Working in Washington for you: new transportation enhancement program to fund NRPA priorities. (Advocacy Update).NRPA NRPA National Recreation and Park Association NRPA Natural Resources Protective Association (Staten Island, NY) NRPA Niagara Regional Police Association (Canada) NRPA National Rifle and Pistol Association Urges Congress to Restore Crucial Funding Adequately funding key park and recreation programs will help improve the nation's physical and mental health, sustain the environment and stimulate economic growth, NRPA told the House Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies on April 3. For Fiscal Year 2004, NRPA recommended that the Department of Interior receive funding of $200 million for Land and Water Conservation Fund The United States' Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is a Federal program that was established by Act of Congress in 1965. The Act designated that a portion of receipts from offshore oil and gas leases[1] state and local grants; $50 million for the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Program; $15 million for rivers and trails conservation assistance; and $1 million for the Federal Lands to Parks Program. The Federal Land to Park Program aids the transfer of surplus federal properties to local and state governments for recreation and conservation. Legislators Request Urban Park Funds More than 100 members of the House of Representatives have urged the Subcommittee on Interior Appropriations to provide $30 million for the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Program. Representatives Scott McInnis Scott Steve McInnis (born May 9, 1953) is a former Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado. Born in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, McInnis graduated from Glenwood Springs High School and attended Mesa State College. He earned a B.A. (R-Colo.), Mary Bono Mary Whitaker Bono is an American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1998, representing the 45th District of California (map) which includes most of central and eastern Riverside County. (R-Calif.), Mark Souder Mark Edward Souder (born July 18, 1950) is an American politician who is serving his sixth term in the United States House of Representatives for Indiana's At-large congressional district (map). (R-Ind.), George Miller George Miller may refer to:
NRPA Leads Conservation Assistance Program NRPA is in a leadership role in the coalition of 20 organizations that support the Rivers and Trails Conservation Assistance Program of the National Park Service. The program provides technical assistance to local governments, community groups and state agencies working on greenways Greenways is a set of three short atmospheric piano works composed by John Ireland in 1937; entitled The Cherry Tree, Cypress and The Palm and May. , trails and open space conservation projects. Currently, the program is assisting 315 projects across the country, including river conservation planning, rails-to-trails conversions, floodplain floodplain, level land along the course of a river formed by the deposition of sediment during periodic floods. Floodplains contain such features as levees, backswamps, delta plains, and oxbow lakes. protection planning and greenway linkages. NRPA Senior Policy Associate Rich Dolesh is the newly elected chair of the coalition. Transportation Equity Act Reauthorization Reaching Final Stages The far-reaching Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century
The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) was enacted June 9, 1998, as Public Law 105-178. , commonly called TEA-21, expires in September 2003, and will likely be reauthorized by the 108th Congress. The new act--likely to be named SAFETEA SAFETEA Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act when reauthorized--is the massive omnibus transportation funding bill that authorizes the siting, construction and maintenance of the nation's highways and major transportation projects. Of special interest to park and recreation agencies is the Transportation Enhancement Program. It allows local governments and park and recreation departments to develop, expand, rehabilitate re·ha·bil·i·tate v. 1. To restore to good health or useful life, as through therapy and education. 2. To restore to good condition, operation, or capacity. and construct recreation facilities, trails, wetlands, open space parks and historic sites. These transportation enhancements directly support NRPA priorities, including health and wellness, disease prevention, open space conservation, air pollution reduction and transportation efficiency. NRPA has recommended to the Departments of the Interior and Transportation that 10 percent of the Surface Transportation Program be set aside for transportation enhancements; that no new categories be added to the current 12 eligible categories; and that no transferability of transportation enhancement funds to other programs be allowed. Several issues have emerged at this point in the reauthorization effort. Among them are the "streamlining" provisions to "improve project delivery." These provisions might lessen safeguards for protected classes of resources, including parks, wildlife areas, and historic and cultural sites. In addition, redefinition of the "prudence" standard might result in eliminating protection of certain historic and cultural resources. The reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act will be a major part of the work of the 108th Congress. NRPA member agencies have a vital stake in the outcome of this effort, and should closely follow developments. Periodic updates will be posted at www.nrpa.org, and NRPA staff will be issuing action alerts and organizing an advocacy campaign. To find out more about the transportation enhancements, see www. enhancements.org/index.html. For more information on this or any other issue, write to mphillips@nrpa.org or call 202-887-0290. |
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