host: we have the phone numbers on the screen for kristen brengel. we have a separate line just for recent national park visitors, if you have been there, tell us why you were there and what you saw. number48-8002is your --(202) 748-8002 is your number. and a separate line for our other guests. so what are you doing now? guest: we are trying to work with congress to get the parks open. we are advocating strongly the senate move to pass the interior appropriations bill, which passed in the house yesterday. but all of the parks need to be open with their staff. it is paramount that we get them parks back open. we work with our members across the country to advocate to make sure that parks are funded and well staffed. host: how many folks are affected? people who work at the parks around the country? guest: 15% of park rangers are on the job, so that leaves a large number who are not, 80% are not there. they are furloughed, they did not get paid yesterday. these are people who are dedicated public service -- servants who love the parks. they protect the

joining us now as kristen brengel, vice president of government affairs at the national parks conservationociation. thank you for joining us.

host: we have the phone numbers on the screen for kristen brengel.have a separate line just for recent national park visitors, if you have been there, tell us why you were there and what you saw. number48-8002is your --(202) 748-8002 is your number. and a separate line for our other guests. so what are you doing now? guest: we are trying to work with congress to get the parks open. we are advocating strongly the senate move to pass the interior appropriations bill, which passed in the house yesterday. but all of the parks need to be open with their staff. it is paramount that we get them parks back open. we work with our members across the country to advocate to make sure that parks are funded and well staffed. host: how many folks are affected? people who work at the parks around the country? guest: 15% of park rangers are on the job, so that leaves a large number who are not, 80% are not there. they are furloughed, they did not get paid yesterday. these are people who are dedicated public service -- servants who love the parks. they protect the gey

i'm joined now by kristen brengel, who is vice president of government affairs at the national parksisation founded a century ago to advocate for national parks in the united states. it now has more than a million members. she joins me from washington. good to talk to you, thank you very much for your time. what is the impact as you see it so far? so our national parks, unfortunately, have sort of been the victims of the shutdown. we have seen parks remain openin shutdown. we have seen parks remain open in many cases and some pretty serious damage happening to many of them. damage in what sense? so joshua tree national park in southern california is very popular during this time of year. we've seen trash, human waste, and people of roving in areas and campsites... you know, sort of a build—up of this type of damage could attract wildlife and could cause sort of permanent damage to the famous joshua trees. some of them have been cut down since the shutdown started. in addition to that, several parks have had heavy snow, and so some of the other issues are the parks service not being a

joining us now as kristen brengel, vice president of government affairs at the national parks conservation association. thank you for joining us. can you slain the role of your organization? -- can you explain the role of your organization? aroundwe have 27 offices the cult -- the country and we worked to protect and enhance national park's for future generations. host: as we look at the government shutdown we have heard a lot of stories and seen a lot of pictures from national parks about what is going on with this shutdown. how many national parks are there? what is in national park?