LWC Fund Info:
Budget and Appropriations Push
LWC Fund Info
On June 9, the House Committee on Appropriations approved the $19.7 billion
House Interior Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2005. Land and Water
Conservation Fund (LWCF) state assistance escaped severe cuts, receiving
$91.5 million with $90 million available for state assistance grants.
This is a slight reduction in funding compared to the over $91 million
available for grants in 2004.
House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Charles Taylor (R-NC)
has acted on his outspoken distaste for federal land aquisition. By providing
the LWCF program with $49 million, only administrative and emergency functions
will be funded. The proposal provides no earmarked projects for the first
time in the programs history. Ranking Member Rep. David Obey (D-WI) proposed
an amendment that would have increased Federal LWCF by $171 million and
the Forest Legacy conservation spending program by $57 million. The amendment
failed by voice vote.
Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA) also proposed an amendment. The Dicks Amendment
proposed to increase park operation funds by $45 million. This was prompted
by the Congressman after receiving word that there has been a significant
reduction in staff at Olympic National Park due to budget constraints.
Dicks withdrew the amendment after Appropriations Committee Chairman Rep.
Bill Young (R-FL) agreed to provide funds if they become available later
in the appropriations process.
Despite many economically distressed urban areas need for federal assistance
to restore urban parks, the House has proposed no funds for the UPARR
program three years in a row.
The Rivers and Trails Conservation Assistance saw a $200,000 cut, barely
receiving $8 million.
On a more technical note, the $1.5 million appropriated for administering
the Land and Water state assistance program is a drastic cut from the
already low $2.5 million received for FY 2004. Typically, $3.2 to $3.5
million is required to run the LWCF state assistance program. Due to an
appropriation of over $4 million two years ago and cost effective measures
taken within the program, the recreation division of the National Park
Service (NPS) currently has ¡§carry over money¡¨ for the LWCF program.
The House Appropriators justify this appropriation by pointing to these
¡§carry over¡¨ funds and expects these funds to be used in the FY 2005
budget
. This current FY 2005 proposal requires a LWCF stateside adminstration
funding level for FY 2006 to be over $3 million. Otherwise the NPS Division
could face a possible reduction in staff and services. The tightening
of administrative funds could be a further set back in responding to the
Office of Management and Budget¡¦s PART review. The LWCF state assistance
program came under heavy scrutiny, via the PART review, last fall by OMB
to evaluate results and outcomes in accordance with the statutes under
the LWCF Act of 1965.
Chairman Young, of the House Appropriations Committee, has said that he
would like to see the Interior bill on the House Floor next week. While
the passage in the House is likely it does not look like it will become
public law by the traditional process. It appears that an omnibus spending
bill, which would wrap multiple spending bills into one piece of legislation,
will take shape after campaigning and elections this November.
The Senate Interior Appropriations subcommittee is expected to take up
their version of the bill this month.
Advocates are asked to contact all your legislators, especially Senators,
via the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Please urge them to support
$200 million for LWCF state assistance and $50 million for the Urban Park
and Recreation Recovery Program (UPARR). To view talking points, please
click the following link: http://ga0.org/campaign/Fy05sub_markup/explanation
Please contact NRPA Public Policy with questions or comments.
Michael Phillips
NRPA Public Policy
202-887-0290
Budget Push
Fellow Colleagues! – Once again it was a privilege to attend the
NRPA Mid-Years in DC with our
honorable President, Paul Norris. I would like to thank Executive Board
Member, Jason Cohen and NERC representative, Jerry Lokken who took time
out of their busy schedules to attend. Our day on Capital Hill was a team
effort led by our new energetic Executive Director, Alison Harle. I was
impressed by the passion of each one of my colleagues as they represented
all members of CRPA in an impeccable and professional manner. Every member
of CRPA would have been proud of the message they delivered for us in
DC! This trip was critical to us and we must take the charge to our own
capital.
Below is a Recap of the Issues
Transportation TEA-21
Land and Water Conservation
Health and Wellness
Transportation TEA-21
* Reauthorize a six-year Transportation Equity Act (TEA21) at House and
Senate recommended funding level
* Continue the ten percent set aside for Transportation Enhancements
* Include funding for Recreational Trails Program, Safe Routes to School,
CMAQ, Sport Fishing and Recreational Boating Act, Federal Lands Highways
and Transit in Parks program
* Strongly oppose changes to current protections under Section 4(f) for
parks, wildlife and waterfowl areas
This act allows for the importance of parks to be realized. Developers
would not be able to lay a road straight through a park, or through a
wildlife area for easy and straight access. With this increased funding
we would have the resources to clean up the pollution and repair the overuse
of many of the roadways that negatively affect our parks, ponds and recreation
areas.
Land and Water Conservation
* Restore sufficient and reliable funding for land conservation and
capital investments in public parks and recreation resources
* Request $100 million for LWCF state-local assistance in FY06 Budget
* Strongly oppose the President's FY06 request to terminate the LWCF State
Assistance Program
* Support creation of a permanent, reliable funding source for parks and
recreation investments based on OCS drilling revenues such as proposed
in the American Outdoors Act and the Get Outdoors Act
* Strongly oppose proposed budget cut of $500,000 to NPS Rivers Trails
and Conservation Assistance Program and increase RTCA budget by $9.7 million
How important and relevant is this bill to you? These federally funded
monies are matched dollar for dollar by the state of Connecticut. The
LWC Act affects state parks and especially the rails for trails programs,
(Linear Trail / northern to southern CT - Shoreline Greenway Trail / eastern
to western CT). These trails have become an integral part of the communities
it traverses and will be enjoyed by people of all ages – walkers,
runners, hikers, cyclists, cross-country skiers, baby-carriage pushers
and everyone who enjoys the outdoors. More importantly, these trails will
connect to the East Coast Greenway, a route for non-motorized travel between
Maine and Florida. The rails for trails program will bring an increasingly
healthy and environmentally friendly connection across Connecticut!
Health and Wellness
* Pass a comprehensive health and anti-obesity bill and other health-related
legislation that includes eligibility of local parks and recreation agencies.
* Encourage passage of a health improvement bill similar to Healthy Lifestyles
and Prevention Act (HeLP) S. 2558 of 108th Congress
* Support increase in CDC funding for Steps to Healthier US
* Oppose termination of the Dept. of Education $2.5 million therapeutic
recreation Sec316 grants in the President's FY06 budget request and request
$3 million for FY06
* Support increase in funding for the Department of Education's 21st Century
Community Learning Centers
In the midst of an American epidemic of “unfitness”, recreation
is becoming an important means to physical activity. One way of addressing
this epidemic health issue is through The HELP Act. We have to focus on
preventative health measures in keeping our nations people at low risk
and away from increasing child obesity, type II diabetes and cancer, risks.
Monies spent on prevention helps with alleviation of healthcare costs
associated with Medicare and Medicaid programs. Community Recreation After
School Programs is providing nutritional alternatives as well as Monies
spent on prevention helps with alleviation of healthcare costs associated
with Medicare and Medicaid programs. Community Recreation After School
Programs is provides nutritional alternatives as well as health initiatives
to stimulate physical activity.
Attention to the Therapeutic Recreation Education Funding is not sufficient.
Service to members of our community that require special services require
much additional funding in meeting requirements. We need to support funding
for all those in need! The use of therapeutic recreation services help
to deal with needed social, interpersonal, and physical activity skills.
We need to be the advocates and leaders of our
communities with regard to securing additional funding for our programs.
Please call on all your legislatures, senators and representatives in
your community. Meet us and
fellow professionals in Hartford April 7th. Put the personal face on who
we are and what we represent. Always remember … the Benefits of
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Services are Endless!
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