Statement by The Trust for Public Land on Confirmation of Charles F. Sams III as National Park Service Director

The United States Senate has voted to confirm Statement Charles (Chuck) F. Sams III as the 19th Director of the National Park Service. From 2006 to 2010, Sams was the national Director of the Tribal and Native Lands program at The Trust for Public Land and helped to shape the creation of the Indian Country Conservancy—an independent partner for future Native lands conservation. 

“As our country faces unprecedented threats from climate change and over 100 million Americans living without close-to-home access to the outdoors, the Senate confirmation of Chuck Sams as the 19th Director of the National Park Service couldn’t come at a more pressing time,” said Diane Regas, president and CEO of The Trust for Public Land. “As the first Native American to lead the agency in over a century, having his confirmation come during National American Indian Heritage Month truly emphasizes the magnitude of this moment. His experience serving the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation to his dedication to youth outreach and ensuring public land access will give him a uniquely valuable perspective on America’s irreplaceable public lands, and we are proud the Senate recognized that today.” 

About The Trust for Public Land  

The Trust for Public Land creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. Millions of people live within a 10-minute walk of a Trust for Public Land park, garden or natural area, and millions more visit these sites every year. To support The Trust for Public Land and share why nature matters to you, visit www.tpl.org.  

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