[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 80 (Monday, June 11, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S6056]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. GRAHAM (for himself, and Mr. Akaka):
  S. 1011. A bill to provide the financial mechanisms, resource 
protections, and professional skills necessary for high quality 
stewardship of the National Park System and to recognize the importance 
of high quality outdoor recreational opportunities on federally managed 
land; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, John Muir, the founder of the Sierra Club 
once said, ``Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people 
are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; 
that wilderness is a necessity; and that mountain parks and 
reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating 
rivers, but as fountains of life.''
  As our society becomes increasingly removed from the natural world, 
this prescient statement rings ever more true.
  Americans are becoming increasingly aware of the opportunities that 
our national parks provide for us to reconnect with the magnificent 
natural heritage of our country. The number of visits to national parks 
is soaring, as is use of their diverse resources. While this is good 
news in many ways, it has created a peculiar problem.
  We are loving our parks to death.
  Today, I am joined by my colleague Senator Akaka to introduce the 
National Parks Stewardship Act of 2001. This legislation endeavors to 
address some of the most serious problems facing the national parks 
system today.
  First, the National Parks Stewardship Act ensures that activities in 
parks and on Federal lands adjacent to parks are compatible with the 
conservation and preservation of natural, cultural, and historical 
resources. This legislation also requires the proper preservation of 
historic documents, records, and artifacts, including resources in 
marine environments which may require specialized skills for their 
maintenance.
  The National Parks Stewardship Act also helps the Park Service plan 
for the future by studying visitation and demographic patterns and 
preparing for an increasingly diverse and growing population.
  Second, this legislation provides innovative financing tools to help 
fund operations and maintenance and to address the current maintenance 
backlog. Specifically, the National Parks Stewardship Act proposes a 
non-appropriated funds instrumentalities program and challenge cost 
share projects.
  In addition, the Recreation Fee Demonstration Program would be 
permanently established with the requirement that certain percentages 
of the revenues generated remain available to the park at which they 
were collected. A system of signs would also be established to let park 
visitors know how recreation fees are spent and which projects have 
been completed as a result of this program.
  Finally, the National Parks Stewardship Act establishes a pilot 
program called Professionals for Parks. This program would enable the 
Park Service to recruit prospective employees who have completed 
graduate-level administration and business management programs. 
Furthermore, this legislation creates a student loan payment program to 
entice quality employees to bring their expertise to the Park Service.
  I believe that the Park Service and our national parks are beginning 
a new era. Visits to and enjoyment of our parks will continue to 
increase, and we must enable the Park Service to keep pace with this 
trend. We must encourage sound management of our parks and the vast 
natural and cultural resources they safeguard. We must also encourage 
opportunities for new ways to fund increasing operations and 
maintenance costs. Finally, we must encourage our national parks to 
represent a growing and increasingly diverse population. The National 
Stewardship Act starts us along that path.
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