“When you decided to shut down the government over two weeks ago, did you forget the National Park System, which includes memorials, is part of the federal government? No you knew that, but you apparently forgot the economic impact our iconic parks have in gateway communities and you forgot that the American people value their public lands and the solemn tribute of the World War II and other war memorials.If you want to spend your time here dissecting individual decisions about what monuments are open, which are closed, let me save you some time—our National Park System is surprisingly part of our national government, which you shutdown.”
“You can’t create something and then pretend you’re outraged by the results, which is what I’m hearing from the other side of the aisle”
—Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR)
House Natural Resources Committee (HNRC) hearing, Oct 16, 2013
WHAT IT MEANS
HNRC Chairman Doc Hastings convened a hearing on Oct. 16 to question the head of the National Parks Service (NPS) about his department’s actions during the government shutdown. Republican committee members took the opportunity to try and blame NPS Director Jonathan Jarvis for the effects of shutdown-induced park closures. Rep. DeFazio called out those members for the hypocrisy of their comments, pointing out that their party caused the shutdown, and that most of the time those same members are trying to give more access to protected lands to oil and gas companies.
WHY IT MATTERS
The government shutdown cost gateway communities around national parks over $1 billion, according to the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees, and it lasted only 16 days. Many Republican members of the HNRC consistently push to give more public lands to oil and gas companies, regardless of the potential jeopardy to protected lands. If that trend continues, drilling, spills and other side effects of energy development could ruin the attractiveness of parks and forests, and have an even more devastating impact on the West’s economy. We need to put protecting land on equal ground with drilling it.
WHO SAID IT
Rep. Peter DeFazio has represented Oregon’s fourth congressional district since 1987. He is the ranking minority member of the HNRC, a proponent of protecting public land and a strong voice for responsible government. Rep. DeFazio is a co-author of H.R. 2068, the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Reauthorization Act (FLTFA). If passed, FLTFA would allow the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) sell selected federal lands and use proceeds to improve recreation and conservation on public lands. Previous FLTFA authorization expired in 2011.