Advocacy update: charting a course for the future: a new Congress brings new challenges.

Since the 109th Congress came to a close at the end of 2005 and we're looking to at the year ahead, it's an appropriate time to take stock of what NRPA achieved in terms of national legislation, national policy development, and the increasingly important realm of federal rules and regulations It's also a great time to take a look at what NRPA should accomplish as the 110th Congress begins.

The first session of the 109th Congress took place in turbulent times. During this period, Congress was consumed by large-scale issues on the world stage, combined with major domestic issues. Capitol Hill was dealing with the war in Iraq, the Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005, and the need to prevent terrorism, not to mention Congress's day-to-day tasks.

Increasing budget deficits and charges by conservatives of extravagant spending resulted in Congressional attempts to trim both discretionary and entitlement spending, which roiled Congress and the nation for months. Unfortunately, these pressing matters seemed to take precedence over the simple needs for parks and recreation.

Yet through the turbulent atmosphere, 2005 proved to be a year that NRPA achieved some of the best legislative, budgetary and policy victories in a decade--perhaps a generation. To briefly recap the highlights of NRPA's victories, we gained more funding for parks and recreation in transportation-related funding than has ever been authorized before--a billion dollars per year when all eligible spending categories are totaled.

This was achieved only with the staunch support of advocates for the values of parks and recreation, and in cooperation with other national organizations and associations that share NRPA's vision, values and goals. Numerous programs that benefit parks and recreation, such as transportation enhancements, the Recreational Trails Program, the Boating Safety and Fishing Education Trust Fund, and others, were funded at levels hundreds of millions above previous cycles.

We saved the Land and Water Conservation Fund state assistance program--long a bedrock source of matching federal grants for local and state park and recreation needs--from near certain elimination after the President proposed to terminate funding for the program in the FY 2006 budget.

We won a major policy victory in the transportation bill reauthorization, when the major provisions of Section 4(f) were saved. This is a critical section of transportation law that has protected parks, historic sites and wildlife refuges from damage during the highway construction process for 40 years.

And together, in cooperation with national health promotion and disease prevention organizations, NRPA led the way in beginning to position parks and recreation as essential partners in the growing fight to control a nationwide epidemic of obesity. NRPA also promoted the values of active recreation in not only preventing obesity, but other chronic diseases as well. With its advocates, NRPA made a strong case for public parks and recreation to be at the table when important policy and budgetary decisions are made in the coming months and years.

These are no small accomplishments, especially in light of the budget-tightening that culminated in a highly controversial set of funding reductions in core health, education and community service programs at the close of the first session of the 109th Congress. NRPA and its nationwide network of advocates at the local and state level can take pride in significant achievements in spite of tough circumstances.

However, the successes of 2005 cannot be taken for granted, and whatever was achieved in this past session of Congress cannot predict future success in the coming second session of the 109th Congress. In fact, several changes are already taking place. Not only will future success be harder to achieve in legislation, and perhaps even in regulation, but we must stay vigilant that we do not lose what we have worked so hard to gain.

In light of the recent turmoil in Congress, two important questions arise as we prepare for the next session: What are NRPA's most important priorities for the coming year, and what actions will we need to take to ensure we do not lose important sources of federal funding for parks and recreation? At the time of writing this article, the President's FY 2007 budget had not been released, but we do know with certainty that NRPA's top priority will be to continue to fight for funding.

If last year's proposed budget is any indicator of what the 2007 budget proposal will look like, advocates for parks and recreation may not have too much cause for optimism. Last year, the President proposed to terminate the Land and Water Conservation Fund state assistance program--a matching federal grant program with an unparalleled record of success in distributing matching federal funds--galvanizing park and recreation advocates across the nation into action.

This year, the budget climate for discretionary spending is perceived to be much worse than last year, and it would not be a surprise to see LWCF singled out. In addition, it is likely that the budget will propose cuts to federal programs that provide technical assistance to local and state park and recreation agencies, such as the highly valuable Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program of the National Park Service, which provides project coordination and trail planning services to local and state governments. Another program that NRPA will closely watch is the Center for Disease Control's (CDC) Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity which was proposed for cuts last year.

For NRPA's priorities and objectives for this year, look for the NRPA legislative platform online at www.nrpa.org after Feb. 10, along with background and briefing papers that will explain the issues and give you the information you need to join our advocacy efforts.

ACTION ALERT

If you can't make it to Capitol Hill this month for the 2006 National Legislative Forum on Parks and Recreation, we urge you to take action by making a phone call, sending a fax, or composing an e-mail to your senator and representative in support of our national goals for parks and recreation. You can simply call [phone] and ask for the office of your member of Congress, or you can find e-mail addresses at www.senate.gov or www.house.gov.

Call, fax or e-mail your senator or representative with this simple message: "As my elected representative, I know you support the values of parks and recreation in our community, our state and our nation. Park and recreation programs build communities, fight obesity and chronic disease, and improve our quality of life. The federal investment in local, regional and state parks and recreation resources is vital and must continue. As your constituent, I am asking that you give special attention in the coming session of Congress to ensuring that those important federal investments, matching grants and technical assistance programs to local and state governments continue. Thank you for the support you have given to your community and your state."

Richard J. Dolesh is the acting director of NRPA's Public Policy Division. He can be reached at [phone] or at rdolesh @nrpa.org.