[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 32 (Monday, March 21, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 21, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. FORD:
  S. 1953. A bill to amend the Flood Control Act of 1968 to prohibit 
the imposition of certain fees for the use of developed recreation 
sites and facilities, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works.


            flood control act of 1968 amendment act of 1994

  Mr. FORD. Mr. President, today I am introducing a bill prohibiting 
the Corps of Engineers from charging user fees at underdeveloped or 
lightly developed lake facilities in Kentucky and other States. The 
corps now charges user fees at highly developed facilities requiring 
round-the-clock maintenance and supervision of corps personnel. 
Clearly, user fees are proper in these situations.
  But beginning in May of this year, the corps proposes to establish 
user fees for beaches, boat ramps, and other unmaintained facilities 
that are currently free of charge. For many hardworking families in my 
State, you may as well put up ``closed for the season'' signs. All 
across my State--and I am sure my colleagues' own States--there are 
families who put in a hard day's work, pay their bills, put a roof over 
the family's head and food on the table. Once they have done all that, 
there is not much left in the family budget for an expensive vacation.
  Because States understood there was a need for easily accessible, 
affordable places for families to vacation, they gave up land so that 
many of these corps-maintained lakes could be built. I think all would 
agree that the citizens whose tax dollars built those facilities and 
whose tax dollars maintain these facilities should be able to use these 
facilities.
  Mr. President, my legislation will assure the park gates will not be 
closed for any tourist, regardless how big or how small their vacation 
budget might be.
  I might say, the distinguished Congressman from the First District in 
Kentucky has filed a companion bill in the House, and I hope my 
colleagues will join me.
  I send the bill to the desk and ask that it be appropriately 
referred. I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who seeks recognition?
  Mr. WALLOP. Mr. President, I will say to my friend from Kentucky that 
I have not seen the bill, but I am inclined to be on it with him. I see 
all over the place signs that we are going to start charging for 
unimproved access to various recreation forests, national recreation 
areas, and other kinds of things.
  I hope that it puts in the back of his mind a little bit the thought 
as to what it is to deal with unimproved facilities and that he has a 
gentle thought at grazers as the vote comes down.
  Mr. FORD. Mr. President, without the Senator losing his right to the 
floor, I do have a general thought. It just seems as if they were 
charged 70 percent, and it would be to maintain it. Where you have 
unmaintained boat ramps, picnic areas, $2 to take your boat to put it 
in the water, $1 to take your family, each person, or so much per 
carload to go in, it seems to me, as we say down in Kentucky, it is too 
much sugar for the sand.
  Mr. WALLOP. Mr. President, I say to the Senator, I agree with him. We 
are seeing signs of it all over our State. I am seeing signs of it in 
various published statements around and about. I think it is time for 
Congress to speak to it.
  It is well and good to spend money on improving things and providing 
people with something for the value which they are being asked to pony 
up. However, if there is no value at all, it seems genuinely unfair to 
ask people to pay for that.

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