[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 19 (Thursday, February 13, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    THE NATIONAL PARKS CHECKOFF ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 13, 1997

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I have reintroduced the National Parks 
Checkoff Act today.
  The National Parks Checkoff Act will amend the Internal Revenue Code 
to require the IRS to place a line on income tax forms which will allow 
taxpayers to donate one or more dollars toward the care of our national 
parks. This legislation will provide more money for the care of our 
national parks at no cost to the Federal Government.
  I introduced this bill during the 104th Congress, and I heard from a 
number of people and organizations from around the country who 
supported this legislation.
  In addition, this bill had bipartisan support and it was also backed 
by the National Parks and Conservation Association, the American Hiking 
Society, the National Tour Association, American Outdoors and other 
organizations.
  A study released by the National Parks and Conservation Association 
indicated that nearly 8 out every 10 people surveyed would be willing 
to increase their tax contribution by $1 to benefit the National Park 
System.
  A similar checkoff for Presidential campaigns has raised over $200 
million in the last 3 years. I believe that our national parks are far 
more popular than Presidential campaigns. Therefore, I think we could 
raise hundreds of millions of dollars for our national parks through 
this type of checkoff on income tax forms.
  I believe there is at least one easy choice that can be made which 
will provide our parks with additional funding--the choice to allow 
taxpayers the opportunity to donate money for the care of our national 
parks.
  I hope that my colleagues will join me in supporting this legislation 
which will help us improve the quality of our national parks.

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