American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
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UPDATE: Congress has seen to it that national parks nationwide will benefit from more than $900 million in the final economic recovery bill. This important reinvestment in the crumbling infrastructure of our national parks will create jobs in rural and urban communities nationwide, and help to restore our heritage for our children and grandchildren. |
In addition to money for parks in the stimulus bill, NPCA's efforts on behalf of the parks have increased awareness of the need to increase funding for our national parks. Congressional leaders have said they will work to reduce the parks list of needed maintenance, including Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.), who chairs the House Interior Appropriations subcommittee and who championed funding for the Park Service in the stimulus bill. In an Energy & Environment Daily article, Dicks' Chief of Staff, George Behan says: "We'll have to continue to address the backlog with a higher allocation in the fiscal 2010 budget," referring to the parks' approximately $9 billion maintenance backlog. (Energy & Environment Daily, February 13, 2009)
NPCA's Role
Some reports regarding NPCA's advocacy efforts inaccurately implied that NPCA directly benefits from increased funding for National Park Service programs. (Read NPCA's press release, "National Parks Conservation Association Responds to Congressman Issa Accusations," February 10, 2009.) As has been the case for almost 100 years, NPCA’s only benefit from an increase in park funding is knowing that America’s parks are protected for the next generation. NPCA is a non-profit, non-partisan organization supported by its members and private donations. We work to increase federal funding for national parks because we believe protecting our legacy is an American responsibility.
See comments from Ken Salazar, secretary of the interior, regarding NPCA’s lobbying efforts and Craig Obey, NPCA’s senior vice president of government affairs, in a recent USA Today article.
Former National Park Service Director Fran Mainella has also stated her support of NPCA’s activities.
If you have questions or comments about NPCA’s work, please read more about NPCA in our "Frequently Asked Questions" or contact our member services department at npca@npca.org.
Last Update February 17, 2009
