To: National Desk, Environment Reporter
Contact: Andrea Keller of Americans for National Parks, 202-454-3332
WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Department of Interior spending
bill that passed the Interior Appropriations conference committee this week
falls short of the needs of the national parks and provides barely enough
funding for most parks to cover mandatory cost-of-living increases for
staff, according to Americans for National Parks.
"Yet again, the National Park Service won't have enough money to adequately
protect our parks or meet the needs of visitors," said Americans for
National Parks Campaign Director Blake Selzer. "We hope the administration
and Congress will do a better job next year of fulfilling their
responsibility to protect our national heritage."
While language in the House version of the Interior bill illustrated concern
for the operating needs of the parks, the final bill included only a $55
million operating increase. This is slightly less than the increase the
administration requested, less than the amount of money allocated in either
the House or Senate versions of the bill, and far short of the $178 million
increase sought by the Americans for National Parks campaign to address
critical park needs.
This past spring, 69 representatives and 28 senators signed bipartisan
letters to the appropriators requesting increased funding for the day-to-day
needs of the national parks.
"Congress clearly recognizes the importance of funding the parks, but has
not yet come through with the necessary dollars," said Selzer. "As a result,
our national parks continue to suffer."
Research has shown that the national parks are operating with only
two-thirds of the needed funding-an annual shortfall of more than $600
million. Across the system, museum artifacts and archaeological sites are
not being preserved, public education programs are being cut, infrastructure
is deteriorating, and irreplaceable historic structures are crumbling.
Led by the National Parks Conservation Association, the coalition of
Americans for National Parks includes more than 350 private businesses,
government municipalities, chambers of commerce, tourism and trade
associations, and nonprofit organizations from across the country.
<http://www.usnewswire.com/>
-0-

_________________________________________________________________
Groove on the latest from the hot new rock groups!  Get downloads, videos,
and more here.  http://special.msn.com/entertainment/wiredformusic.armx