[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 30, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H8796-H8797]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             NATIONAL PARKS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Regula] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, a special issue of the Wilderness Society's 
magazine is devoted to Problems and Prospects in the National Parks. 
The cover of Newsweek reads: ``Can We Save Our Parks?'' A report to the 
director of the National Park Service, National Parks for the 21st 
Century: The Vail Agenda, concludes that the agency is ``beset by 
controversy, concern, weakened morale, and declining effectiveness.''
  The national and local media have been replete with these horror 
stories in recent months, but these particular stories were written in 
1983, 1986 and 1991 respectively. In short, the problems currently 
facing the National Park System did not begin the day a Republican 
majority took over Congress, as some would like to believe. 
Unfortunately as the election grows closer, the rhetoric surrounding 
the national parks intensifies.
  This campaign of misinformation is not only counterproductive but 
unfair to the potential visiting public, our constituents, who in 
effect own these national treasures. The facts do not support the fear 
mongering. The National Parks need not close their doors this summer 
because of a lack of funds. In fact, this year's operating budget for 
the National Park Service increased and Congress initiated a new 3-year 
fee demonstration program which took effect earlier this year and 
allows participating parks to keep 80 percent of new fees collected. 
Why then is the Park Service crying wolf?
  For the second year in a row the National Park Service's 
operating budget will increase. In fiscal year 1997 under both the 
House and Senate passed budgets every National Park System unit will 
get an increase in their operating budget. Additional increases have 
also been recommended to address a critical and growing maintenance 
backlog in the system. These increases have been offset in part by 
slowing the growth in new facilities and acreage to help get the Park 
Service back on their feet and on a path to live within their means.

  Operational shortfalls and a backlog of unmet maintenance needs have 
been perennial problems for the parks. This situation has been 
exacerbated by the failure of previous Congresses to institute fee and 
concession reform and by the addition of new units and the expansion of 
existing sites. In the last decade alone, 36 units and 3.7 million 
acres were added to the National Park System by previous Congresses.
  In 1912 the fee for Yosemite National Park was $5 per vehicle. That 
same bargain rate is available at Yosemite today and at other crown 
jewels as well. Currently fees collected in the parks do not stay with 
the park, but rather they are returned to the Treasury. While 
permanent, comprehensive fee reform is still needed, this Congress has 
taken one important step by initiating a pilot program to expand and 
reform the fee collection program and allow the parks, not the 
Treasury, to be the beneficiary. We have given the Park Service a 
potentially invaluable tool to help themselves. It is now up to them to 
reap the full benefits.
  The problems of the National Park Service are complex and 
longstanding. As these problems did not develop over night, neither 
will the solutions be immediate. Politicizing the parks, however, only 
serves to heighten tensions and does nothing to solve the real 
problems. For those of us who truly care about the health and well-
being of our National Park System our mission should not be about 
placing blame for the situation facing the National Parks, but about 
working together to find creative solutions to the problems.
  We have provided short-term funds and outlined a long-term strategy 
to accomplish the goals we all share, a National Park System which is 
truly the crown jewel of our Nation. While the Park Service faces 
challenges it also has many opportunities and tools at its disposal to 
meet them. Those of us who share the responsibility for shaping the 
future of the National Park Service--Congress, the administration, 
employees of the Park Service, and the parks' many outside partners--
must work together to ensure that its future is as distinguished as its 
past.

                              {time}  1715

  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Kasich].
  Mr. KASICH. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to take a second to compliment 
the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Regula], who is the chairman of the 
subcommittee, the Appropriations Subcommittee; that is, the committee 
that provides the money to run these parks, and I think we need to make 
it clear, as the gentleman has, and I want to compliment him on his 
statement, that Republicans consider the national parks to be one of 
the real jewels of our Federal Government, that we not only want to 
maintain the parks as we know them, but we also want to begin to solve 
the problem of the backlogged maintenance, the fact that a lot of 
things have not been done over the years because there has not been 
adequate funding.
  At the same time, of course, I think it is landmarked; they were able 
to let the parks keep more of what they collect, and I think the news 
to Americans is bipartisan support for our national parks. We believe 
they are a jewel. We believe we are improving them, and we believe that 
we are not only improving them, but we are taking care of some of the 
maintenance that should have been done that has not been done. So I 
think the word to the American citizens, the American people, are if 
you are looking for an incredible experience, if you are looking for an 
opportunity to really enrich your soul and the souls of your children, 
you got to head out to the national parks because there is not a better 
investment you can make in America, and I appreciate the gentleman's 
work.
  Mr. REGULA. I thank the gentleman for his comments. He is absolutely 
right. The parks belong to all the people to be enjoyed by all of the 
people. We are taking care of them. There is no excuse for them not to 
be open
  I might mention that we put additional funding in on the maintenance. 
We recognize, as the gentleman pointed out, that we have neglected 
maintenance in the parks, and we have beefed

[[Page H8797]]

up the funding for the maintenance programs as well as the operations.
  So I want to say to the public:
  Do not be afraid. The parks will be open if they are managed well for 
all of America to enjoy.

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