More than 600 conservation and recreation leaders representing all 50 states rallied on the Capitol steps Wednesday to urge immediate House passage of a measure that would take about $3 billion annually from federal oil and gas revenues to spend on state and local environmental and sports projects.
About $1 billion would be used to protect the nation’s coastal lands, some of which have been damaged by catastrophic oil spills in recent years.
“The time has come to take a portion of the proceeds from a non-renewable resource to reinvest in the conservation and enhancement of our renewable resources,” said Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), chief Senate backer of the proposal. “To continue to do otherwise, as we have for 50 years, is fiscally and environmentally irresponsible.”
Rep. Jerry Weller (R-Ill.), one of 305 House co-sponsors of the Conservation and Reinvestment Act, said Illinois would receive $55 million a year for environmental and recreational programs. He said these would include projects like the state’s Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie and Gov. George Ryan’s conservation initiatives.
According to House Resources Committee Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska), a conservative who joined liberal Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) in drafting the measure, urban parks and public sports facilities also would benefit.
The measure, approved 37-12 by Young’s committee, is supported by the White House, has strong support in the Senate and is backed by majorities of House Republicans and Democrats.
The House leadership has not called for a vote, however, referring the bill instead to the Agriculture Committee and the Budget Committee, where it faces opposition. A spokeswoman for Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas) said the leadership thought it required further study.
Unless the measure receives House passage by the April 15 recess, it is unlikely the Senate will be able to complete action in this session.
A spokesman for the House Resource Committee said Young is negotiating with Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) to have the bill brought up for a vote of the full House. Supporters have enough votes to override attempts to have it bottled up in committee.
In addition to the $1 billion a year for coastal protection that the bill calls for, $900 million would be used for federal and state acquisition of land and open space; $350 million would go for protection and increasing wildlife populations; $200 million would be allocated for Indian lands’ restoration; $200 million would compensate communities that maintain untaxable open lands; $150 million would assist endangered species; $125 million would be spent on urban parks and recreation facilities in distressed neighborhoods, and $100 million would pay for historical preservation.
