Legislation at critical juncture: act now to keep key parks and recreation programs funded.

As the summer winds down, action on federal legislation and appropriations heats up. Some of the most important bills affecting parks and recreation in years are being voted on by the U.S. Congress this summer and fall. Information in this update is current at the time of this writing to meet publication deadlines, but some of these bills will have been decided on and others will be in final stages of deliberation by the time you receive this issue of Parks & Recreation.

To keep up to (late and find out the most current status of federal appropriations and legislation, go to the NRPA Web site (www.nrpa.org) and select "Public Policy." We encourage you to contact the Public Policy Office in Washington, D.C. for assistance or information on late-breaking news at 202-887-0290 or [e-mail]. Also, to receive weekly updates and action alerts, subscribe to NRPA's free online advocacy network, RecreAction. See p. 15 for more information about RecreAction.

Here is a brief summary of the most important legislation that NRPA is currently tracking:

Reauthorization of the Transportation Equity

Act: A massive, multi-year reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Program, which funds many programs important to parks, recreation and communities, including the $600 million dollar per year Transportation Enhancements grants to states and local communities. The twelve TE categories include more than $300 million per year for bicycle, pedestrian and rail trails, among others.

At this writing, however, it's not clear that there will be a multi-year reauthorization of TEA21. Congress has major problems with the Bush administration's proposed funding levels, which they consider unacceptably low, and there are no adequate sources of new revenues without consideration of a gas tax.

NRPA, in coordination with several coalitions, has supported a full six-year reauthorization of TEA21, prohibitions on establishing new categories of eligibility, maintaining the protections of Section 4[f] (protection for natural and cultural resources) and full funding for transportation enhancements. The reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act is one of NRPA's top legislative priorities. This program is vital to local and state park and recreation agencies across the nation.

Fiscal Year 2004 spending bills: Funding for the departments of Interior, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education covers key park and recreation programs. These include the Land and Water Conservation Fund; 21st Century Community Learning Centers; the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act; the so-called "Conservation Trust Fund" programs, the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program (RTCA); appropriations for National Park Service and other federal public lands agencies; Special Recreation demonstration grants; and other spending categories.

The House of Representatives approved the Interior Appropriations spending bill, which includes $97.5 million for the state assistance portion of LWCF and $100 for the federal LWCF program. Two floor amendments on the House side to increase the so-called "Conservation Trust Fund" spending failed in the full House. The Senate Appropriations Committee reported its version of a bill, which included a mark of $104 million for the state assistance portion of LWCF and a mark of $220 million for the federal side. NRPA is fighting vigorously to restore the maximum amounts possible to LWCF through Senate action and in conference committee. The Land and Water Conservation Fund is vitally important to local park and recreation departments. Tens of billions in state assistance funding since the program's inception have completed almost 39,000 park, recreation and conservation projects in states and communities.

NRPA has supported bills to fund the reauthorization of child nutrition programs, including S.1021, which would expand the Summer Food Service Program to all 50 states. At press time, these bills haven't been taken up by committees, but will be beard in the Senate Agriculture and House Education and House Workforce committees.

NRPA vigorously supports reinstatement of the 40 percent cuts to funding recommended by the Bush administration for after-school programs. At the end of June, both the House and Senate spending committees marked up bills that restored $1 billion in funds for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, but the bill hasn't been voted out as of this writing.

NRPA, along with state affiliates and a coalition of support groups, worked to reinstate funding recommended to be cut by the president in the Department of Education budget for Recreation Programs doe Individuals with Disabilities. The House and Senate Committees restored a modest $2.6 million, which is still to be approved by the full House and Senate.

"Competitive sourcing" proposals: The Office of Management and Budget plans for the National Park Service and US Forest Service to potentially eliminate thousands of full-time career jobs and contract the functions to the private sector. NRPA has followed the emerging issues and legislative activity around the hot-button "competitive sourcing" proposals closely, and will continue to report on developments. At press time, the House Appropriations Committee just approved a spending bill that prohibits the National Park Service and US Forest Service from further spending to conduct additional studies on competitive sourcing of jobs in those agencies until present studies are completed and evaluated.

Recreational Trails Program: These are annual appropriations of a portion of the federal gas tax revenues, now about $50 million per year, proportionally distributed to the states. NRPA supports a multi-year reauthorization with increased funding for the Recreational Trail Program.

Recreation for Persons with Disabilities: These are appropriations in the Department of Education budget and legislation to reauthorize the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act of 2003(IDEA). NRPA prefers the Senate bill, S.1248, to the House bill, which proposes a three-year IEP process and allows schools to expel children with disabilities For any violation of school code. NRPA will monitor progress of this bill and update members via the NRPA Web site.

Calls, letters and e-mails to your representative and senator are crucial, especially if they are on the subcommittees that handle the legislation or approve funding for appropriations. Your voice can truly affect the outcome of appropriations and legislation that benefits parks and recreation nationwide. Don't assume that someone else from your district or your state will make the contact. We need you to make the call or send the e-mail. Only by the power of our collective messages will NRPA's voice be heard in Washington.