American Outdoors act
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Lamar Alexander Intros American Outdoors Act
posted June 24, 2004
Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Mary L. Landrieu (D-La.) today will introduce the Americans Outdoors Act, what they call a bipartisan piece of legislation that will provide a landmark federal commitment to conservation, coastal restoration, and outdoor recreation.
The Americans Outdoors Act would provide a steady and reliable stream of funding by redirecting a portion of offshore oil and gas revenues to four areas: coastal impact assistance, the state side of the Land and Water Conservation Act, wildlife conservation, and urban parks and recreation initiatives.
“There is nothing more central to the American character than the great American Outdoors. That is why there is such a large conservation majority in the United States," Sen. Alexander said during a news conference on Capitol Hill. "This legislation looks ahead for a generation to make sure we have places to enjoy our outdoors. This bill would fully fund already existing programs for wildlife conservation, which will benefit hunters and fisherman, birdwatchers, walkers, bikers and all Americans who enjoy outdoor recreation. It would fully fund city parks, so children can have decent, clean places to play. It would also protect wetlands.
“The legislation would be paid for by what I think of as a ‘conservation royalty.’ It is modeled after the state royalty for onshore drilling that has been in existence since the 1920’s in which 50 cents of every dollar goes to the state in which drilling occurs. In a similar way, this would create a conservation royalty of about 25 percent for revenues collected from oil and gas drilling on offshore federal lands.”
“The Americans Outdoors Act is a landmark, multi-year commitment to conservation programs that would benefit all 50 states. With this legislation, we can make the most significant dedication of resources to conservation this nation has ever made, and ensure a positive legacy of protecting and enhancing our cultural, natural and recreational resources for generations to come,” Sen. Landrieu said. “Although the federal government has time and again said it would fully fund these initiatives, instead these programs have been shortchanged, under funded or left out all together. It is time to move past that kind of thinking and provide reliable, steady and significant funding for the urgent conservation and outdoor recreation needs of our states and cities.”
Alexander and Landrieu said they would propose an amendment to fully fund the "federal side" of the Land and Water Conservation Fund but only after talking with other senators and developing a consensus.
Here is how the funding would be allocated among the four areas:
· Coastal Impact Assistance. $500 million to oil and gas producing coastal states to mitigate the various impacts of states that serve as “platforms” for the crucial development of federal offshore energy resources from the Outer Continental Shelf. It also will provide for wetland restoration efforts.
· “State side” of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. $450 million to fully fund the planning and development of state and local parks and recreation facilities. States would be allocated 60 percent of that, divided equally among all 50 states, the District of Columbia and territories and tribes, and then the remaining 40 percent based on population.
· Wildlife Conservation. $350 million to fully fund a broad variety of wildlife conservation programs, both game and non-game species, for all 50 states.
· Urban Parks Recreation and Recovery Program (UPARR). $125 million to fully fund UPARR in the form of matching grants (70 percent) to provide direct assistance to urban localities for rehabilitation of critically needed recreation programs, sites and facilities with the goal of more green spaces, playgrounds and ball fields.
Alexander, chairman of the Energy Subcommittee, served as chairman of President Reagan's Commission on Americans Outdoor, which recommended many of these programs, including offshore oil drilling to fully fund federal and state conservation programs. Sen. Landrieu, a member of the Senate Energy Committee has championed direct and dedicated federal funding for coastal restoration and conservation efforts since being elected in 1996.
The Senate Energy Committee will hold a hearing on the bill Tuesday, July 13. A similar bill, called the Get Outdoors Act, has been introduced in the House by Congressmen Don Young (R-Alaska), George Miller (D-Calif.) and Chris John (D-La.).
posted June 24, 2004
Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Mary L. Landrieu (D-La.) today will introduce the Americans Outdoors Act, what they call a bipartisan piece of legislation that will provide a landmark federal commitment to conservation, coastal restoration, and outdoor recreation.
The Americans Outdoors Act would provide a steady and reliable stream of funding by redirecting a portion of offshore oil and gas revenues to four areas: coastal impact assistance, the state side of the Land and Water Conservation Act, wildlife conservation, and urban parks and recreation initiatives.
“There is nothing more central to the American character than the great American Outdoors. That is why there is such a large conservation majority in the United States," Sen. Alexander said during a news conference on Capitol Hill. "This legislation looks ahead for a generation to make sure we have places to enjoy our outdoors. This bill would fully fund already existing programs for wildlife conservation, which will benefit hunters and fisherman, birdwatchers, walkers, bikers and all Americans who enjoy outdoor recreation. It would fully fund city parks, so children can have decent, clean places to play. It would also protect wetlands.
“The legislation would be paid for by what I think of as a ‘conservation royalty.’ It is modeled after the state royalty for onshore drilling that has been in existence since the 1920’s in which 50 cents of every dollar goes to the state in which drilling occurs. In a similar way, this would create a conservation royalty of about 25 percent for revenues collected from oil and gas drilling on offshore federal lands.”
“The Americans Outdoors Act is a landmark, multi-year commitment to conservation programs that would benefit all 50 states. With this legislation, we can make the most significant dedication of resources to conservation this nation has ever made, and ensure a positive legacy of protecting and enhancing our cultural, natural and recreational resources for generations to come,” Sen. Landrieu said. “Although the federal government has time and again said it would fully fund these initiatives, instead these programs have been shortchanged, under funded or left out all together. It is time to move past that kind of thinking and provide reliable, steady and significant funding for the urgent conservation and outdoor recreation needs of our states and cities.”
Alexander and Landrieu said they would propose an amendment to fully fund the "federal side" of the Land and Water Conservation Fund but only after talking with other senators and developing a consensus.
Here is how the funding would be allocated among the four areas:
· Coastal Impact Assistance. $500 million to oil and gas producing coastal states to mitigate the various impacts of states that serve as “platforms” for the crucial development of federal offshore energy resources from the Outer Continental Shelf. It also will provide for wetland restoration efforts.
· “State side” of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. $450 million to fully fund the planning and development of state and local parks and recreation facilities. States would be allocated 60 percent of that, divided equally among all 50 states, the District of Columbia and territories and tribes, and then the remaining 40 percent based on population.
· Wildlife Conservation. $350 million to fully fund a broad variety of wildlife conservation programs, both game and non-game species, for all 50 states.
· Urban Parks Recreation and Recovery Program (UPARR). $125 million to fully fund UPARR in the form of matching grants (70 percent) to provide direct assistance to urban localities for rehabilitation of critically needed recreation programs, sites and facilities with the goal of more green spaces, playgrounds and ball fields.
Alexander, chairman of the Energy Subcommittee, served as chairman of President Reagan's Commission on Americans Outdoor, which recommended many of these programs, including offshore oil drilling to fully fund federal and state conservation programs. Sen. Landrieu, a member of the Senate Energy Committee has championed direct and dedicated federal funding for coastal restoration and conservation efforts since being elected in 1996.
The Senate Energy Committee will hold a hearing on the bill Tuesday, July 13. A similar bill, called the Get Outdoors Act, has been introduced in the House by Congressmen Don Young (R-Alaska), George Miller (D-Calif.) and Chris John (D-La.).
P
pawclaws
Guest
Might be a good project Nut. Wonder what impact it would have on "at the pump" prices and competition with OPEC oil.
Nut
New member
The arguements against this will be "increased" spending,Land grabbing and etc. It is in essence the rebirth of CARA.
P
pawclaws
Guest
Let's keep an eye on this one. It gives me the glimmer of an idea for IHLA.
chas031
New member
I know TRCP is supporting it. I got the notification last week.
Chas
Chas
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