[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 51 (Friday, April 19, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3698-S3699]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN THE SPIRIT OF EARTH DAY

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. I thank the Chair and my colleague.
  Mr. President, on the eve of Earth Day, I want to alert Members of 
legislation that I will be introducing to help raise funds from the 
private sector to support our national parks, particularly with regard 
to repair. In this regard, I think it is appropriate that we thank the 
thousands of people and organizations who are answering the call to 
help repair and preserve an important part of this Nation's past and 
future: the historic C&O Canal.
  That canal extends 184 miles between Cumberland, MD, and Georgetown 
in the District of Columbia. The C&O Canal National Historic Park is a 
major recreation attraction and a part of our national heritage. As we 
know, the flooding of the Potomac River in the blizzard of 1996 has 
taken a heavy toll. Repairs require funds at a time when our Federal 
budget is already stretched to the hilt.
  That is where the sweat and ingenuity of the private sector is going 
to come in. Let me tell you about it, because it is going to come in a 
big way.
  In the spirit of Earth Day, which asks every one of us to do what he 
or she can to help make the Earth a better place, people and 
organizations are rising to the challenge and giving their money, time, 
and effort.
  The National Parks and Conservation Association, with the help of 
WRC-TV Channel 4 and others, has organized and publicized tomorrow's 
March for Parks along the canal route. The purpose is to raise funds 
for the canal. These organizations have done an outstanding job on the 
project and thousands of dollars are already pouring in. They are doing 
a wonderful service to the Nation.
  In an effort to keep these private donations coming in, I am today 
announcing the introduction of legislation which will help raise as 
much as $100 million in each year in support of our national parks, 
specifically for repairs.
  First, the legislation will revitalize and expand the scope of the 
operation

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of the National Park Foundation so it can work with the private sector 
to raise additional funds for parks. It would encourage business 
relationships similar to those engaged by the National Fish and 
Wildlife Foundation and the National Forest Foundation.
  Second, it will grant the sort of authority already enjoyed by the 
U.S. Olympic Committee to sanction appropriate private sponsorship of 
the parks.
  Third, each year publishing, advertising, movie making, and similar 
pursuits make use of the intellectual property and assets of our 
national parks with virtually no return to the parks. Reform is needed 
to enable the Park Service, through the National Park Foundation, to 
capture some of the potential income through licensing and other 
marketing agreements.
  Fourth, the legislation will contain safeguards to negate improper 
commercialization of our parks, but it will allow new revenue-generated 
opportunities outside the parks in partnership with the private sector.

  The National Park Foundation was created by Congress in 1967 as an 
official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service. It serves as a 
vehicle for donors who want to contribute with the assurance that gifts 
will be carefully managed and used wholly and exclusively for the 
purpose specified by the donor. It is governed by a board of civic and 
distinguished leaders committed to helping the parks, with the 
Secretary of the Interior serving as chairman, and the Director of the 
Park Service serving as secretary. None of this is going to change, Mr. 
President.
  During the last 5 years, the foundation has made over $10 million in 
grants to our national parks, but the changes contained in my 
legislation will empower it to contribute much more for the repair and 
preservation of the C&O Canal and other elements of our park system.
  Obviously, none of this will or should detract from the Federal 
Government's or the Park Service's responsibility to our parks. The 
goal is to augment that involvement with additional private funds, much 
like those currently being raised by the March for Parks, and I commend 
the Secretary of the Interior for his effort in this regard.
  Finally, we need the private sector, including those for-profit 
organizations who have used the National Park Service facilities and 
property and given little or nothing in return to help sustain our 
parks for the future.
  The private sector can help by providing additional funds for 
resource management and infrastructure repair required in our parks 
across the Nation.
  The C&O Canal National Historical Park and our other park units 
across the Nation connect us to our past and provide us with a vision 
of the future. They are some of the most beautiful and historic parcels 
of land to be found. In the spirit of Earth Day and American generosity 
and philanthropy, it is time for us to make the effort to meet the 
challenge.
  Thanks to the NPCA, WRC-TV and the thousands of marchers and 
volunteers who tomorrow will be helping to show us the way. In the 
spirit of Earth Day, I ask for each Senator's help in passing this 
legislation to help our parks, and I commend our leader, Senator Dole, 
for supporting this.
  I thank the Chair and thank my friend from Georgia.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senator from 
Georgia is recognized.

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