[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 22 (Thursday, February 6, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E142]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 5, 2003

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I submitted the Yosemite National Park 
Education Improvement Act in the House of Representatives. The bill 
authorizes the Secretary of Interior to make available supplemental 
funding to assist local school districts in providing educational 
services for students attending three schools located within Yosemite 
National Park.
  Since the devastating 1997 Merced River flood, there has been a 
dramatic reduction in the number of employees in Yosemite National 
Park, and thus fewer school children attending these schools. With 
fewer and fewer children attending these schools, state dollars are 
reduced. The result is that the Park is attracting less than qualified 
candidates to work in the Park because families are not provided with 
adequate schools.
  Furthermore, other existing federal funding sources are inadequate to 
meet the needs of the schools. PILT, payment in lieu of taxes, is 
available in both Mariposa and Madera counties where these schools 
exist and Impact Aid is accessible in Madera County, but--pursuant to 
current law--very few dollars actually are used to fund the classroom 
needs.
  The situation is so bad for the schools that both the Superintendent 
of Yosemite National Park and the President of the Park concessionaire 
have pulled their children from the schools.
  Mr. Speaker, I don't think we should stand by and permit children of 
Park Service and concessionaire employees from being deprived of their 
education simply because their parents have been asked by our 
government to work in Yosemite National Park. Precedence for assistance 
to schools located in national parks does exist. Yellowstone National 
Park had such a program established in the 1940's to ensure children of 
Park employees receive a quality education.
  In addition to the language for Yosemite schools, the bill includes a 
provision to authorize the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation 
System, YARTS, facility outside of Yosemite National Park. This 
noncontroversial provision was added to the bill last Congress prior to 
passage in the in the Senate.
  In closing, I believe the best long-term approach to the Yosemite 
schools' funding problems is the legislation I have proposed. The bill 
was approved by this body during the 107th Congress, and I look forward 
to working with my colleagues in the 108th Congress to once again 
approve the measure.

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