Making National Parks Safer Act

The Making National Parks Safer Act aims to modernize the emergency communication infrastructure within the National Park System. Currently, many national park dispatch centers rely on outdated analog technology that is limited to voice calls. This legislation would direct the Department of the Interior to transition these facilities to "Next Generation 9-1-1" systems. These digital, internet-based upgrades would allow visitors to send text messages, images, and videos to emergency dispatchers, providing first responders with better situational awareness during rescues or medical emergencies.

If enacted, the bill would require the National Park Service to conduct a comprehensive assessment of its 41 existing communication centers to determine the costs and technical requirements for the upgrade. Following this assessment, the agency would be tasked with developing a formal plan to implement the new technology across all units of the National Park System. The proposal also focuses on improving interoperability, which would allow park dispatchers to share real-time data more easily with local and state law enforcement agencies during large-scale incidents or natural disasters.