A new bill would allow Americans to invest part of their tax refund in the national parks.
On March 3, a bipartisan group of legislators led by Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) and Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA) introduced the National Park Centennial Act, groundbreaking legislation that would provide the parks with much-needed funding for years. Research has shown that the National Park System suffers from a multi-billion dollar backlog of maintenance projects and a crippling annual operating deficit in excess of $600 million. Passage of the National Park Centennial Act would aim to ensure the National Park System is fiscally sound by its 100th birthday, eliminating the maintenance backlog by 2016 (except for road maintenance, which is addressed under reauthorizations of the transportation bill).
The bill would supplement funding for the Park Service's Natural Resource Challenge, helping to combat invasive species, support critically needed research, bolster environmental restoration projects, and address other critical natural resource needs. A new Historic and Cultural Resource Challenge, also included as part of the bill, would help the Park Service preserve historic buildings, archaeological sites, and museum collections.
Where would the money come from, in a time of budget deficits and foreign conflict? One of the primary funding sources is the creation of a new, separate National Park Centennial Fund, to be partially funded by an innovative check-off on federal tax returns, which would allow Americans to donate part of their refund for the sake of the parks. By pairing the funding from the tax check-off with general funds, the act provides $150 million for the parks in its first year, with an increase of 15 percent each year through 2016.
Passage of the Centennial Act wouldn't be the first time the nation's leaders have made difficult decisions to protect the parks in times of war: During World War II, Americans opposed efforts to harvest timber from national parks for use in military aircraft.
The next step toward ensuring the bill's passage is a series of hearings to be led by Souder, during which politicians, Park Service staff, and park advocates will discuss park funding problems more closely.
"NPCA is excited that Congressman Souder wants to exercise such significant leadership to address the financial challenges facing America's national parks," says Craig Obey, NPCA's vice-president for government affairs. "We look forward to working with the Congressman to examine the funding shortfalls in our national parks, to further demonstrate why this legislation is so enormously important to long-term park protection."
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