Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bob Woodard traveled to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources in support of H.R. 4931—the National Park System Long-Term Lease Investment Act—a bill introduced by Congressman Greg Murphy (NC-03).
The proposed legislation would give the National Park Service (NPS) the authority to extend existing leases—after at least five years—when doing so is in the best interest of the agency. Under current federal law, public-private partnerships must be rebid at the end of their terms, creating uncertainty for operators who invest in NPS facilities.
Woodard highlighted the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center as a clear example of why the change is needed. The operator is now five years into a 20-year lease within Cape Hatteras National Seashore and has made major upgrades to the facility.
According to Woodard, the leaseholder has expressed interest in continuing to invest but faces limitations because federal law does not currently allow an extension without a new competitive bid process.
Murphy, who introduced Woodard at Tuesday’s hearing, noted in a public statement that the National Park Service oversees more than 400 units nationwide, many of which rely on leases to operate marinas, lodges, visitor services, and historic structures.
Woodard’s trip to Washington follows comments he made at Monday’s Board of Commissioners meeting, where he stressed the importance of federal and state engagement in coastal issues and described the county’s ongoing work to advocate for long-term solutions at both the shoreline and policy levels.
The hearing record for H.R. 4931 will remain open until 5 p.m. on Friday, December 5, 2025, allowing committee members to submit additional questions or materials for the official record.
More information about the bill is available at https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4931/all-info.
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