This legislation proposes to redesignate the existing Apostle Islands National Lakeshore as the Apostle Islands National Park and Preserve . This new designation would divide the area into two distinct components: Apostle Islands National Park and Apostle Islands National Preserve. The entire area would be administered by the Secretary of the Interior as a single unit within the National Park System, adhering to general National Park System laws and the original establishing Public Law 91-424. A key provision differentiates administrative rules for hunting and trapping; these activities would be prohibited within Apostle Islands National Park , except where permitted by tribal treaty, statute, or executive order. Conversely, hunting and trapping within Apostle Islands National Preserve would continue to be administered in the same manner as they were in the former National Lakeshore. Fishing administration, however, would remain consistent across the entire redesignated area. The bill also mandates the inclusion of interpretive features at principal visitor centers, highlighting the region's history, and explicitly safeguards all existing treaty and reserved rights for Tribes, including those related to hunting, fishing, and gathering.
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 20 - 17.
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Geography and mappingHistoric sites and heritage areasHunting and fishingLand use and conservationParks, recreation areas, trailsWisconsin
Apostle Islands National Park and Preserve Act
USA119th CongressHR-5497| House
| Updated: 2/11/2026
This legislation proposes to redesignate the existing Apostle Islands National Lakeshore as the Apostle Islands National Park and Preserve . This new designation would divide the area into two distinct components: Apostle Islands National Park and Apostle Islands National Preserve. The entire area would be administered by the Secretary of the Interior as a single unit within the National Park System, adhering to general National Park System laws and the original establishing Public Law 91-424. A key provision differentiates administrative rules for hunting and trapping; these activities would be prohibited within Apostle Islands National Park , except where permitted by tribal treaty, statute, or executive order. Conversely, hunting and trapping within Apostle Islands National Preserve would continue to be administered in the same manner as they were in the former National Lakeshore. Fishing administration, however, would remain consistent across the entire redesignated area. The bill also mandates the inclusion of interpretive features at principal visitor centers, highlighting the region's history, and explicitly safeguards all existing treaty and reserved rights for Tribes, including those related to hunting, fishing, and gathering.