National Parks Conservation Association Praises House Committee's Continued Investment in National Parks
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PRESS RELEASE
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | |
| Date: | June 19, 2009 |
| Contact: | Kristen Brengel, NPCA, 202.454.3380 |
Press Statement by Kristen Brengel, Legislative Director, National Parks Conservation Association "As passed out of committee last night, the House Interior Appropriations bill includes increased funding to operate and maintain our national parks and $25 million for the parks’ public-private partnership program. It also provides funding for the Park Service to develop strategies to enable national park wildlife to adapt to climate change, and to buy high-priority lands within park boundaries from willing sellers—although substantially less than the sum of what is needed to prevent inappropriate development in parks nationwide. "Subcommittee Chairman Norm Dicks has long been a champion for our national parks, and thanks in large part to his leadership, this bill will make a measurable impact in addressing the parks’ crumbling historic buildings and trails, protecting wildlife and cultural treasures, and providing needed public education and services and science and research. "We’ll be looking to the Senate to provide a similar investment in the critical needs of our national parks to ensure these national treasures are restored by the 2016 centennial of the Park Service." The House bill now goes to the floor for a vote. The Senate Interior Appropriations bill is expected to be marked up in the near future. # # #
