Political Quotes

“no program of true Federal-private partnership has been more successful than the National Park Service Concession Program. Needed visitor facilities and services have been placed in national parks at a minimum of cost to the taxpayer. The private sector has willingly borne the burden of development. Over the years, the Concession Program has addressed the needs of park operations, complete building improvement programs, and has consistently contributed to infrastructure improvements that were required to ensure that the needs of the park visitor were met. S. 208 will change all this. Let me present two examples of the potential impact of changing the Concessions Program. The concession operator of a small marina at Lake Mead had only 2 years left on his contract when a storm destroyed the marina. Because his concession contract had possessory interest, right of renewal, and a long term, he was able to obtain financing to rebuild the marina. According to his banker, the bank would never have lent the money for a complete replacement if there had not been a more than reasonable expectation that the concessioner would be able to obtain the next 25-year contract and retain his possessory interest. Under S. 208, the marina would be no more than a patchwork of boards and pontoons.”