Politics

Lawmakers Want Refund for Reopening Grand Canyon During Shutdown

By Clare Foran and National Journal
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 2: U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) watches during a news conference to discuss legislation to replace defense spending sequestration on Capitol Hill February 2, 2012 in Washington, DC. Senate Republicans proposed a plan to eliminate part of the painful budget cuts required after the budget 'Super Committee' failed to come to an agreement in November.  (National Journal)

A bipartisan group of Arizona lawmakers sent a letter Wednesday asking the National Park Service to reimburse the state for costs incurred after it reopened Grand Canyon National Park during the government shutdown, The Hill reports.

The letter was directed to Jonathan Jarvis, the director of the U.S. National Park Service, and signed by representatives from the state, including Republican Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake along with Democratic Reps. Kyrsten Sinema and Ron Barber. The lawmakers are seeking payback to the tune of $465,000, the cost it took to reopen the park to visitors during the shutdown.

In an address delivered at the National Press Club in October, U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said the department will not reimburse states for reopening parks. Jewell also said that claims that Interior repaid states in the wake of past government shutdowns were inaccurate.