[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 146 (Wednesday, October 14, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12541-S12542]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        VISION 20-20 LEGISLATION

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, today is a historic day for the 
Congress, the National Park Service and the American people. After two 
years of intense negotiations, hearings from coast to coast, and a 
great deal of hard work I am pleased to inform my colleagues that we 
have National Park Service Reform.
  More importantly, after eight years of disagreement, and as part of 
the National Park Service reform package, we have achieved victory; we 
have come together in true bi-partisan fashion, and we have reformed 
the management and administration of concession operations in the 
National Park Service System.
  Under this legislation, and in addition to concession reform, we have 
provided the National Park Service with increased opportunities, in 
cooperation with colleges and universities, to conduct scientific 
research in our parks so that in future years resource management 
decisions can be based more on sound science as opposed to emotion and 
guess work.
  We direct the Secretary of the Interior to develop a comprehensive 
training program for employees in all professional careers in the work 
force of the National Park Service to ensure that personnel have the 
best, up-to-date knowledge, skills and abilities with which to manage, 
interpret and protect the resources of the National Park System.
  As we all know the management and administration of parks is becoming 
more complex. We require managers who are fully prepared to take on the 
challenges that the next century will offer. The Secretary is directed 
to develop a training program which will ensure that future park 
managers will come from the cream of the crop and will be fully 
prepared to assume the responsibilities that management and 
administration of multiple park programs will demand.
  We have established procedures for the establishment of new units of 
the National Park System to ensure that only those areas of truly 
national significance are authorized.
  Mr. President, the original bill passed by the Senate contained new 
fee authorities which would have allowed the actual users of the System 
to shoulder more of the responsibility to decrease the $8 billion 
dollar back-log in maintenance and infrastructure repair needed in our 
parks. Unfortunately, the other Body decided to delete these provisions 
from this legislative package. I regret this decision; however, I want 
you to know that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is going 
to address the fee systems for all of the agencies under our 
jurisdiction early in the next Congress. There are needs to be met and 
problems to be resolved in this specific arena.
  Senator Thomas came up with a park passport and stamp as an entrance 
pass to our National Parks. The winning design of the stamp will be 
through a competitive process each year, a similar process to the 
popular Duck Stamp that we are all familiar with. It's a great 
marketing tool and should increase revenues. Along that same line we 
are directing the National Park Foundation to assist other park friends 
groups. The Foundation possesses a great deal of expertise in fund 
raising and philanthropic activities. Sharing that expertise will 
benefit hundreds of parks across this Nation.
  We also direct the Secretary and provide him the authority to lease 
unused Park Service buildings and enter into expanded cooperative 
agreements in the hope that the private sector will take advantage of 
occupying and maintaining some of these unused structures, thereby off-
setting expenditures by the Service.
  Mr. President, Senator Thomas, Senator Bumpers, Senator Bennett, and 
Secretary Babbitt entered into negotiations on concession reform. The 
end result is before you today. All of these gentlemen deserve our 
congratulations and thanks for the time and energy each put into the 
effort.
  This bill is a direct result of discussions amongst the House and 
Senate Committees, representatives of the concession industry, and 
other interest groups. It reflects, I believe, a fair and just 
resolution of some issues about which there is legitimate disagreement. 
The recent amendment offered by Representative Miller alters the terms 
of that agreement to some degree, but it remains a piece of legislation 
I can still support and endorse. However, I do think the amendment does 
give rise to a need for some clarification.
  Protection of the existing possessory interests of concessioners is 
an important element of this legislation. Possessory interest is a 
significant and valuable right. It reflects the capital investment of 
the concessioner. It was one of the foundations on which the 1965 
Concessions Act was built and it

[[Page S12542]]

can not be simply eliminated. The concessioners are entitled to the 
protections which the 1965 Act promised.
  For those reasons I think we must make clear what the Miller 
amendment does not do. In authorizing the Secretary to, in the future, 
alter the treatment of possessory interests, it does not empower him to 
do what Congress has specifically chosen not to do, by which I mean 
deny those concessioners the value of their existing possessory 
interest. Regardless of what the Secretary may ultimately decide, those 
existing possessory interest will remain a valuable and legally 
protected right for which concessioners must be compensated. They will 
remain entitled to see their investment protected and to receive the 
benefit of their bargain.
  Mr. President, on another point, we have just received a GAO study 
that tells us that many of our existing concession facilities are below 
standard and deteriorating. Visitors to our parks should not expect to 
stay in a facility that cannot pass the minimum requirements that apply 
to those hotels and motels on the borders of our parks. On that note, 
and as I have previously stated the negotiations that lead to this 
compromise were difficult to say the least. Each had to come across the 
table, no one got everything they wanted except the American people, 
and they got a lot.
  The provisions of this compromise mean that we will have the 
expertise of the private sector to assist and advise the National Park 
Service in the management and administration of concession operations. 
I am confident that under this scenario concession operations have no 
where to go but to produce better quality services.
  The private sector will be more than glad to provide major 
investments in new and existing facilities because they are able to 
maintain a financial interest in the properties. There is a great 
incentive for the operators to maintain their facilities and 
infrastructure to the highest standards possible. If they don't, the 
provisions provide for a decrease in the dollar amount of interest they 
are entitled to receive.
  Finally, concession operators will be paying more in fees which go 
back to the parks.
  Mr. President, I personally want to thank Senator Thomas for the 
extreme effort that he has put forth in this endeavor. In my years in 
the Senate I have never seen a Senator work harder on this contentious 
issue. He has done the impossible.
  And, last but not least, I want to say thank you to the Committee 
staff, for the hard work, the lost weekends, the evenings and for the 
great work.
  Mr. THOMAS. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I understand we are in morning business. I 
ask unanimous consent that I be allowed to speak for the next 15 
minutes uninterrupted.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, the 
Senator from Iowa is recognized.
  Mr. HARKIN. I thank the President.

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