Dale Bumpers: “Let me say, I could not agree with the Senator more, and I also say some of the damage that is occurring in the National…”

“Let me say, I could not agree with the Senator more, and I also say some of the damage that is occurring in the National Park System is not just to the infrastructure; that is, the buildings, which can be replaced and repaired. Some of the irreversible damage is being done to the natural beauty of the national parks, which cannot be undone. I could not agree more with the Senator that we have added a lot of land. I am not saying we did it wrongly. I am not saying we were in error when we did it. I am saying we can do both. We can have an expanded park system and we can fund it. If the American people understand anything, in my opinion, it is our skewed priorities here, what we spend money for. If you were to take a poll--not ask for an extemporaneous response, but say, 'Which of the following do you consider the most important?' I daresay the National Park System and the maintenance of it for the enjoyment of all the American people would rank very near the top. We simply have not made a commitment. You recall under President George Bush we did a very extensive study on the National Park System, and they came back and said it would take--that has been 8 years ago, a little over, about 8 years ago--they said it would take $2 billion just to start doing the infrastructure. That had nothing to do with adding lands or anything else.…”