Expanding Quality and Universal Access to Lands and Parks Act; EQUAL Parks Act
Summary
The EQUAL Parks Act aims to codify a Presidential Memorandum from January 12, 2017, which focuses on promoting diversity and inclusion within national parks, national forests, and other public lands and waters. The bill seeks to give this memorandum the full force and effect of law. This would ensure the continuation of policies outlined in the memorandum, regardless of future changes in presidential administrations.
Expected Effects
If enacted, the EQUAL Parks Act would legally mandate the implementation and maintenance of diversity and inclusion initiatives within public lands and waters. This could lead to changes in how these areas are managed, accessed, and promoted to the public. It would also likely require federal agencies to allocate resources towards these initiatives.
Potential Benefits
- Increased accessibility for diverse populations to national parks and public lands.
- Promotion of inclusive programming and interpretation within these areas.
- Potential for increased awareness and appreciation of diverse cultural and historical perspectives related to public lands.
- Possible improvements in the representation of diverse communities in the workforce of agencies managing public lands.
- Enhanced data collection and reporting on diversity and inclusion efforts.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased administrative costs associated with implementing and monitoring diversity and inclusion programs.
- Possible conflicts with existing resource management priorities or user groups.
- Concerns about potential reverse discrimination or preferential treatment based on identity characteristics.
- Risk of tokenism or superficial implementation of diversity and inclusion initiatives.
- Potential for political backlash or legal challenges from groups opposed to the bill's objectives.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's constitutional alignment is complex. While promoting diversity and inclusion aligns with the general welfare clause of the Constitution's preamble, some may argue that specific implementation measures could potentially infringe upon individual rights or equal protection principles. The Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8) could be invoked to justify federal regulation of public lands, but the extent of that regulation must be balanced against other constitutional considerations. Further, the First Amendment considerations related to freedom of association and expression could be relevant depending on how diversity and inclusion are defined and implemented.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).