Weekly Column: Make our National Parks great again

This Fourth of July, America will celebrate its 243rd birthday. Our country has come a long way since 1776, and there is still more progress to be made. Our independence and our patriotism are what set the United States apart from the rest of the world, and we have a lot to be thankful for.

As we gather with our family and friends to celebrate our freedom, we should also celebrate some of our nation’s finest treasures: our national parks and public lands.

Washington state is fortunate to be home to 15 National Park Service (NPS) parks, which generated $507.8 million in revenue and provided for...