Copyright 2000 Federal News Service, Inc.
Federal News Service
February 29, 2000, Tuesday
SECTION: PREPARED TESTIMONY
LENGTH: 417 words
HEADLINE:
PREPARED BY SENATOR CRAIG THOMAS
BEFORE THE
SENATE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE NATIONAL PARKS,
HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND RECREATION SUBCOMMITTEE
SUBJECT -
OVERSIGHT HEARING TO REVIEW THE PRESIDENT'S PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2001 BUDGET FOR
THE OPERATION OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE SYSTEM.
BODY:
Good afternoon and welcome to this
oversight hearing by the Subcommittee on National Parks, Historic Preservation
and Recreation. Today we will review the President's proposed Fiscal Year 2001
Budget for the operation of the National Park Service system.
I note
that the budget proposal shows requested increases of approximately
$233.4 million. Of the $233.4 million,
approximately $90.3 million is directed at various "Operation
of the National Park Service Programs" or (O.N.P.S. programs) and
$15.2 million is directed toward other preservation/recreation
programs including rivers and trails; natural and national landmark programs;
and various National Heritage areas. The remaining $176 million
is directed at the Administration's new Lands Legacy Initiative
for both Federal and State land acquisition programs along with other
initiatives already authorized by existing provisions of the Land and Water
Conservation Fund Act.
For the last several years we have been
discussing the yet to be enormous backlog of National Park Service
infrastructure rehabilitation, repair and replacement programs. We have heard
that the backlog is anywhere from $6 to 8 billion.
I am
concerned that this budget, again, changes course from addressing the NPS
backlog to directing individual States in open-space maintenance, design and
development at the expense of the NPS construction budget. I am sure that there
will be ample opportunity to discuss this issue during the course of today's
hearing.
Today, in addition to discussing specific budget proposals I
will also take some time to review the status of various programs authorized and
directed under the "Vision 20--20 Legislation".
I am interested in a
National Park Service that is well-financed; yet a Service that is fiscally
responsible and accountable. I believe this proposed budget has some programs
that generally move us in the right direction, but it also has programs that do
little to improve infrastructure, service to the public and ! or accountability.
I do not desire to go into a long statement, I think that it is more
important to hear from our other Subcommittee members and our one and only
witness. There are; however, a number of small house cleaning items that need to
be addressed. The hearing record will remain open for a period of two weeks
should anyone desire to comment, correct, add relevant budget information, or
share their views on these issues for the public record.
END
LOAD-DATE: March 1, 2000
