Land and Water Conservation Fund Threatened--Again!
This is one of those "all hands on deck" calls to action. Please read the following message and then contact the offices of Senators DeWine and Voinovich to tell them how important parks and recreation opportunities are to the citizens of your community and for all Ohioans. Please urge them to continue their support for parks, recreation and conservation in Ohio by opposing any proposal to rescind the time-honored LWCF state/local grant program in 2006.
Congress is taking some drastic action to pay for hurricane related damages and recovery. After the Thanksgiving recess the Congress will be pressing to pass the remaining FY 2006 appropriations bills, a $50 billion budget reconciliation as well as a $2.3 billion budget rescission from FY 2006 appropriations already approved by Congress and signed into law. One of the major spending bills already approved is the Interior Appropriations Bill, which includes funding for the LWCF and other conservation and recreation programs.
The $30 million budgeted for LWCF state assistance funding in FY 2006 was finally secured after a hard fought down-to-the-wire battle by NRPA and OPRA members. The Administration now wants to rescind the $30 million FY 2006 LWCF state/local grant program allocation. Interior Secretary, Gale Norton has not released the LWCF funds to states, thus making it vulnerable in any targeted rescission package.
There is a chance that Congress will not be able to work out differences on the rescission and/or the entire multi-billion budget reconciliation, since reducing the adjusted increases to these mandatory spending programs like Medicare and Medicaid is such a hot-button issue. NRPA and OPRA members have already thanked legislators for their hard work in keeping vital grant programs funded in FY 2006. Since our legislators supported LWCF in the FY 2006 budget they should be willing to stand against a rescission proposal that completely eliminates funding critical recreation and conservation programs.
If the Administration can starve those programs that they recommended to terminate in FY 2006 (such as LWCF state assistance grant program), it could pave the way for similar reductions or eliminations in the FY 2007 appropriations process.
Members of the Senate have expressed concern about these targeted rescissions. These issues have delayed any action as the U.S. Senate considers the possibility of an across the board cut instead of targeting specific programs. This has bought LWCF state assistance advocates some time to strengthen support in the Senate in order to save LWCF state assistance for FY 2006, but advocates must quickly share their views with our U.S. Senators.
Parks and Recreation Advocates can help save LWCF--again!
ยท Call Senators DeWine and Voinovich and prompt them to reject the President’s rescissions proposal to eliminate Land and Water Conservation Fund state assistance.
> Ask that they favor an across the board cut before targeted elimination of program funding.
> Let them know that Ohio's citizens benefit greatly from LWCF state assistance projects.
> Ask legislators to support LWCF state assistance in the FY 2007 appropriations process.
> Legislators are in their home districts during the Thanksgiving break--and letting our Congressional representatives know the value of LWCF in person is a powerful advocacy tool.
Senator Mike DeWine--Washington, D.C. 202-224-2315, Columbus 614-469-5186, Cincinnati 513-763-8260, Cleveland 216-522-7272, Toledo 419-259-7536, Marietta 74-373-2317, Xenia 937-376-3080
Senator George Voinovich--Washington, D.C. 202-224-3353, Columbus 614-469-6697, Cleveland 216-522-7095, Cincinnati 513-684-3265, Toledo 419-259-3895
Thanks
Mark Young
OPRA Federal Legislative Chair
Ph. 614-645-3342
