FIRST ON FOX:President Donald Trumps executive order increasing fees at National Parks for foreign tourists could soon be made permanent by a new bill led by Indiana Senator Jim Banks.The Patriot Parks Act looks to address theU.S. National Park Services (NPS) $23 billion maintenance backlog that threatens repairs to visitor facilities, trails, roads, and NPS conservation needs."Americans already pay for our parks through federal taxes on top of standard admission fees, so its fair to ask foreign visitors to chip in more," Banks told Fox News Digital. "This bill codifies President Trumps executive order and helps protect our national treasures for future generations."'AMERICA FIRST' NATIONAL PARKS PLAN FROM TRUMP SLAPS HIGHER FEES ON FOREIGN TOURISTSSome factors that contributed to the major deferred maintenance shortfall in funding include aging infrastructure of equipment and facilities, federal budget restraints and cuts, and a steadily increasing number of visitors to parks across the US.The fight to erase the roughly $23 billion backlog has been a key issue in Congress for a number of years.The landmark Great American Outdoors Act, which was introduced in 2019 by then-Senator Cory Gardner, R-Colorado, and sittingSenator Steve Daines, R-Montana, included $6.5 billion for NPS from 2021-2025. As that funding is set to expire and foot traffic at national parks increases, the Patriot Parks Act could play a new role in reining in the maintenance backlog.OPINION - MAKE AMERICA BEAUTIFUL AGAIN: LETS RESTORE OUR NATURAL LEGACY FROM SEA TO SHINING SEAThe NPS recorded 331.9 million visits in 2024 alone, and roughly one-third of all international travelers take time to visit a national park during their visit. There are more than 400 national parks in the US, which include landmarks like the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite.On July 3, 2025, President Donald Trumpsigned an executive order titled: "Making America Beautiful Again by Improving Our National Parks," which established an increased fee for international travelers.DOUG BURGUM EXPLAINS HOW WIND AND SOLAR DO NOT RUN AMERICAThe NPS operates under the US Department of Interior, led bySecretary Doug Burgum, whoposted to X that the executive order "will ensure our parks stay accessible, sustainable, and protected for generations to come."A House version of the legislation is expected to be introduced by Congressman Riley Moore, R-West Virginia, making the bill a bicameral effort to back up President Trumps executive order."From the New River Gorge in my home state to Shenandoah, the Great Smoky Mountains, the Everglades, and the Grand Canyon - God blessed our nation with a tremendous natural heritage," Moore told Fox News Digital."We owe it to future generations to ensure these natural marvels are protected."