Apostle Islands National Park and Preserve Act

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Bill ID: 119/hr/5497
Last Updated: June 14, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Tiffany, Thomas P. [R-WI-7]

ID: T000165

Follow the money

The bill

Apostle Islands National Park and Preserve Act

HR. 5497, 119th Congress.

The sponsor

Rep. Tiffany, Thomas P. [R-WI-7]

Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.

The money

$171,766 raised

20 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 20 - 17.

February 10, 2026

Introduced

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.

🏛️

Committee Review

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed House

🏛️

Senate Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another bill, another exercise in futility. Let's dissect this mess, shall we?

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Apostle Islands National Park and Preserve Act (HR 5497) is a masterclass in bureaucratic doublespeak. Its primary objective is to redesignate the existing Apostle Islands National Lakeshore as a national park and preserve, because, you know, changing the name will magically solve all its problems.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill's key provisions include:

* Redesignating the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore as a national park and preserve, with separate boundaries for each (because who needs simplicity?). * Maintaining existing hunting, fishing, and trapping regulations within the preserve, while prohibiting these activities in the national park (except where permitted by treaties or executive orders, because we love our loopholes). * Ensuring that private landowners can still hunt, fish, and trap on their own property, because God forbid we infringe upon their sacred rights. * Requiring the Secretary of the Interior to include interpretive features at visitor centers, including signage about the region's history and a copy of this very bill (because who doesn't love reading congressional legislation on vacation?).

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects are involved:

* The National Park Service, which will administer the new national park and preserve. * Local communities, who might see some economic benefits from increased tourism (but let's be real, they'll probably just get more traffic congestion). * Private landowners, who can continue to hunt, fish, and trap on their own property (yay, freedom!). * The Ojibwe tribes, whose rights are supposedly protected by this bill (though we all know how well the government usually respects Native American rights).

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a classic case of "rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic." It's a symbolic gesture that will have minimal impact on the actual management and conservation of the Apostle Islands. The real issues – funding, resource allocation, and environmental degradation – are left unaddressed.

In conclusion, HR 5497 is a perfect example of congressional busywork: a bill that sounds good on paper but accomplishes little in reality. It's a Band-Aid on a bullet wound, a Potemkin village of conservation efforts. But hey, at least the politicians can pat themselves on the back and say they "did something" for the environment.

Diagnosis: Legislative Theater-itis, a chronic condition characterized by grandstanding, empty promises, and a complete lack of substance. Treatment: a healthy dose of skepticism, a strong stomach, and a willingness to call out the emperor's new clothes for what they are – a fancy facade hiding a whole lot of nothing.

Related Topics

Public Lands & Natural ResourcesWildlife & Endangered Species
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Tiffany, Thomas P. [R-WI-7]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$171,766
18 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$0
Committees
$0
Individuals
$171,766

No PAC contributions found

No organization contributions found

No committee contributions found

1
NICKLAUS, GREG
2 transactions
$26,400
2
SOLBERG, TRYGVE A
1 transaction
$13,200
3
SHANNON, JEAN L
1 transaction
$13,200
4
BUHOLZER, RONALD
1 transaction
$13,200
5
ALBEE, ALAN P
2 transactions
$13,200
6
MAYER, SCOTT A
1 transaction
$10,000
7
HILGEMANN, WILLIAM
1 transaction
$9,900
8
ZIETLOW, DONALD P
1 transaction
$6,666
9
ALDRIDGE, KENNETH
1 transaction
$6,600
10
WELTER, KATHLEEN M
1 transaction
$6,600
11
TOLL, NANCY A.
1 transaction
$6,600
12
MCCOY, DOUG M.
1 transaction
$6,600
13
FROMAN, SANDRA S.
1 transaction
$6,600
14
UIHLEIN, ELIZABETH A.
1 transaction
$6,600
15
LINK, TROY
1 transaction
$6,600
16
GARDNER, WAYNE R
1 transaction
$6,600
17
KOSER, DIANNE M W
1 transaction
$6,600
18
HENDRICKS, DIANE M
1 transaction
$6,600

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 5 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Steil, Bryan [R-WI-1]

ID: S001213

Top Contributors

10

1
FOREST COUNTY POTAWATOMI COMMUNITY
OrganizationCRANDON, WI
$3,300
Apr 25, 2024
2
FOREST COUNTY POTAWATOMI COMMUNITY
OrganizationCRANDON, WI
$3,300
Mar 22, 2023
3
OTOE MISSOURIA TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA
OrganizationRED ROCK, OK
$3,300
Sep 30, 2024
4
HO CHUNK NATION
OrganizationBLACK RIVER FALLS, WI
$3,300
Oct 30, 2024
5
HO CHUNK NATION
OrganizationBLACK RIVER FALLS, WI
$2,900
Mar 13, 2023
6
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$2,500
Dec 23, 2023
7
ONEIDA NATION
OrganizationONEIDA, WI
$2,000
Jun 30, 2023
8
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$1,500
Jun 30, 2023
9
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$1,500
Jun 30, 2024
10
ONEIDA NATION
OrganizationONEIDA, WI
$1,300
Jun 30, 2024

Rep. Wied, Tony [R-WI-8]

ID: W000829

Top Contributors

10

1
WMC CONDUIT
COMMADISON, WI
$2,500
Sep 11, 2024
2
FOREST COUNTY POTAWATOMI COMMUNITY
OrganizationCRANDON, WI
$3,300
Sep 23, 2024
3
UIHLEIN, RICHARD
ULINEVP
IndividualHUDSON, WI
$6,870
May 14, 2024
4
SEIDENSTICKER, LAURA
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualLAKE FOREST, IL
$6,870
May 16, 2024
5
FISCHER, LAURIE
SELF-EMPLOYEDCONSULTANT
IndividualONEIDA, WI
$6,600
Jul 16, 2024
6
NINIVAGGI, ANGELO
PLEXUSATTORNEY
IndividualAPPLETON, WI
$6,600
Apr 8, 2024
7
NINIVAGGI, JENNIFER
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualAPPLETON, WI
$6,600
Apr 9, 2024
8
CHARLES, DAVID R
CASH DEPOTPRESIDENT
IndividualNEW FRANKEN, WI
$6,600
May 16, 2024
9
GREENE, JAMES
WG&R FURNITURE COCHAIRMAN
IndividualDE PERE, WI
$6,600
May 1, 2024
10
GREENE, MEGHAN
HOMEMAKERHOMEMAKER
IndividualDE PERE, WI
$6,600
May 1, 2024

Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]

ID: G000576

Top Contributors

10

1
HO CHUNK NATION
OrganizationBLACK RIVER FALLS, WI
$3,300
Oct 28, 2024
2
GENTINE, LOUIS P. II
SARGENTOEXECUTIVE
IndividualELKHART LAKE, WI
$13,200
Mar 15, 2024
3
SCHLIFSKE, JOHN E.
NORTHWESTERN MUTUALGOVERNMENT RELATIONS
IndividualELM GROVE, WI
$6,600
Mar 22, 2024
4
SCHLIFSKE, KIM C.
HOMEMAKERHOMEMAKER
IndividualELM GROVE, WI
$6,600
Mar 22, 2024
5
LEVY, EDWARD
EDWARD C LEVY COCHAIRMAN
IndividualBIRMINGHAM, MI
$6,600
Apr 10, 2024
6
KRESS, DONALD F.
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualGREEN BAY, WI
$5,000
Nov 22, 2023
7
WELLS, CECELIA A.
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualMEQUON, WI
$5,000
Jun 30, 2023
8
WELLS, CECELIA
IndividualMEQUON, WI
$5,000
Jun 30, 2023
9
AYLWARD, RICHARD J. MR.
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualNEENAH, WI
$4,000
Mar 15, 2024
10
KRESS, DONALD F.
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualGREEN BAY, WI
$3,300
Dec 31, 2023

Rep. Fitzgerald, Scott [R-WI-5]

ID: F000471

Top Contributors

10

1
HENDRICKS, DIANE M
ABCOWNER
IndividualBELOIT, WI
$6,600
Jun 25, 2023
2
ROWAN, CAROLYN
CAROLYN ROWAN COLLECTION LLCOWNER
IndividualGREENWICH, CT
$6,600
Aug 16, 2023
3
ROWAN, MARC J.
APOLLO GLOBALCEO
IndividualGREENWICH, CT
$6,600
Aug 16, 2023
4
SCHWARZMAN, STEPHEN
BLACKSTONECEO AND CHAIRMAN
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Nov 13, 2023
5
SCHMIDT, TIM
DELTA DEFENSE LLCCEO
IndividualWEST BEND, WI
$6,600
Dec 10, 2023
6
SCHWARZMAN, CHRISTINE
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Nov 13, 2023
7
LEVY, EDWARD
EDWARD C. LEVY COCHAIRMAN
IndividualBIRMINGHAM, MI
$6,600
May 1, 2024
8
FOREST COUNTY POTAWATOMI COMMU, .
TRIBETRIBE
IndividualCRANDON, WI
$6,600
Jun 28, 2024
9
FISHER, SHERRILYN
PLANO 6500 LLCMEMBER
IndividualPLANO, TX
$6,600
Jun 2, 2024
10
FISHER, KENNETH
FISHER INVESTMENTSEXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN
IndividualPLANO, TX
$6,600
Jun 2, 2024

Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3]

ID: V000135

Top Contributors

10

1
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
OrganizationCHEROKEE, NC
$3,300
Dec 9, 2024
2
HO CHUNK NATION
OrganizationBLACK RIVER FALLS, WI
$3,300
Nov 2, 2024
3
FOREST COUNTY POTAWATOMI COMMUNITY
OrganizationCRANDON, WI
$3,300
Sep 17, 2024
4
AIPAC PAC CONDUIT ACCOUNT
OrganizationWASHINGTON, DC
$500
Oct 23, 2024
5
ALLIANCE OF BANKERS FOR WISCONSIN
OrganizationMADISON, WI
$250
Apr 23, 2024
6
ANDERSON, JOHN R. MR.
ANDERSON ENTERPRISES LLCOWNER
IndividualROCKFORD, IL
$10,000
Dec 19, 2023
7
BROIN, JEFF
POET LLCCEO
IndividualSIOUX FALLS, SD
$6,600
Aug 24, 2023
8
UIHLEIN, RICHARD E. MR.
ULINE INC.CEO
IndividualLAKE BLUFF, IL
$6,600
Feb 28, 2023
9
LEVY, EDWARD C.
EDW. C. LEVY CO.CHAIRMAN
IndividualBIRMINGHAM, MI
$6,600
Mar 28, 2024
10
LEVY, EDWARD C.
IndividualBIRMINGHAM, MI
$6,600
May 6, 2024

Donor Network - Rep. Tiffany, Thomas P. [R-WI-7]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 39 nodes and 35 connections (25 secondary connections hidden)

Total contributions: $247,136

Top Donors - Rep. Tiffany, Thomas P. [R-WI-7]

Showing top 18 donors by contribution amount

18 Individuals

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