[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 115 (Monday, July 17, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1443]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



[[Page E 1443]]


  INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT FOR CONCESSION REFORM LEGISLATION--H.R. 2028

                                 ______


                          HON. JAMES V. HANSEN

                                of utah

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 17, 1995
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, last Thursday I introduced comprehensive 
legislation to reform the concession policies on Federal lands. This is 
a topic which has been extensively debated in recent years, with 
particular emphasis on National Park Service concession policies.
  Currently, there are over 8,000 concession operations on lands 
managed by the Forest Service, National Park Service, Corps of 
Engineers, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and Fish 
and Wildlife Service. Each agency has its own independent set of rules 
and regulations designed to implement at least 11 different and 
sometimes conflicting laws. Concessioners have to wade through a 
mountain of differing requirements from agency to agency and are even 
required to collect and file different information with each agency on 
a single trip.
  In report after report, the General Accounting Office and others have 
suggested that Federal concession management needs reform. My 
legislation is based on three primary principles as follows:
  First, provide for a uniform and consistent concession policy among 
the Federal land management agencies to the extent feasible.
  Second, recognition of the importance of the public-private 
partnership in providing a high quality recreation experience on 
Federal lands, and
  Third, utilization of the competitive process to ensure quality 
service to the public at reasonable prices and a fair return to the 
Government.
  This legislation includes many features which have not been included 
in previous legislative proposals. For example, this bill provides a 
consistent concession policy among all land management agencies, allows 
rates to the public to be set by the market place to the maximum extent 
possible, provides a truly competitive selection process which 
recognizes the value of concessioners with a proven record of 
performance, ensures a higher rate of return for the Government and 
permits concession fees collected to remain with the agencies, provides 
incentives to encourage the private sector to develop and maintain 
private recreation facilities on Federal lands, provides an independent 
appeals process to resolve disputes and permits the privatization of 
certain concession activities on Bureau of Land Management and Forest 
Service lands.
  I believe that the policies outlined in this bill are sound. I 
encourage my colleagues to join with me in the further refinement of 
this legislation to ensure a high quality, concession-provided 
recreation experience awaits the American public on all their Federal 
lands.


                          ____________________