My final area of concern is housing--recruiting and housing relate, I know.

In order to achieve our environmental goals, we have to build things.

I hope you will look at that and that there will be an equalization at some point so that the newer designees are not treated less robustly.

I think FPISC having authority to drive that process forward makes a lot of sense.

But you are intent on getting that road open as soon as possible, given that the road itself is an attractive asset.

My final area of concern is housing--recruiting and housing relate, I know.

It was not easy to get the Great American Outdoors Act through, and in this budgetary situation, I think it would be even more difficult.

I hope to better understand why that is and if these subaccounts should receive greater priority.

My concern is that we are still deferring maintenance.

the National Park Service has lost almost 19 percent of its operations capacity since 2011

I hope you will look at that and that there will be an equalization at some point.

Senator Daines and I have been advocating for.

I sincerely urge you, in the next budget, we should see a growth in annual maintenance in order to prevent the development of further deferred maintenance in the future.

We are investing also nearly $100 million in the FY24 proposed budget on the housing issue.

One of the things that they are talking about is that mission is an important part of recruitment.

This is an important investment that was made last year to address the park's $190 million in deferred maintenance.

Will you commit to working with Senator Cantwell and the park in the efforts to rebuild the visitor center?

we are still not where we should be, just going back to the staffing ratio to visitation of 2010.

If you could achieve interagency operability, you will have achieved a great deal.

Publicizing some of these lesser-known parks just to spread the visitation somewhat.

It is a sacred mission and we are delighted that you have taken on its stewardship.

I hope that the Park Service begins now to think about how to sustain that funding, whether to fold it into the ongoing budget or what the strategy will be because limited funding--the deadline has a way of coming.

I have always thought a Waze for National Parks would be an important contribution.

I hope you will convey to your staff and to the thousands of people that work for the Park Service the compliments of this Committee for the yeoman service that they provide to the country, to their visitors.

But you are intent on getting that road open as soon as possible, given that the road itself is an attractive asset.