On the recordJuly 17, 2018
We have a problem when we can't even agree on prioritizing $1.5 million additional money to maintain national parks. Washington, D.C., on the Mall alone, has $1 billion in maintenance backlog. And Arizona, for instance, has one-half billion dollars in maintenance. California has over $2 billion in maintenance backlog, and I could go on and on. But that is not necessary because we all know that we need to re-fund the maintenance backlog, and I am only asking for $1.4 million of an additional $18 million that is going to the land acquisition fund. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time. Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, to the gentleman who is offering the amendment, I appreciate his goal of wanting to address backlog. I would love to address more of our national park's backlog. But as I pointed out, the Land and Water Conservation Fund also has broad bipartisan support and has already taken a cut of $65 million below the FY18 budget level. So increasing access to our public lands for hunting, fishing, and other recreational activities has bipartisan support, just as addressing the deferred maintenance. So if we can see an increase in the 302(b) as we move forward in committee, I am sure the chairman would consider that, and I would be very much in support of working something out. But at this point, I am adamantly opposed to cutting the Land and Water Conservation Fund any further.…
