Subject: FYI: House Resources Committee Press Release on Floor Vote
Date: Tue, May 2, 2000, 2:59 PM
NEWS Committee on Resources
U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), Chairman
U.S. House of Representatives
Contact: Steve Hansen (Communications Director)
(202) 225-7749 or Arturo Silva (202) 225-4063
To: National Desk/Environmental Reporter
May 2, 2000
Landmark Wildlife & Conservation Legislation Scheduled For House
Floor Vote Next Week;
"The Conservation & Reinvestment Act" (H.R. 701)
Washington, D.C. - Landmark bipartisan legislation which will increase funding for federal and state conservation, wildlife and recreation programs will be voted on by the full U.S. House of Representatives next week.
U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), the Chairman of the House Committee on Resources, said today that the House Republican Leadership informed him the "Conservation and Reinvestment Act" (CARA) - H.R. 701 - would be scheduled for floor action next week.
CARA currently has 316 cosponsors and is supported by all 50 Governors, the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National Association of Counties. CARA has also been endorsed by countless conservation, hunting and fishing, and recreation organizations and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Realtors.
CARA is the product of several months of bipartisan negotiations and compromises by Young, U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-CA), the Ranking Democrat on the House Resources Committee, Billy Tauzin (R-LA), John Dingell (D-MI), Chris John (D-LA), Bruce Vento (D-MN), Tom Udall (D-NM) and others to establish the most comprehensive conservation bill in decades.
"Speaker Hastert and the House Republican Leadership are to be commended for bringing CARA to the House floor for consideration," Congressman Young said. "Doing so will give us the opportunity to pass this historic legislation for the benefit of America' lands, water and wildlife. Speaker Hastert has been extremely fair throughout this entire process and I sincerely appreciate his leadership on this landmark legislation."
"This is the most important environmental issue Congress will face this year because it restores the promise of protecting invaluable lands and resources in every state in the country,"said Congressman Miller. "President Clinton has indicated his strong support for action on this bill without further delay."
"The Conservation & Reinvestment Act"
Funding for the important programs under CARA would be derived from
a portion of Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) revenues. CARA would provide
annual dedicated funding for the following:
Program Annual Funding Level Impact Assistance & Coastal Conservation $1 billion
Title I creates a revenue sharing and coastal conservation fund for coastal states and eligible local governments to mitigate the various impacts of OCS activities and provide funds for the conservation of our coastal ecosystems. These funds will support sustainable development of nonrenewable resources without providing incentives for new oil and gas development.
Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Revitalization $900
million
Title II guarantees stable and annual funding for the Land and Water
Conservation Fund (LWCF) at its authorized $900 million level. This
dedicated funding would provide for both the state and federal programs
included in the LWCF, while protecting the rights of private property owners.
Wildlife Conservation & Restoration Fund $350
million
Title III, through the successful program of Pittman-Robertson, reinvests
the development of nonrenewable resources into a renewable resource of
wildlife conservation and education. This new source of funding will
nearly double the Federal funds available for wildlife conservation.
Urban Park & Recreation Recovery (UPARR) $125 million
Title IV provides matching grants to local governments to rehabilitate
recreation areas and facilities, provides for the development of improved
recreation programs, sites and facilities.
Historic Preservation Fund $100 million
Title V provides funding for the programs of the Historic Preservation
Act, including grants to the States, maintaining the National Register
of Historic Places, and administering numerous historic preservation programs.
Federal & Indian Lands Restoration $200 million
Title VI provides funding for a coordinated program on Federal and
Indian lands to restore degraded lands, protect resources that are threatened
with degradation, and protect public health and safety.
Conservation Easements & Species Recovery $150 million
Title VII provides annual and dedicated funding for conservation easements
and funding for landowner incentives to aid in the recovery of endangered
and threatened species.
Payment In-Lieu of Taxes & Refuge Revenue Sharing $200
million
Up to $200 million of the annual interest generated from the CARA Fund
will match, dollar for dollar, the amount appropriated during the Congressional
Appropriations process.
For more information, please check the House Committee on Resources Home Page
Steve.Hansen@mail.house.gov
Committee on Resources
voice: (202) 225-7749
fax: (202) 226-4631
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International Assn. of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies
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tel: (202) 624-7890
fax: (202) 624-7891
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