Jim Kolbe: “Mr. Chairman, I do rise in opposition to this amendment. As a member of the Subcommittee on Interior Appropriations, we…”

“Mr. Chairman, I do rise in opposition to this amendment. As a member of the Subcommittee on Interior Appropriations, we have worked very hard, under the chairman's leadership, to address the operation on the maintenance shortfalls which exist at so many of our national parks, our Fish and Wildlife Refuges, on our other lands which are heavily utilized by the public. No one wants our parks or forests or refuges to deteriorate. These represent in many cases some of the most spectacular and beautiful treasures that we have in our country. In my own State of Arizona, the Grand Canyon park is certainly one of the most spectacular natural splendors in the world. We cannot and must not let the quality of this park slip through our hands. Yet the increasing pressure of the public is enormous. We have an enormous backlog of capital needs in all of our land management agencies and this is a problem that demands our attention, even as we seek to balance the budget and struggle to reduce our national debt. The utilization of our public lands is rising. We cannot expect appropriated funds to meet all of the increasing needs. We need to look for other solutions to this very troubling problem. That is what the fee demonstration program is about. I believe it is having a positive effect.”