[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 121 (Tuesday, July 25, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1510-E1511]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


      VISITOR SERVICES IMPROVEMENT AND OUTDOOR LEGACY ACT OF 1995

                                 ______


                          HON. JAMES V. HANSEN

                                of utah

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 25, 1995
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation to 
improve the recreation experience on our Federal lands. Currently, 
funding to support recreational use of Federal lands is declining at 
the same time that recreational use is increasing. The staffing of the 
Federal land management agencies is inadequate and facilities, many of 
which are undersized, are deteriorating beyond the point where cost-
effective repairs can be undertaken.
  Some have urged that we simply appropriate more money for these 
purposes. However, in this time of deficient reduction, no one is 
approaching me volunteering programs with surplus funds. We must find 
ways to spend existing funds more wisely and to generate more funds 
within the programs themselves. The bill I am introducing today moves a 
long way in that direction.
  Recreational use of Federal lands is one of the best deals in America 
today. It is such a good deal because 90 percent of the costs of 
services provided to recreational users are paid by persons who don't 
use the Federal lands. In recent years, recreational use on Federal 
lands has been subsidized by nearly $1 billion annually. However, if we 
could develop a way for recreational users of Federal lands to pay just 
$1 per person for their recreational use, Federal recreation programs 
would be self-sufficient.
  The current Federal recreation fee program, as codified in section 4 
of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act, is in need of a complete 
overhaul. There are three major problems with the existing law: First, 
inadequate cost recovery, second, lack of incentives for fee 
collection, and third, complex and often conflicting policies as a 
result of past congressional micromanagement of this program.
  The legislation I am introducing today reflects a total revision of 
the existing law. Under my legislation, recreation user will be 
required to pay 75 percent of the annual costs of services provided to 
them. However, this legislation is not just a fee offset bill. It 
provides for 

[[Page E 1511]]
Congress to pay for not only the balance of the annual operating costs, 
but to provide funds for recreation facility construction and 
rehabilitation as well. As visitation goes up, so will fees and 
ultimately overall program funding. This legislation is designed to 
reverse the current trend of decreasing appropriations for visitor 
services.
  One of the key features of this legislation, and of any successful 
fee program, is providing program incentives. By permitting the 
agencies to retain all funds without further appropriation, my 
legislation provides substantial incentives for both the public and the 
agencies administering the program. Further, most of the funds would be 
kept right in the area they are collected, with some allowance made for 
areas which cannot collect adequate recreational fees.
  Other important features of this bill include the following: First, 
developing a consistent recreation fee policy for the 5 primary Federal 
land management agencies; second, providing flexibility in the amount 
of fees charged, but ensuring that fees collected are fair; third, 
limiting recreational fees to developed recreation sites and other 
specific recreational services provided by the federal agencies; 
fourth, ensuring congressional oversight of rates charged; fifth, 
permitting the use of volunteers to collect fees; sixth, ensuring 
accountability of fees collected; seventh, prohibiting fees for Federal 
hunting and fishing licenses; and eighth, guaranteeing access to 
private property without requiring the payment of any fee.
  Taken together, these reforms will fundamentally change the manner in 
which the fee programs on Federal lands currently operate. These are 
changes which will work to the benefit of all recreational users of 
Federal lands. I look forward to working with my colleagues on this 
legislation, I welcome their input, and that of the public who uses our 
Federal lands.


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