Since submitting last year’s election minded budget request for the National Park Service, the Bush Administration has reversed course and fails to hold up its end of the Federal/State partnerships that have protected our National treasures for decades, declared U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV).
Rahall is the Ranking Democrat on the House Resources Committee which has jurisdiction over the National Parks and public lands. National Parks Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Donna Christensen (D-VI) will be leading Democrats at the Subcommittee’s oversight hearing on the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2006 budget request on Thursday, March 17th, at 10 am in room 1324 of the Longworth House Office Building.
In Congressional testimony on last year’s budget request, National Park Service Director Fran Mainella testified that, "our nation’s National Parks serve to unite people in a way that is distinctive and precious." She went on to point out, "the National Park Service continues to focus its efforts on building strong networks between parks and communities through partnership initiatives."
"The paltry dollar amounts in this year’s budget request fail to protect that which is American - our parks, heritage areas, and historic sites - and reflects the true priorities of this Administration," stated Rahall.
He continued, "I’m not aware of any governors begging to take on a bigger share of the Federal government’s budget responsibility. The numbers don’t lie - they aren’t living up to their end of the bargain."
Historic preservation efforts are slashed by $5 million in this budget, along with a 65% cut in funding for established National Heritage Areas. The Administration also totally eliminates Federal preservation funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program.
"A review of this new budget request indicates that this Administration’s alleged commitment to solid partnerships has been abandoned. I am extremely concerned about this attempt to abdicate the Federal government’s role as a partner with local communities and diverse populations," said Christensen.
Further, the Administration requests no funding for the Stateside Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant program. This Stateside program provides matching funds for States and localities to build and maintain public recreation facilities and to protect precious open spaces. Last year, Director Mainella identified the Stateside program as a prime example of a program through which the NPS "continues longstanding relationships with State and Territory partners."
"Apparently, the Administration feels those longstanding relationships are no longer worth maintaining," said Christensen.
Other shortcomings of this Administration’s budget request include:
- The maintenance backlog continues to grow under this Administration’s budget priorities, as they have abandoned their campaign promise to allocate $1 billion a year in new money to eradicate the problem.
![[New for the Democrats - Committee on Resources - U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, Ranking Democrat - 1329 Longworth HOB - Washington, DC 20015]](news_banner.gif)
