Reid Announces Free Access to Nevada’s National Park Units

Nevada Senator Harry Reid announced that two of Nevada’s national park units, Lake Mead National Recreation Area and Death Valley National Park, will be participating in three nationwide “fee-free” weekends taking place this summer.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Death Valley National Park (Scotty's Castle)

“This is a great opportunity for families to visit our national parks at no cost,” Reid said. “During these tough economic times, we want to give Nevadans an opportunity to enjoy our natural and historic treasures without straining their budgets.”   There are 147 National Parks Service sites that normally charge entrance fees participating in this summer program. The parks will waive admission fees on these weekends: June 20-21, July 18-19, and August 15-16.     The fee-free weekend waiver includes park entrance fees, transportation fees, and commercial tour fees.   Nevada’s Great Basin National Park, which Senator Reid created in 1986, is open to the public at no cost year-round. For more information on the fee-free weekends, visit the National Park Service Web site at www.nps.gov

Reid Statement on Republican Blockage of Bipartisan Bill That Would Create Jobs, Reduce Deficit

Nevada Senator Harry Reid made the following statement after Republicans blocked the bipartisan Travel Promotion Act, which would create tens of thousands of jobs and shave hundreds of millions of dollars off our deficit: 

 “This is obstructionism at its best, and it follows what the Republicans have admitted they want to do – stop any and all progress.

 “This is a bill that would have saved the government money – almost a half a billion dollars over 10 years.  It is a bill that would create 40,000 jobs in its first year.

 “The Republicans blocked this on fictitious grounds: They said they weren’t allowed to offer amendments.  That is absolutely false.  In fact, we offered them an agreement for them to offer amendments that weren’t even related to this bill.   They wanted to offer five amendments regarding TARP, but when we wanted to offer an amendment of our own, they said, ‘no deal.’

 “Every state would benefit from this legislation because tourism is so popular and so important in every state.  But the Republicans, who like things just the way they are, said no.  They oppose everything – including saving the government a half a billion dollars and promoting tourism, which is a trillion-dollar industry.”

Reid Report

Our state can and should lead the country’s clean energy revolution, which would create tens of thousands of Nevada jobs in the coming years. By developing Nevada's solar, wind, and geothermal resources we can save consumers money, reduce our reliance on foreign energy sources and protect our planet.  That’s why I support our state’s clean energy businesses and their efforts to grow, put Nevadans to work, and provide new, cost-effective energy to Nevada’s consumers.

I was joined in Washington recently by representatives from more than a dozen of Nevada clean energy businesses, whom I invited to represent our state at the Green Jobs Fair. I also organized a roundtable meeting to discuss our efforts to make Nevada the national energy leader and lower Nevada’s record-high unemployment rate by creating jobs through investment in renewable energy.

I continue to work with President Obama and my colleagues in the Senate to produce real health care reform that Nevadans so badly need. I receive letters every day from families across Nevada who are burdened by the high cost or lack of access to health care. Their heartbreaking stories underscore the urgent need to reform our health care system. I am committed to reform that reduces costs for families, protects consumers’ choice of doctors, hospitals and plans, and assures affordable, high-quality healthcare for every American. Click here to learn more.

If you’d like to sign my petition and join the cause for health care reform, PLEASE CLICK HERE.