America's National Parks Need Bush to Fulfill Campaign Promise; Group Says Mt. Rushmore Visit Provides Opportunity to Support Parks

8/14/2002

From: Andrea Keller of the National Parks Conservation Association, 202-454-3332

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 -- The following is a statement by Americans for National Parks:

"President Bush shouldn't be a typical tourist when he visits Mount Rushmore National Memorial on Thursday," said Americans for National Parks Campaign Director Jennifer Coken. "He must take this and every opportunity to follow up on his campaign pledge and be a leader on behalf of the national parks3/4our great American treasures."

Last June, during a visit to Everglades National Park, President Bush said, "Many parks have lacked the resources they need for their basic care and maintenance. My administration will restore and renew America's national parks... We will clear up nearly $5-billion in maintenance to make our parks more inviting and accessible to all Americans."

"We intend to hold him to that pledge," Coken said. "We are going to be watching carefully as the administration prepares their 2004 budget."

Research has shown that the national parks are operating with only two-thirds of the funding needed, creating a wide variety of critical needs ranging from deteriorating infrastructure to the dwindling of the wildlife species. Museum artifacts and archaeological sites are not being preserved, public education programs are being reduced, and irreplaceable historic structures are crumbling.

The coalition of Americans for National Parks is working with Congress and the administration to significantly increase the annual budget of the National Park Service to protect park resources and the experiences of hundreds of millions of visitors annually.

------ Americans for National Parks is a growing coalition of nonprofit organizations, businesses, trade associations, individuals, and other nonpartisan supporters of the national parks, working to encourage Congress and the administration to address the full needs of the National Park System. Campaign information is available at www.americansfornationalparks.org.