Washington, D.C. - The Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Resources today said that he hopes the Clinton Administration will work with Congress to advance the concepts of the "Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 1998" - bipartisan legislation which was introduced last year by U.S. House and Senate leaders.

The Clinton Administration today announced a new proposal - "The Lands Legacy Initiative" - which is modeled after Congress' bipartisan "Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 1998" (H.R. 4717), which was officially introduced last October in the U.S. House and Senate. However, Young said there are substantial differences between Congress' bipartisan legislation and the Administration's new proposal. These include: * The emphasis on local government authority and involvement which is a key element of the House legislation but diminished in the President's initiative; * New restrictions on access to public lands by creating new wilderness areas which is a focal point of the President's initiative but not included in the House legislation; * Protection of individual property rights which are included in the House legislation but excluded from the President's initiative.

"Last year, our bipartisan group of House and Senate members proposed the largest conservation package in a generation to protect America's land and water resources," said U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), the Chairman of the House Committee on Resources, which has jurisdiction over federal lands and energy issues. "I'm pleased to see that the Clinton Administration has embraced numerous provisions of our legislation in its new proposal announced today.

"We all want to ensure a responsible outcome, but we also must focus on maintaining our current parks and refuges. We also must respect private property rights and the rights of state and local governments to strategically enhance our network of conservation areas.

"While we are still reviewing the specifics of the Administration's proposal, I'm hopeful that there is enough common ground that we can soon begin productive discussions to bring the concepts of our bipartisan legislation forward into becoming the law of the land." "Conservation & Reinvestment Act of 1998"

On July 17, 1998, a proposal was announced by a bipartisan group of House members which subsequently was introduced as H.R. 4717 on October 7th, 1998. The legislation provides increased funding for national conservation and recreation programs and resolves several inequities regarding the disposition of funds derived from revenues from Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) activities.

Among the primary sponsors of the "Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 1998" are:

• Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), Chairman of the House Resources Committee
• Rep. John Dingell (D-Michigan), Ranking Democrat of the House Commerce Committee
• Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-LA), Vice Chairman of the House Resources Committee
• Rep. Richard Baker (R-LA), Chairman, Subcommittee On Capital Markets
• Rep. Chris John (D-LA), Member, Resources Com./Energy & Mineral Resources Subcom.

Major Provisions of the "Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 1998"

Title One

• Currently, 50 percent of the revenue derived from federal oil and gas activities onshore are shared with the state. However, revenue paid from federal outer continental shelf oil and gas activities (beyond 8(g) production) are not shared with adjacent states. The "Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 1998" will share an equitable portion of royalties derived from federal outer continental shelf production with all coastal states (including Great Lake States).
• This is accomplished without creating an incentive for new oil and gas development and will have no impact on current OCS leasing moratoria or the President's Executive Order concerning outer continental shelf leasing.

Title Two

• Guarantees stable and annual funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) at it's authorized $900 million level. This dedicated funding would provide for both the state and federal programs included in the LWCF.
• Provides funding for important recreation projects through the Urban Parks and Recreation Recovery Program (UPARR). Over $100 million would be dedicated to this important program annually.

Title Three

• This component of the "Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 1998" provides dedicated funding for wildlife conservation and education programs.
• This funding will not only accomplish the goals of "Teaming With Wildlife", but surpass the level of funding anticipated with that proposal. Title three of the "Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 1998" will not establish an excise tax.

For more information, including bill language, access: http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/ocs