[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 75 (Thursday, June 15, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1028]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  2001

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                               speech of

                           HON. CHRIS CANNON

                                of utah

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 14, 2000

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4578) making 
     appropriations for the Department of the Interior and related 
     agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2001, and 
     for other purposes:

  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of Mr. Sununu's Amendment 
increasing funding for the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program for the 
FY2001 Interior Appropriations Bill. The government has an unpaid 
obligation to the towns and counties containing lands owned by the 
federal government, since these are areas that counties do not own and 
cannot tax. Without PILT, local governments would be forced to 
eliminate essential public services that benefit residents and visitors 
in their respective counties.
  The federal government owns large portions of lands in many of the 
counties that I represent in Utah. For example, 93% of Garfield County 
is owned by the federal government. Our state uses a vast majority of 
the PILT reimbursements to support education. For FY2001, Utah plans to 
spend 49.5% of the state budget on K-12 education, among the highest in 
the nation. But even with this huge commitment, Utah ranks dead last in 
per student spending with an average of $4,008 per year compared to the 
national average of $6,407. With this much of the state owned by the 
federal government, Utah relies heavily on this PILT funding.
  I understand that it is difficult to reconcile the many needs in the 
Interior budget with the limited funds available, but the PILT program 
has not been sufficiently funded in the past. I urge you to consider 
the federal responsibility and the needs of Utah's students as you cast 
your vote on this amendment.

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