George Miller: “Nobody has been more diligent in trying to warn this Congress and the country about the backlog in the national parks…”

“Nobody has been more diligent in trying to warn this Congress and the country about the backlog in the national parks and in the public lands with respect to maintenance and even, to some extent, and clearly, in acquisition. But let me say that is not the competition that this amendment is. This is money that is put into an account for the Northern Marianas. They have been unwilling over the last several years to match that money; and there is now, according to the budget, about $80 million sitting in that account. All I am suggesting is that we take that $2 million and help these cities. People are volunteering their time here. I work every weekend with organizations and try to help organizations that are paying for the ball fields and trying to recover these facilities so that they can use them for their children. So we are not matching volunteers here. We are matching an account that has more money in it than they can possibly use as opposed to this program where people can use it for recreational opportunities for the young people.”