07-29-2000

ENVIRONMENT: Senate Conservation Bill Faces Western Roadblock

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on July 25 cleared a
massive conservation bill that includes almost $45 billion for a broad
assortment of federal, state, and local resource-protection
programs.


The panel's 13-7 vote approving the legislation came after a bruising
five-day battle that pitted Western Republicans against the measure's
bipartisan supporters. Four Republicans joined nine Democrats in
supporting the measure. "This is the most significant commitment of
resources ever made for conservation by the Congress," Chairman Frank
Murkowski, R-Alaska, said after the vote.


Over the next 15 years, the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (H.R.
701)-best known as CARA-would channel almost $3 billion in annual
royalties from offshore oil and gas production to environmental
initiatives. The bill enjoys the support of a broad coalition of
environmentalists, sportsmen, and state and local officials, and the House
passed its version in May by a lopsided 315-102 vote.


The Senate bill attempts to spread the cash around more evenly than the
House legislation does. The Senate version includes $450 million a year in
matching grants to state and local governments that want to buy
environmentally sensitive land; $805 million for enhancing and protecting
marine resources; $150 million for historic preservation; $125 million for
national parks and tribal lands; $100 million for preserving farmland and
forests; and $110 million for a variety of rural assistance programs,
including the Youth Conservation Corps. Under both the House and the
Senate bills, every state would get some CARA funds.


Some Senators worried that the bill's unusual ironclad assurance of future
funds for conservation bypasses the normal congressional budget process.
"It is an appropriations bill set in advance to 15 years,"
complained Senate Budget Committee Chairman Pete V. Domenici, R-N.M. He
said programs are "set in concrete in the bill" and are given a
guarantee of funds enjoyed by no other federal program.


Supporters of the bill, such as Sen. Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., hailed the
measure for guaranteeing more support than ever before for conservation
programs. "This is a fulfillment made of a promise-a promise made to
our children and grandchildren," Landrieu said.


But the American Land Rights Association, a property rights group,
denounced the measure as "a $45 billion pile of pork." Other
opponents agreed.


Republican Senators from Western states-where the federal government
already owns more than half of the land area-worried that the bill would
result in even more private land being lost to federal control. Western
Republicans are determined to prevent a Senate floor vote on the
bill.


Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., a supporter of the bill, said
that CARA faces two hurdles: the limited amount of time left in the
session, and competition for attention from "absolutely mandatory
votes" on appropriations measures and a proposal that would grant
favored trade status to China. "We'll try to find a way to schedule
it in September," Lott said of the CARA bill. "I hope we
can."


Cyril T. Zaneski

National Journal