NPCA recognizes leaders for voting in favor of national parks.
WASHINGTON, D.C.-NPCA gave its "Friend of the National Parks" award in February to 215 members of the 107th Congress. The award was created to recognize members of Congress actively working to preserve and protect national parks through their votes.
"This is a critical time for national parks," said Craig Obey, NPCA's vice president of government affairs, "and we are grateful for the leadership our award winners have shown in park protection."
This is the third time NPCA has given the award, a framed reproduction of a 1930s Works Progress Administration poster of a national park. Two years ago, 202 members of the 106th Congress received the award, as did 231 members of the 105th Congress in 1999.
Through the "Friend of the National Parks Award," NPCA also aims to educate its members about their representatives' voting records on important legislation affecting the park system.
To receive the award, the 49 senators had to vote correctly on at least two of three park-related issues: a "yes" vote for a bill to increase funding for natural resource and environmental programs, including national park programs; a "yes" vote for legislation to prohibit Interior Department funds from being used for mineral leasing activities within the boundaries of national monuments; and a "no" vote on legislation to open 1.5 million acres of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil development.
This year's 166 representatives were chosen for voting correctly on at least four of six park-related issues, including a "yes" vote on a bill to expand Tumacácori National Historical Park by more than 300 acres, permanently protecting the lands and enriching public education programs, and a "yes" vote on a bill to prevent Interior Department funds from being used for new drilling activity on federal oil leases adjacent to Channel Islands National Park.
