U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop has drafted legislation intended to help provide the National Park Service with additional funds to tackle needed projects across the National Park System and also bolster interpretation and education in the parks. However, the bulk of the funding would have to come from the public as the measure currently is written.

The "discussion draft," to be considered next week by the House Natural Resources Committee's subcommittee on federal lands, is designed to create a "National Park Centennial Challenge Fund" to hold public donations and which the Interior secretary could tap to "help prepare the national parks for another century of conservation, preservation, and enjoyment."

The proposal (attached below) from Mr. Bishop, R-Utah, would also create a "National Park Foundation Endowment," to be funded with "gifts, devises, or bequests" provided the National Park Foundation. As proposed, these funds would be placed in an interest-bearing account or invested in "appropriate security obligations."

To further fund the endowment, the Republican's bill would allow park lodging facilities to assess a charge of not more than 5 percent of the nightly room fee, per night, onto a guest's bill, for deposit into the fund. However, no more than 5 percent of the funds added to the total endowment annually could be spent on an annual basis under the draft legislation.

Mr. Bishop also would have the federal government contribute $25 million a year, from 2016 through 2026, to the National Park Foundation, to be used on a 1-to-1 basis when matched by donations to the Foundation.

As for interpretation and education in the parks, the legislation would allow the National Park Service to "coordinate with park partners and volunteers in the delivery of quality programs and services to supplement those provided by the Service..."