April
04
NCYS SUBMITS
WRITTEN TESTIMONY TO U.S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Committee
on Appropriations, Subcommittee
on Interior receives statement
from NCYS requesting support
to protect the land for sport
and recreation.
Testimony
submitted by:
Sally S. Cunningham
Executive Director National
Council of Youth Sports
7185 SE Seagate Lane; Stuart,
FL 34997
Phone: 772-781-1452 Fax: 772-781-7298
Internet: www.ncys.org
Guardians of the Land and
Water Conservation Fund
United States House of Representatives
Committee on Appropriations
Subcommittee on Interior and
Related Agencies
Statement
on
The Land and Water Conservation
Fund (LWCF)
And
The Urban Park and Recreation
Recovery Program (UPARR)
FY 2004
April 3, 2003
We are members of the National
Council of Youth Sports (NCYS)
which is a broad and diverse
organization representing
more than 52 million boys
and girls in organized youth
sports programs nationwide.
We are also affiliated with
Americans for Our Heritage
and Recreation another broad
and diverse organization representing
more than 1,000 park and recreation
associations, state and local
elected and non-elected officials,
conservation and wilderness
proponents, the outdoor recreation
and sporting goods industries,
wildlife enthusiasts, smart
growth champions, urban parks
groups, historic preservationists,
land trust leaders, the youth
sports community, and civic
groups.
Our organizations' work to
communicate to policy makers
at all levels of government
the value of parks and recreation
areas made possible by the
Land and Water Conservation
Fund and the need for support
of these sites. This national
coalition through its extensive
grassroots communications
network employs regional and
state leaders to coordinate
an integrated public education
campaign.
We
are committed to permanent
full funding for the Land
and Water Conservation Fund
(LWCF), with an equitable
allocation of funds between
its federal and state matching
grants programs. In addition,
we support a revived and substantially
funded Urban Park and Recreation
Recovery program (UPARR).
We applaud the House Appropriators'
role in creating the Land
Conservation, Preservation,
and Infrastructure Improvement
Act, passed by Congress in
2000, and believe it is a
significant short-term commitment.
Accordingly, we support full
funding of this program in
FY 2004 at its $2.08 billion
level.
The
organization recognizes the
original intent of LWCF as
a long-term investment of
proceeds from sales of non-renewable
resources to acquire land
and water within our nation's
national parks, forests, wildlife
refuges, and other public
lands, and to enhance recreation
opportunities at the state
and community levels. That
is why we support the use
of LWCF funds for these purposes
but not for programs outside
of its legislative mandate.
We ask the House Appropriators
to protect the traditional
priority of stateside LWCF
funds for accessible public
recreation enhancement.
In
asking for your leadership,
we believe:
* LWCF and UPARR are programs
that return conservation and
recreation funds to states
and local communities. LWCF
has been responsible for more
than 38,000 community parks
that reflect local concerns
and needs. UPARR has been
integral to a healthy and
safe urban community life
through funding municipal
parks and creating urban soccer,
baseball, and football fields.
Collectively, these resources
are nationally important.
*
LWCF and UPARR encourage and
promote healthy lifestyles,
an area of growing concern
in our country. According
to a recent Surgeon General's
report, obesity is an emerging
health threat to millions
of Americans, rivaling smoking
as one of the country's most
preventable diseases. The
report advocates the creation
of "safe and accessible
recreation facilities for
residents of all ages"
as a major thrust of its call
to action. If funded at appropriate
levels, LWCF and UPARR can
continue to be instrumental
in helping local communities
develop this close-to-home
recreation.
*
LWCF and UPARR promote smart
growth and livable communities.
LWCF and UPARR are a means
to assist intelligent, planned
growth, and to curb the detrimental
effects of sprawl by protecting
lands outside the borders
of the city, and making efficient
and attractive use of open
space within it. LWCF and
UPARR empower states and municipalities
to accomplish these objectives
through leverage by partnering
of federal, state, and local
funds.
*
LWCF and UPARR are critical
resources for providing recreation
places for America's kids.
LWCF has helped communities
create more than 7,000 soccer
and football fields, 6,000
baseball fields, and thousands
of other recreation centers.
UPARR provides recreation
centers for children in the
critical 3:00pm to 6:00pm
time frame, providing learning
environments where children
are tutored and have access
to mentors.
Parks
and recreation areas funded
through LWCF and UPARR are
integral components of community
life for millions of Americans
nationwide. They provide venues
for everything from hiking
and biking, to picnicking
and playing ball. They serve
as places for people to gather,
gain strength, and affirm
their faith in America's core
values.
The
broad range of groups that
comprise NCYS evinces the
enthusiastic support for LWCF
and UPARR across the country.
Funding stateside LWCF at
no less than $200 million
and UPARR at no less than
$50 million will demonstrate
to the American people that
Congress recognizes the important
role these programs have played
in ensuring that parks and
recreation centers will always
be there. This appropriation
will advance the goal of a
national system of American
parks. The time to make this
commitment is now.
