[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 59 (Friday, May 13, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 13, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
               REPEAL PARK TAX CALLED ARMY CORPS USER FEE

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                           HON. BILL EMERSON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 12, 1994

  Mr. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to make my colleagues aware of a 
situation that will be affecting nearly every boater, camper, and 
swimmer beginning this summer at many recreational facilities across 
the country operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Today, I 
introduced legislation in this Chamber to repeal all recreational user 
fees created last year by the President's tax/budget plan. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in this fight.
  The way I see it, this is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Budget 
bureaucrats in the Clinton administration again are using semantics to 
mask their real intentions. Quite clearly, the user fee is another 
onerous tax that's unfair to people who have already been taxed once 
for the upkeep and maintenance of our corp's facilities; we shouldn't 
be charged again.
  These are not user fees; they're simply new park taxes--$1 per person 
or $3 per carload at the main gate, $25 for a yearly pass, half that 
for senior citizens, and another $2 to use a boat ramp. Some might say 
that a couple of bucks here and there isn't much to pay for our great 
outdoors. I must reiterate; we've already paid for and we're currently 
paying for these facilities and their day-to-day management.
  Furthermore, I simply do not believe it is fair to try and balance 
the budget or reduce the deficit on the backs of one segment of our 
population, and that's exactly what is happening with these new park 
taxes. Moreover, I believe with these user fees going into general 
revenue--not into the Army Corps budget--people who want to enjoy the 
outdoors actually will end up footing the bill for new Federal 
spending.
  In closing, I'd like to say that I have heard from thousands of 
people inside and outside the Eighth District of Missouri urging the 
repeal of the user fee provision. Folks have had enough of this White 
House's big government digging deeper into their pockets. They need tax 
relief, not added tax burdens. And in a state like Missouri where 
tourism is so important to the economy, the Federal Government should 
not be an obstacle and jeopardize jobs.

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