House Subcommitte Boosts Funds for National Parks
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PRESS RELEASE
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | |
| Date: | June 12, 2008 |
| Contact: | Andrea Keller Helsel, National Parks Conservation Association, P: 202.454.3332 |
House Subcommitte Boosts Funds for National Parks
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The nation’s leading voice for the national parks, the nonprofit National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), today praised Chairman Norm Dicks (D-WA) and the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee for increasing much-needed funding for America’s national parks in its mark-up of the Interior Appropriations bill as we approach the 2016 centennial of the parks.
"We greatly appreciate the leadership of Chairman Dicks, and the bipartisan work of the Subcommittee to provide support for our national parks, including increased operating funds for rangers and public education programs, and restoring harmful, proposed cuts to national park construction and land acquisition needs," said NPCA President Tom Kiernan.
Overall, the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee increased funding for national parks by $170 million ($156 million above the president’s request). This includes $48 million to acquire land within the boundaries of the national parks, an issue highlighted by NPCA’s recent report, America’s Heritage: For Sale.
In lieu of providing funds again this year for the National Park Centennial Challenge matching-grant program, the Subcommittee encouraged House and Senate action to authorize the program.
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