Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the distinguished Chairman, Mr. SKEEN, and ranking member Mr. DICKS, for their excellent work on this bill. It provides funding for many programs that will benefit both the natural and urban environments in our country, although I would support further increases in several critical areas, including energy research and the arts.
Mr. Chairman, with California and the West in the midst of an energy crisis, the last thing we should do is cut funding for energy research, particularly research on clean energy sources and technologies. I am proud that the state of California now leads the country for its efficient use of energy. California and the country should press forward to increase our energy efficiency and shift toward clean, sustainable energy sources. Yet the President's budget proposed a 30% cut in energy efficiency research and development. Although the Committee wisely disregarded this proposal, we should be doing much more in this area.
An important element in this bill is funding for the arts and humanities. The arts and humanities enrich our culture, boost our economy, and promote creativity and self-confidence in our youth. I support the Slaughter-Dicks amendment on increase funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
The Interior bill recognizes the need to reduce the backlog of maintenance needs in our national parks. But it is also important to ensure that our parks have the operating funds they need to provide stewardship of wild lands and historic buildings and run informational programs. The bill also takes a step in the right direction providing a modest increase in operating funds, although the need is much greater.
The Interior bill contains a commendable increase in funding for conservation programs. While the President's budget called for full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund at $900 million, that increase would have been funded by cutting a number of other important conservation programs. The Committee chose instead to provide $709 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, while maintaining valuable existing conservation programs, including the Urban Park and Recreation Fund and ``Save America's Treasures.'' I applaud the decision of the Committee to omit funding for studies concerning oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Mr. Chairman, this is a good bill, but we could do so much more for our natural and cultural heritage with additional resources. Unfortunately, the tax cuts make it difficult to fund many of these valuable programs. Hopefully the President and the Congress will place a higher priority on the arts, recreation, and the environment in the future.