Louise Slaughter: “former President Theodore Roosevelt, one of the fathers of American conservation, said, ``In utilizing and conserving…”

“former President Theodore Roosevelt, one of the fathers of American conservation, said, ``In utilizing and conserving the national resources of the Nation, the one characteristic more central than any other is foresight.'' Unfortunately, in many areas H.R. 2691 is a myopic bill, lacking this essential foresight. H.R. 2691 does not protect our natural resources, America's lands and its native animals. This appropriations bill breaks promises of funds for conservation, and the bill abandons the conservation trust agreement reached and enacted into law in response to the 315 Members of the House who voted for the Conservation and Reinvestment Act. The agreement provided for adequate funding for conservation programs that protect public lands and cultural artifacts and preserve endangered and threatened species and that assist States in their own conservation and recreation programs. Unfortunately, this bill breaks that promise by underfunding the conservation efforts by approximately $569 million less than funding levels promised in the conservation trust agreement. Funding levels for conservation are an even $208 million less than the appropriations for fiscal year 2003. This seriously jeopardizes conservation programs like the Federal Land Acquisition, which is funded at its lowest level in 20 years. City parks are the anchors of our neighborhoods.…”