United States 118th Congress Status: Passed Senate 1 R cosponsors

S 2018 — Connect Our Parks Act

Last action — Held at the desk.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 118th Congress. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

7 added · 134 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amended version of S. 2018 includes new lines indicating that the bill passed the Senate on December 18, 2024, along with an attestation from the Secretary. The previous version, reported in Senate on June 15, 2023, included a detailed introductory section and definitions, which have now been removed. This change signifies a shift from outlining the title and definitions of the bill to focusing on its passage in the Senate.

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2018 Reported in Senate (RS)] <DOC> Calendar No.
2018 Engrossed in Senate (ES)] <DOC> 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S.
306 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S.
2018 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct an assessment to identify locations in National Parks in which there is the greatest need for broadband internet access service and areas in National Parks in which there is the greatest need for cellular service, and for other purposes.
2018 [Report No.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1.
118-154] To require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct an assessment to identify locations in National Parks in which there is the greatest need for broadband internet access service and areas in National Parks in which there is the greatest need for cellular service, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 15, 2023 Mr.
Barrasso (for himself, Mr.
King, Ms.
Lummis, Mr.
Lee, Mrs.
Hyde- Smith, Mr.
Wyden, and Mr.
Lujan) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources January 9, 2024 Reported by Mr.
Manchin, with an amendment [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct an assessment to identify locations in National Parks in which there is the greatest need for broadband internet access service and areas in National Parks in which there is the greatest need for cellular service, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, <DELETED>SECTION 1.
SHORT TITLE.</DELETED> <DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Connect Our Parks Act''.</DELETED> <DELETED>SEC.
2.
BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS SERVICE AND CELLULAR SERVICE ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING IN NATIONAL PARKS.</DELETED> <DELETED> (a) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED> <DELETED> (1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--</DELETED> <DELETED> (A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate;</DELETED> <DELETED> (B) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;</DELETED> <DELETED> (C) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (D) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.</DELETED> <DELETED> (2) Broadband internet access service.--The term ``broadband internet access service'' has the meaning given the term in section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).</DELETED> <DELETED> (3) Cellular service.--The term ``cellular service'' has the meaning given the term in section 22.99 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).</DELETED> <DELETED> (4) National park.--The term ``National Park'' means a unit of the National Park System that is designated as a National Park.</DELETED> <DELETED> (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service.</DELETED> <DELETED> (b) Assessment.--</DELETED> <DELETED> (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete an assessment of National Parks to identify--</DELETED> <DELETED> (A) 1 or more locations in each National Park in which there is the greatest need for broadband internet access service, based on the considerations described in paragraph (2)(A);
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (B) 1 or more areas in each National Park in which there is the greatest need for cellular service, based on the considerations described in paragraph (2)(B).</DELETED> <DELETED> (2) Considerations.--</DELETED> <DELETED> (A) Broadband internet access service.-- For purposes of identifying locations in National Parks under paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall consider, with respect to each National Park, the availability of broadband internet access service in--</DELETED> <DELETED> (i) housing;</DELETED> <DELETED> (ii) administrative facilities and related structures;</DELETED> <DELETED> (iii) campgrounds;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (iv) any other location within the National Park in which broadband internet access service is determined to be necessary by the superintendent of the National Park.</DELETED> <DELETED> (B) Cellular service.--For purposes of identifying areas in National Parks under paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary shall consider, with respect to each National Park, the availability of cellular service in any area within the National Park that would increase--</DELETED> <DELETED> (i) the access of the public to emergency services;
or</DELETED> <DELETED> (ii) the communications capabilities of National Park Service employees.</DELETED> <DELETED> (3) Report.--On completion of the assessment under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress, and make available on the website of the Department of the Interior, a report describing the results of the assessment.</DELETED> <DELETED> (c) Plan.--</DELETED> <DELETED> (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a plan, based on the results of the assessment completed under subsection (b) and subject to paragraph (4)--</DELETED> <DELETED> (A) to install broadband internet access service infrastructure in certain locations in National Parks;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (B) to install cellular service equipment and infrastructure in certain areas of National Parks.</DELETED> <DELETED> (2) Consultation.--In developing the plan under paragraph (1), the Secretary--</DELETED> <DELETED> (A) shall consult with local stakeholders that the superintendent of the applicable National Park determines to be necessary;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (B) may consult with the superintendents of any of the National Parks regarding plan development methodologies.</DELETED> <DELETED> (3) Requirements.--The plan developed under paragraph (1) shall--</DELETED> <DELETED> (A) provide for--</DELETED> <DELETED> (i) minimal viewshed impacts;</DELETED> <DELETED> (ii) minimal disruptions to the land;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (iii) minimal disruptions to wildlife;</DELETED> <DELETED> (B) provide for the use of public-private partnerships--</DELETED> <DELETED> (i) to install broadband internet access service or cellular service equipment;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (ii) to provide broadband internet access service or cellular service;</DELETED> <DELETED> (C) be technology neutral;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (D) in the case of broadband internet access service, provide for broadband internet access service of at least--</DELETED> <DELETED> (i) a 100-Mbps downstream transmission capacity;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (ii) a 20-Mbps upstream transmission capacity.</DELETED> <DELETED> (4) Limitation.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a plan developed under that paragraph shall not be required to address broadband internet access service or cellular service in any National Park with respect to which the superintendent of the National Park determines that there is adequate access to broadband internet access service or cellular service, as applicable.</DELETED> SECTION 1.
Calendar No.
Passed the Senate December 18 (legislative day, December 16), 2024.
306 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S.
Attest:
2018 [Report No.
Secretary.
118-154] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct an assessment to identify locations in National Parks in which there is the greatest need for broadband internet access service and areas in National Parks in which there is the greatest need for cellular service, and for other purposes.
118th CONGRESS 2d Session S.
_______________________________________________________________________ January 9, 2024 Reported with an amendment
2018 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct an assessment to identify locations in National Parks in which there is the greatest need for broadband internet access service and areas in National Parks in which there is the greatest need for cellular service, and for other purposes.
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What Congress says this changes

S. Rept. 118-154

Published by the reporting committee Not generated — this is the committee's own “Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported”.

Text to be removed appears in [brackets]. Newly inserted text is italicised in the official report and cannot be marked in this plain-text rendition — read the official PDF ↗ for the authoritative formatting. 

changes in existing law are made by S. 2018 as ordered 
reported.

Source: S. Rept. 118-154 · govinfo

Action History

  1. Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  2. Received in the House.

  3. Held at the desk.

  4. Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

  5. Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7145; text: CR S7148-7149)

  6. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Manchin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 118-154.

  7. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Manchin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 118-154.

  8. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 306.

  9. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

  10. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 118-284.

  11. Introduced in Senate

  12. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 546 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (546)

546 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

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Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors S 2018?
S 2018 is sponsored by Barrasso, John (Republican).
What is the current status of S 2018?
This bill died with 118th Congress. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track S 2018?
Track S 2018 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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