Act Now - Ask Indiana Senators to Support Senate Interior and Environment Bill

Now is the time to speak up: Congress is currently deciding how much funding the National Park Service will receive in the coming year, and your voice can make a difference.

Please call your two Senators today and express your support of the Senate Interior and Environment Bill which keeps funding for our National Park Service at current fiscal year levels and ask them to reject any proposed FY 2026 budget cuts that would harm our Indiana Dunes National Park.

The proposal on the Senate side provides $3.27 billion for the National Park Service, which holds funding at the same level as last fiscal year, and includes key provisions to hire urgently needed park staff, helping restore the agency’s capacity to protect these natural spaces. The bill also protects all 433 national park units from being sold off or otherwise eliminated from the National Park System. This stands in sharp contrast to the House version of the bill, which cuts NPS operations by $213 million—a reduction that would severely weaken park services.

The Indiana Dunes National Park, like many other national parks, has suffered from staffing levels which have not kept pace with rising costs of maintaining our parks natural, cultural, and visitor resources. Our park is already understaffed and recent directives are reducing the park’s workforce even more. Since 2010, staffing to operate national parks has declined by 20% while visitation has increased by 16%. The Indiana Dunes National Park is the number one tourist destination in the state of Indiana and the most recent statistics show that the park brought in more than 2.8 million visitors annually, and generated an estimated $206 million in revenue for local communities.

Save the Dunes is heartened to see bipartisan support within the Senate Committee highlighting the importance of our national parks. We hope to see the Senate and House committees build on this momentum and pass an Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill that ensures our parks remain safe, accessible, and protected for current and future generations.

The Indiana Dunes is Indiana’s #1 tourist destination and plays a vital role in our region’s ecology, economy, and climate resilience. It’s essential that legislators hear from constituents who value national parks and want to see them fully supported.

How To Take Action:

Step 1 - Contact Your Representatives

Call your two Senator offices to express your support for the Indiana Dunes National Park, and ask that they support funding in the upcoming fiscal year at a level that will help rebuild staffing capacity across the National Park Service.

Senator Banks Phone Number: (202) 224-4814

Senator Young Phone Number: (202) 224-5623

Find Your Senator Information Here

Step 2 - Share This Information

Share this information with others and spread the word with your community.

Step 3 - Connect with Us

Follow Save the Dunes and sign up for our eNewsletter, follow us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram for the latest updates.

What Should You Say?

When calling, have a short script prepared and be ready to leave a message. Your call should be polite, to the point, and focused on your request.

Sample Script:

Hi, my name is __ and I live in __(city/county the legislator represents)
I am asking Senator ___ to protect the Indiana Dunes region by supporting the Senate Interior and Environment Bill, which keeps funding for the National Park Service at current fiscal year levels and reject any proposed FY 2026 budget cuts in the ongoing appropriations bills for the 2026 fiscal year.
These dollars serves as a critical source of funding to helping the Indiana Dunes region protect and preserve our state’s most precious and rare natural resources.
The irreplaceable assets in the Indiana Dunes National Park are economic engines for our Hoosier communities.
Recent statistics show a 24% decline in workforce in National Park Staffing in 2025 alone.
With the ongoing environmental threats in our region including habitat degradation, shoreline erosion, and increased flooding, this funding is needed now more than ever.
(Add personal example of why this is important to you and/or how it impacts your community)
Examples:

- The Indiana Dunes National Park is the number one tourist destination in the state and the most recent statistics show that the park brought in 2.7 million visitors annually, and generated an estimated $206 million in revenue for local communities.
- Without adequate funding, the Indiana Dunes National Park would not be able to hire staff to help protect the most unique and beautiful ecosystems in our state.
- As a constituent, I ask that you do everything in your power to support the National Park Service and the conservation efforts to protect the unique biodiversity in the park.
- Please call your two Senators today and express your support of the Senate Interior and Environment Bill which keeps funding for our National Park Service at current fiscal year levels and ask them to reject any proposed FY 2026 budget cuts that would harm our Indiana Dunes National Park.

Thank you for your consideration!