[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 77 (Monday, June 19, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1040-E1041]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  2001

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. RON LEWIS

                              of kentucky

                    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. LEWIS of Kentucky. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word 
and rise to support this amendment that helps provide for our states 
and local communities.
  While I support all the funding increases in this amendment, the 
increase in the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program is of particular 
interest. Last year, we approved an amendment to increase PILT by 
twenty million dollars and came out of conference with a ten million 
dollar increase. This amendment will add ten million dollars to last 
year's appropriation, the base amount in this legislation.
  The federal government has a responsibility in law to help support 
local governments in areas where the federal government owns the land, 
thus removing it from the local tax base. We all know, despite the hard 
work and tough decisions of Chairman Regula's subcommittee, that 
appropriations for PILT have not kept up with the authorized amounts. 
An increase of ten million dollars will not close this gap, but it will 
provide much-needed assistance to local governments.
  For the residents and government of Edmonson County in my district in 
Kentucky, the support from PILT is essential. Edmonson County is home 
to Mammoth Cave National Park. While the park draws many visitors to 
this rural area, Edmonson County's small population and low per capita 
income make it difficult for local taxpayers to provide basic services, 
from waste management to emergency services. The support from an 
increase in PILT will keep the cost of these services more bearable to 
local taxpayers.
  PILT funds help support a 24-hour ambulance service for the National 
Park and county residents. Federal land ownership has contributed to 
the isolation of much of Edmonson County. When major transportation 
routes expanded in the past, the county was bypassed in favor of areas 
with a larger property tax base to support the projects. Equitable PILT 
payments are needed to add to the tax base Edmonson County has given up 
for the National Park as the area faces new challenges for economic 
development.
  The situation faced by Edmonson County is far from unique. As the 
federal government continues to place responsibilities on local

[[Page E1041]]

governments, PILT increases are necessary to relieve local taxpayers 
across the country, most of them in rural areas. The Bureau of Land 
Management reports property taxes would provide local governments with 
one dollar and forty-eight cents per acre. PILT payments are far below 
that amount per acre. It is difficult to explain to constituents why 
PILT appropriations have not followed the amounts authorized when they 
have not even come close. It is difficult to explain why Congress 
creates new programs when we are not funding the ones already in 
existence.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to support this amendment. By doing so 
you add $10 million dollars to PILT to aid local taxpayers in rural 
areas and fulfill a pledge made by the federal government.

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