The National Trust for Historic Preservation has released a study that found millions of historic sites, crumbling and collapsing in national forests around the country, are in danger of being lost forever.
"Cultural Resources of the National Forest System: An Assessment and Needs Analysis 2008" examined resources including Native American archaeological sites, Civil War battlefields, ranger stations, fire lookout towers, cabins and camps built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
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President Bush has signed legislation to designate a 175-mile corridor stretching from Monticello to Gettysburg -- an area dubbed by historians as the "Journey Through Hallowed Ground" -- as a national heritage area. It is the nation’s 38th national heritage area.
The region encompasses presidential homes, Civil War battlefields and other historical sites along routes 15 and 231 in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Local activists and legislative leaders for three years have been seeking the designation, which they hope will boost tourism and bring in federal grants.
The House of Representatives voted 291 to 117 to grant the designation; it passed the Senate on a voice vote.
STS has included in its legislative agenda for 2008 permanent funding for our national heritage areas.
$450 Billion Highway Bill Sought in 2009
Calling the previous highway bill "wimpy," a key U.S. Representative is advocating a $450 billion package in 2009. House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) cited that figure to the Congressional Steel Caucus this spring. The previous bill in 2005 was $286.4 billion. "We're not going to do a wimpy bill [like the 2005 measure]. It's going to be in the range of $450 billion," Oberstar said.
After the hearing, Oberstar characterized $450 billion as a target, saying it was in line with the recommendations of a bipartisan commission examining national infrastructure needs. That will likely include an increase in the federal gasoline tax as well as other "alternative financing" that lawmakers are considering, he said. The report by the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission this year recommended an annual increase of 5 cents to 8 cents per gallon in the gas tax over five years to fund construction and maintenance projects.
The measure contains crucial programs for tourism such as the Scenic Byways program. The additional investments would offer a significant boost to local and regional economic development efforts.
Southeast Tourism Society continues to monitor activity concerning reauthorization for highway funding in 2009.
National Parks Centennial Funding Bill Approved by House Committee
The House Natural Resources Committee has approved a bill authorizing mandatory spending for improvements to national parks, but lawmakers are still trying to figure out how to pay for the $70 million program. In his original proposal, President Bush called for $1 billion in government spending over 10 years, matched by an additional $1 billion in philanthropic funding.
Representative Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who authored the bill, said he hopes the Senate can restore the full $100 million a year in funding. Failing that, it may be up to a future Congress to bring the funds up to that level, he said.
Senator Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) introduced a companion Senate bill, S. 2817, in April. The Senate bill would maintain the $100 million in annual funding, offset by up to $1 billion from offshore oil and gas leases that have exceeded revenue projections. The measure would also be funded through a new postage stamp estimated to raise $10 million a year.
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