By Tom McClimon
July 15, 2002

Both the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees have finished marking up their versions of the Interior Appropriations bills. The Senate version takes a two-thirds whack at the Urban Parks and Recreation Recovery Program (UPARR) cutting the program from $30 million to $10 million annually. The House passed version includes $30 million for UPARR, the same amount as appropriated for this fiscal year.

Once a concerted lobbying strategy is formulated by the urban parks coalition, mayors- offices will be contacted to urge their Senators to agree to the House passed version.

The Interior Appropriations bills also contain funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The House version contains $154 million for the state and local assistance program while the Senate version contains $144 million.