Charles Taylor: “I, too, am aware of this increasingly difficult situation, not just in the national parks, but along other public lands…”

“I, too, am aware of this increasingly difficult situation, not just in the national parks, but along other public lands funded in this bill. They comprise 43 percent of the border, the southern border. We need to work together. I would like to travel to that area. Perhaps we could hold a hearing in that area to draw the attention necessary. We need to work with our friend and former colleague, Rob Portman, once he is confirmed as the new director of OMB to ensure that adequate funds are provided to protect these lands. We have very little money for park rangers for 43 percent of the border. However, I believe that this is primarily the responsibility of Homeland Security. This subcommittee has expressed its concern to the administration over the past 4 years about additional Homeland Security duties imposed on agencies like the Park Service without providing additional funds. We also find in many other tribal lands that we are having some of the same problems.”