[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 35 (Thursday, March 24, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 24, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
               POSSESSORY INTEREST IN CONCESSIONS REFORM

 Mr. SIMON. Mr. President, earlier this week--with my support--
the Senate passed S. 208, the National Parks Concessions Reform Act. As 
a cosponsor of this bill, I am hopeful that these changes will improve 
the concessions system in our national parks, and create a more level 
playing field for all involved. In addition, S. 208 will mean tens of 
millions in additional funds being available for maintaining our 
national parks each year.
  I want to add a word of caution, however, with regard to the 
possessory interest issue. I commend those on both sides of this issue 
for their success in arriving at a compromise, but we need to be 
sensitive to how the possessory interest provisions will affect the 
current concessionaires. The changes made by S. 208 are considerable, 
and could have a significant impact on businesses with a long and 
reliable history of providing concessions services in our national 
parks. We should proceed with caution as we work out the details of 
these changes.
  Mr. President, I thank my colleagues who supported this measure, and 
I want to specifically acknowledge my friend from Arkansas, Senator 
Bumpers, for his commitment and his leadership with S. 208.

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