| Urban Parks Programs Advance in
Congress By Tom McClimon In a letter delivered to each Member of Congress on the day of the House vote and signed by the Conference of Mayors three officers, Mayors Wellington E. Webb, H. Brent Coles, and Marc H. Morial, the mayors urged Congress to approve the amendments. In their letter, the mayors wrote "Both the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and the Urban Parks and Recreation Recovery Program(UPARR) were created to ensure that all Americans have access to high quality recreation resources and that our natural habitats were protected. Since their creation, both LWCF and UPARR have been responsible for over seven million acres of parks, public forests and open spaces and more than 37,000 play grounds, trails and nature reserves." The mayors also noted that at the 67th Annual Conference of Mayors in New Orleans, the nation’s mayors unanimously passed a resolution in support of both of these programs. Land and Water Conservation Fund The first amendment providing $30 million for the stateside program of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) was offered by Representative James McGovern (MA). In his remarks on the House floor, Congressman McGovern stated, "For every year we walk away from funding the stateside program, another park disappears, another open field vanishes, another healthy green space is lost forever. This amendment is supported by every major environmental organization in the country. It is supported by our nation’s governors. It is supported by our nation’s mayors." Other voices of support on the House floor included Representative Xavier Becerra (CA) who stated that by passing this amendment inner city children will have "not just the opportunity to play and recreate, but the chance to get a better sense of what it means to know the greater part of the country and nature, because too often in the inner cities many of these kids grow up not knowing anything but concrete buildings." Representative Sherwood Boehlert (NY) stated, " We talk a lot about family values. What is more important to the family than having magnificent parks and recreational areas so that they together can enjoy a good life." Representative Joseph Hoeffel (PA) stated, " The programs to be funded by this state share would not be the parks with the grandeur of the Tetons or the vastness of Yellowstone but they would be the parks and recreational opportunities that people would use every day, the ball fields, the local parks, the swimming pools that all Americans need access to and that all Americans use." Opposition to the amendment was led by the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Representative Ralph Regula (OH) who based his opposition on funding of state and local parks should be a state and local matter and that the federal government’s limited resources should go to maintaining the national parks system. He also criticized past use of LWCF funds. "I can remember when there was a stateside program. A lot of the money went into golf courses, marinas, swimming pools, tennis courts, and other facilities of that type. I do not think it is the Federal responsibility to fund these programs for the States. They should meet their own needs, They have the money to do it." stated Congressman Regula during the House debate. Other Members voiced their opposition on using funds from the fossil energy fuels program to offset the increase in parks funding. The McGovern amendment was approved on a vote of 213-202. UPARR Funding In an amendment offered by Representative George Miller (CA), $4 million was restored to funding the Urban Parks and Recreation Recovery Program (UPARR). In offering his amendment on the House floor, Representative Miller stated, " There has been a dramatic resurgence in support for this program from environmental organizations, the Conference of Mayors, the League of Cities, the Police Athletic Leagues, the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, all of which are prepared and are raising money to help in this effort." He went on to state, " We heard earlier today about the problems that soccer teams and Little League teams and Pop Warner teams are having to find facilities to offer recreational opportunities. That is why this legislation is supported by the National Association of Police Athletic Leagues. The police associations understand the importance of giving young people constructive activities to participate in from 3 to 6 in the afternoon, but if they do not have these opportunities unfortunately some of them go into crime and other destructive behavior." Congressman Miller’s amendment was accepted by Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Congressman Ralph Regula. In accepting the amendment, Congressman Regula stated some qualifications that the money be available from funds approved in the past, but unspent, for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The amendment was agreed to without a floor vote. Senate Action The Senate Interior Appropriations Committee has approved a bill with no funding for LWCF and UPARR. The Senate is expected to take up the Interior Appropriations bill sometime later this summer. Amendments to restore funding for LWCF and UPARR are expected to be offered.
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