really OLLLLD like my husband and me. We got the National Park senior card so long ago it was free.
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Just read the bill, well the part we are discussing anyway. Here is the text of that section:
SEC. 102. Comparable pass cost for seniors.
The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6801, Public Law 108–447, division J, title VIII) is amended in section 805(b)(1)—
(1) by striking “The Secretary” and inserting:
“(A) The Secretary”;
(2) by striking “, at a cost of $10.00,”;
(3) by striking “shall be valid for the lifetime of the pass holder.” and inserting the following: “shall be available—
“(i) for a period of 12 months from the date of the issuance, at a cost of $20; and
“(ii) for the lifetime of the passholder, at a cost equal to the cost of the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass purchased under subsection (a).”; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
“(B) The Secretary shall issue a pass under subparagraph (A)(ii), for no additional cost, to any individual who provides evidence, under policies and guidelines determined by the Secretary, that the individual has purchased a pass under subparagraph (A)(i) for each of the 4 years prior to being issued a pass under this subparagraph.”.
And honestly, I have no idea what they are trying to say.
Here is a link to the full bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/4680/text
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We have had our "Geezer Pass" for years since it was no cost to 100% service connected disabled veterans; but SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed) has hit the 62 mark (I won't say when (exactly) and is going to get hers now at $10 in case mine isn't available. (nod) :)(:
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Two Hams, you got it! Same scenario here. Vet and got mine gratis. Got DW one for $10 as a safety measure and was well worth the $10.00.
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(1) by striking “The Secretary” and inserting:
“(A) The Secretary”;
(2) by striking “, at a cost of $10.00,”;
(3) by striking “shall be valid for the lifetime of the pass holder.” and inserting the following: “shall be available—
“(i) for a period of 12 months from the date of the issuance, at a cost of $20; and
“(ii) for the lifetime of the passholder, at a cost equal to the cost of the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass purchased under subsection (a).”; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
“(B) The Secretary shall issue a pass under subparagraph (A)(ii), for no additional cost, to any individual who provides evidence, under policies and guidelines determined by the Secretary, that the individual has purchased a pass under subparagraph (A)(i) for each of the 4 years prior to being issued a pass under this subparagraph.”.
Here is a link to the full bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/4680/text
Wow! Gotta love legalese. My translation: The pass will cost $20 per year. IF you can show sufficient proof that you paid $20 each of 4 consecutive years (having then paid $80), you get a lifetime pass and don't have to pay anymore.
Disclaimer: Above statement in no way implies inside knowledge or even accurate knowledge of the workings of political minds. Translations made were "best effort" and in no way should be construed to be word of law. Respondent is not liable for any direct or indirect injury, loss, stress, or mild or infinite confusion that may arise from use or attempted use of above statement."
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Gotta love legalese. My translation: The pass will cost $20 per year. IF you can show sufficient proof that you paid $20 each of 4 consecutive years (having then paid $80), you get a lifetime pass and don't have to pay anymore.
Disclaimer: Above statement in no way implies inside knowledge or even accurate knowledge of the workings of political minds. Translations made were "best effort" and in no way should be construed to be word of law. Respondent is not liable for any direct or indirect injury, loss, stress, or mild or infinite confusion that may arise from use or attempted use of above statement."
roflol :-D :)(:
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I love your disclaimer. roflol
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Holly, I think it maybe time for you to move out of the D.C. Area and all the political crap.
I must say, it gave me a h*ll of a laugh.
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I love your disclaimer. roflol
ditto!
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Holly, I think it maybe time for you to move out of the D.C. Area and all the political crap.
I TOTALLY agree!
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Been thinking of moving out of California for the same reason. (WH)
- Mike
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You don't realize how ingrained the culture is (or how you've become accustomed to rude, "privileged people" behavior) until you travel outside the zone. We flew to western Montana years ago to visit friends. While driving from airport to friends' house in a rental car people waved at us, sometimes the whole time they passed. It was car after car coming the opposite direction (far less traffic than here, but still four or more cars in a row did this). Being from the DC Area, we pulled to the side of the road and checked the car but couldn't find anything wrong that would cause all this attention. Upon arrival we told our friends about our confusion and they laughed at us. They said "In Montana, a hand signal from another vehicle is a wave. People wave a friendly hello to everyone they pass. It's not the same hand signal they use in your area."
OH! So, around here we see lots and lots of "birds" and very few friendly waves.
So as you travel, aim for the places where everyone smiles and waves... and if you're in the DC area and several people wave, you either left your coffee cup on top of the car or there is a cop around the corner. Sometimes I smile and wave at random people just to mess with their heads.
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I've generally found that the "politeness" factor goes done in an inverse relationship with population density. The corollary is the fewer the number of people the nicer they tend to be. I've no idea if that is universal of course. (WH)